The Marta Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Marta 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.
Marta
The Insider’s Guide
Native macOS file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Marta’s own pages.
Made by Yan Zhulanow · checked Nov 13, 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 Marta’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Marta’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Marta, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Keyboard-driven use and Lua scripting mean a learning curve.
- 1
Best for a keyboard-driven file manager on a Mac
Marta is a native Mac file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins, free.
- 2
It is free
Marta has no paid plan at all. The download page lists no price and invites support on Patreon; the release is labeled beta.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Native macOS app
Written entirely in Swift, according to the vendor.
- 5
Keyboard and mouse
Works by keyboard or mouse, with an Actions Panel opened by Command-Shift-P.
- 6
Archives as folders
Opens and writes ZIP and opens RAR, 7Z, XAR, TAR, ISO, CAB, LZH and more, including nested archives.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 69 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Marta is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Marta at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Yan Zhulanow
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a keyboard-driven file manager on a Mac
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
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 Marta is for
- Fits if you want a keyboard-first file manager on a Mac
- Works for people who like scripting their tools in Lua
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a finished release, since the download page says it is in beta
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Watch out: it needs macOS 11 or later
- Watch out: the site's copyright ends at 2024 and lists no paid support
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Marta is free to use.
No price on the download page; it asks for Patreon support.
Free
$0
Download listed without a price; optional Patreon support.
The free plan
The download page lists no price and invites support on Patreon; the release is labeled beta.
Read from marta.sh on Nov 13, 2026.
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
Native macOS file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: keyboard-first, file management, file compression.
Archives as folders, Lua plugin API, built-in terminal and disk usage, but the release is labelled beta.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Marta is made by Yan Zhulanow.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
69/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
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.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Marta’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Marta is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
Marta is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- File compression: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Marta’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, ForkLift, Commander One, Nimble Commander and fman
The 5 tools Marta 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.
- Marta has a free plan. Path Finder does not, though it has a free trial.
- Marta also covers file compression.
- Path Finder also covers file sync.
- 2.6GPA
ForkLift
Free trial · from $19.95 one-time
Dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS.
- Marta has a free plan. ForkLift does not, though it has a free trial.
- ForkLift can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Marta also covers file compression.
- 2.4GPA
Commander One
Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
Dual-panel file manager and FTP client for Mac.
- Commander One can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Nimble Commander
Free
Free dual-pane file manager for macOS, no longer actively maintained.
- Nimble Commander is open source, according to its own site.
- Marta also covers file compression.
- 2.2GPA
fman
Free trial · from €39 one-time
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins.
- Marta has a free plan. fman does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only fman lists Windows and Linux apps.
- fman can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Marta free?
Yes. Marta is free to use.
How much does Marta cost?
Marta lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Marta work on?
Marta is available on macOS.
Does Marta have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Marta is listed for macOS.
Does Marta have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Marta is listed for macOS.
Is Marta open source?
Marta is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Marta?
Marta is made by Yan Zhulanow.
What are the alternatives to Marta?
The closest alternatives to Marta in our directory are Path Finder, ForkLift, Commander One, Nimble Commander and fman.
How does Marta compare with other desktop utilities?
Marta's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
Is Marta good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Marta A for value for money. Marta has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Marta?
Marta is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Marta’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
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 Yan Zhulanow. Prices change, so check marta.sh before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Marta, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/marta
- 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, "Marta: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/marta
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/marta/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Just Color Picker Insider's GuideFree portable color picker and editor for Windows and macOS3.2 GPA
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Mos Insider's GuideFree Mac menu bar utility for smooth mouse wheel scrolling3.2 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 Marta’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. Marta is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Yan Zhulanow. Prices and plans change: check marta.sh before you buy.