The ForkLift Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ForkLift in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ForkLift
The Insider’s Guide
Dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from ForkLift’s own pages.
Made by BinaryNights LLC · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ForkLift’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ForkLift’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
ForkLift 4 is a dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS from BinaryNights. Alongside local file management it connects to SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and network volumes, compares and synchronizes folders, and browses archives as folders. It is sold as a lifetime license that includes one or two years of updates, and it can be used in a free trial mode before buying.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ForkLift, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: it's a file manager you install and use, with drag and drop between servers.
- 1
Best for local and remote files in one Mac window
ForkLift is a two-pane Mac file manager that also connects to servers and cloud storage, from SFTP and Amazon S3 to Google Drive and Dropbox.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $19.95 one-time (Single user license with 1 year of updates).
- 3
You can try it first
Free trial mode without a license key; the vendor's pages state no time limit
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Two panes, tabs and workspaces
Shows two file panes side by side with tabs in each, and Workspaces save a layout of open tabs and locations to load again later.
- 6
Remote connections
Connects to SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, SMB, AFP and NFS, with several servers open at once and drag and drop between them.
- 7
Folder sync
Compares a local or remote source and target folder to find matching, modified, new and deleted files, then synchronizes them one-way or two-way. A sync can be saved as a favorite.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 36 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace ForkLift you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
ForkLift at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $19.95 one-time (Single user license with 1 year of updates)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free trial mode without a license key; the vendor's pages state no time limit
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- BinaryNights LLC
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for local and remote files in one Mac window
ForkLift is a two-pane Mac file manager that also connects to servers and cloud storage, from SFTP and Amazon S3 to Google Drive and Dropbox. A license is $19.95 once, but it covers one year of updates; after that new versions run in trial mode until you buy again. It's Mac only, 4.4 needs macOS 14.6, office use starts at $69.95, and Dropbox Smart Sync isn't supported.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | A lifetime licence is $19.95 once with a year of updates, or $34.95 with two, both under a year of this category's middle subscription. Family is $29.95 for every Mac at home, and an office of up to 5 Macs starts at $69.95. |
| Free plan and trial | C | There's no free version, but it runs in a free trial mode without a licence key, and BinaryNights' pages state no time limit on it. So you can find out if you like it before paying anything. |
| Features | B | This is a file manager and a transfer client in one, and both halves are complete: two panes with tabs and Workspaces, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox open at once, one-way or two-way folder sync, archives browsed as folders, remote editing and git status. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: it's a file manager you install and use, with drag and drop between servers. Workspaces save a layout of tabs and locations so you can load it again later. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, one operating system. ForkLift 4.4 and later need macOS 14.6, and earlier ForkLift 4 versions need 12.4 or later. It connects to a long list of servers and cloud drives, but the app itself lives on one system. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who ForkLift is for
- Fits if your files live on servers and cloud drives as much as on your Mac
- Works for web builders who want SFTP and S3 inside the file manager
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only, and 4.4 or later needs macOS 14.6
- Not for you if you expect updates for life, since a license covers 1 or 2 years and later versions run in trial mode
- Pricey if it's for the office, because the Single user license is personal use only and Small Business starts at $69.95
- Watch out: Dropbox Smart Sync isn't supported, and the vendor says no API is available for it
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who manage files on servers and cloud storage as well as local disks
- Web developers who want an SFTP and S3 client inside their file manager
- Keeping two folders, local or remote, in sync
Worth knowing
- macOS only. ForkLift 4.4 and later require macOS 14.6; earlier ForkLift 4 versions need macOS 12.4 or later.
- A license includes updates for 1 or 2 years. Later versions run in trial mode until a new license is bought, though covered versions keep working.
- The Single user license is for personal use; office use on up to 5 Macs needs the Small Business license, from $69.95.
- Dropbox Smart Sync is not supported; the vendor says no API is available for it.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$19.95 one-time
To start
ForkLift is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $19.95 one-time (Single user license with 1 year of updates).
There's no free version, but it runs in a free trial mode without a licence key, and BinaryNights' pages state no time limit on it.
Single user (1 year of updates)
$19.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
For personal use on your Mac. Versions released during the year of updates can be used indefinitely.
Family (1 year of updates)
$29.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on all Macs in your household, with one year of free updates.
Single user (2 years of updates)
$34.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
The personal license with two years of free updates in place of one.
Family (2 years of updates)
$49.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on all Macs in your household, with two years of free updates.
Small Business (1 year of updates)
$69.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on up to 5 Macs in the office, with one year of free updates.
Small Business (2 years of updates)
$119.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on up to 5 Macs in the office, with two years of free updates.
