# Marta review (2026): is it any good? > Native macOS file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Marta is a file manager for macOS written in Swift, with tabs, an action panel and archive support. It is customized through a configuration language and Lua plugins, and the vendor invites support through Patreon. - **Category:** Desktop Utilities - **Made by:** Yan Zhulanow - **Website:** https://marta.sh/ - **Runs on:** macOS - **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you want a finished release, since the download page says it is in beta. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Marta is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** The download page lists no price and invites support on Patreon; the release is labeled beta. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | Download listed without a price; optional Patreon support. | Read from https://marta.sh/download on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Marta before buying. ## Key features - **Native macOS app:** Written entirely in Swift, according to the vendor. - **Keyboard and mouse:** Works by keyboard or mouse, with an Actions Panel opened by Command-Shift-P. - **Archives as folders:** Opens and writes ZIP and opens RAR, 7Z, XAR, TAR, ISO, CAB, LZH and more, including nested archives. - **Lua plugin API:** Plugins written in Lua can adapt the app, and configuration uses a dedicated DSL. - **Built-in terminal and disk usage:** A terminal syncs its directory with a file pane, and Analyze Disk Usage shows what takes space. ## Good for - Mac users who want a keyboard-driven alternative to Finder - People who like to script or theme their tools ## Worth knowing - The download page says Marta is in beta; the latest version listed is 0.8.2. - Requires macOS 11.0 or later. - The site shows a 2016 to 2024 copyright and lists no paid support. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.6 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Marta is a native Mac file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins, free. The download page calls it beta at version 0.8.2 and its copyright runs only to 2024. - **Value for money: A.** No price on the download page; it asks for Patreon support. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free with no cap and no trial. No cap, no trial and no paid tier. - **Features: C.** Archives as folders, Lua plugin API, built-in terminal and disk usage, but the release is labelled beta. - **Ease of use: C.** No rating on record. Keyboard-driven use and Lua scripting mean a learning curve. - **Platforms and integrations: D.** Mac only, macOS 11 or later. Mac only, with no Windows, Linux, phone or web version. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Yan Zhulanow's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among desktop utilities - Marta's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0). - Marta has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/utilities ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Marta is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. - You could make: File compression: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: A file manager working directly on your disk. - You could not: A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page. - You could not: Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** File management, Keyboard-first, File compression ## Alternatives - [Path Finder](https://toolgpa.com/tools/path-finder): Dual-pane file manager for Mac, built as a Finder alternative. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/marta-vs-path-finder) - [ForkLift](https://toolgpa.com/tools/forklift): Dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/forklift-vs-marta) - [Commander One](https://toolgpa.com/tools/commander-one): Dual-panel file manager and FTP client for Mac. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/commander-one-vs-marta) - [Nimble Commander](https://toolgpa.com/tools/nimble-commander): Free dual-pane file manager for macOS, no longer actively maintained. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/marta-vs-nimble-commander) - [fman](https://toolgpa.com/tools/fman): Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/fman-vs-marta) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://marta.sh/ - https://marta.sh/download/ - https://marta.sh/download Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/marta Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).