Trying it first
Free trial mode without a license key; the vendor's pages state no time limit
Read from binarynights.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Lifetime license with 1 or 2 years of updates
Every license is a lifetime license: the versions released during its 1- or 2-year update period can be used indefinitely, for as long as they stay compatible with your macOS.
Stated on binarynights.comEducation
Educational discount on request
Students, teachers and lecturers can ask for an educational discount by emailing support from an educational address or with proof of eligibility. The amount is not published.
Stated on binarynights.comOther savings
100 bonus days for existing customers
Owners of an earlier ForkLift license get 100 extra days of free updates on a new license when they enter their old key in the store.
Stated on binarynights.comOther savings
Second year of updates at a lower price
A Single user license with 2 years of updates costs $34.95, against $39.90 for two licenses with 1 year each.
Stated on binarynights.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, file sync, file management.
It connects to a long list of servers and cloud drives, but the app itself lives on one system.
- Two panes, tabs and workspaces
- Shows two file panes side by side with tabs in each, and Workspaces save a layout of open tabs and locations to load again later.
- Remote connections
- Connects to SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, SMB, AFP and NFS, with several servers open at once and drag and drop between them.
- Folder sync
- Compares a local or remote source and target folder to find matching, modified, new and deleted files, then synchronizes them one-way or two-way. A sync can be saved as a favorite.
- Preview and remote editing
- A preview panel plays audio and video and shows images and PDFs. Text files can be edited in place, and remote files open in your preferred editor and upload on save.
- Archive management
- Browses local and remote archives as if they were ordinary folders, including Quick Look, search and filter.
- Git, Terminal and command line tools
- Shows the git status of files with add, commit, push and pull, opens a Terminal, iTerm, Warp or Ghostty window at the current path, and runs command line tools by shortcut.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Amazon S3
- Backblaze B2
- Google Drive
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Dropbox
- iCloud
ForkLift is made by BinaryNights LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
36/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
ForkLift's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 24 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. ForkLift’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 94
- BFeaturesAbove 72 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace ForkLift you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $19.95, paid once.
What you could not
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2 and Google Drive among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. ForkLift’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Path Finder, Total Commander, Directory Opus and Files
The 4 tools ForkLift is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Path Finder
Free trial · from $2.95/mo
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, built as a Finder alternative.
- ForkLift can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Total Commander
Free trial · from €42 one-time
Two-pane file manager for Windows with FTP and archive tools.
- Only ForkLift lists a macOS app.
- Only Total Commander lists Windows and Android apps.
- ForkLift also covers file sync.
- 2.2GPA
Directory Opus
Free trial · from $89 one-time
Highly configurable file manager that replaces Windows Explorer.
- Only ForkLift lists a macOS app.
- Only Directory Opus lists a Windows app.
- ForkLift also covers file sync.
- 2.8GPA
Files
Free plan · from $12.99 one-time
Open-source file manager for Windows with tabs and dual pane.
- Files has a free plan. ForkLift does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ForkLift lists a macOS app.
- Only Files lists a Windows app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is ForkLift free?
No, ForkLift is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial mode without a license key; the vendor's pages state no time limit.
How much does ForkLift cost?
ForkLift lists 6 plans. Single user (1 year of updates): $19.95 one-time purchase, lifetime license.
What platforms does ForkLift work on?
ForkLift is available on macOS.
Does ForkLift offer any discounts?
ForkLift publicly lists the following: Lifetime license with 1 or 2 years of updates; Educational discount on request; 100 bonus days for existing customers; Second year of updates at a lower price.
Does ForkLift have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. ForkLift is listed for macOS.
Does ForkLift have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. ForkLift is listed for macOS.
Is ForkLift open source?
ForkLift is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does ForkLift integrate with?
ForkLift's listing names Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox and iCloud.
Does ForkLift have a student discount?
Educational discount on request. Students, teachers and lecturers can ask for an educational discount by emailing support from an educational address or with proof of eligibility.
Who makes ForkLift?
ForkLift is made by BinaryNights LLC.
What are the alternatives to ForkLift?
The closest alternatives to ForkLift in our directory are Path Finder, Total Commander, Directory Opus and Files.
How does ForkLift compare with other desktop utilities?
ForkLift's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
Could I make my own version of ForkLift?
To replace ForkLift you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ForkLift’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from BinaryNights' own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-18.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by BinaryNights LLC. Prices change, so check binarynights.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ForkLift, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/forklift
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ForkLift: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/forklift
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/forklift/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after ForkLift, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ForkLift’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ForkLift is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by BinaryNights LLC. Prices and plans change: check binarynights.com before you buy.