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FileOctopus

A macOS file manager that works like Finder, but does what Finder can't.

Visit fileoctopus.com
FileOctopus video preview

What FileOctopus does

FileOctopus is a file manager for Mac built on four ideas:

1. Works like Finder, so you don't change your habits

The same Icon, List, Column and Gallery views, the same keyboard shortcuts, sidebar and Quick Look. What you do in Finder works here from the first minute.

2. Fast

Search results finished 29× sooner than Finder's default ⌘F search (median of 12 searches over 146k files on a MacBook Pro M3 Max; Finder also searches file contents). Copies run in the background, and you can pause and resume them.

3. Lightweight

About 15 MB to download. Native Swift and AppKit, no Electron.

4. Safe and private

It never overwrites a file without asking. Every copy is checked before an original is removed, and Undo works even after you quit. No account, the search index stays on your Mac, usage stats are opt-in only, and the app is signed and notarized by Apple.

What it adds to Finder

  • Split View: split any pane in any direction, up to 16 panes in one window, and drag files between them.

  • Remote servers: SFTP, WebDAV and S3-compatible storage such as Cloudflare R2, in a pane next to your Mac folders. Copy and move files both ways. SFTP and Amazon S3 are in Beta.

  • Search: filename, path and fuzzy search over a local index, plus Spotlight results and plain-language filters like "pdfs from last week".

  • File operations: pause and resume copies, verified moves between drives, and merge folders with a preview.

  • Compare Folders and Find Duplicates: see what differs between two folders and sync them (Beta), or find copies that take up space.

  • Everyday extras: Shelf, batch rename with preview, saved searches, workspaces, and AirDrop right in the pane.

  • Cloud folders: iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive with cloud status and Download Now.

Pricing: a free plan with no time limit, and a 14-day free trial of everything, no card needed.

Requires Apple Silicon and macOS 15 or later. Also on Homebrew: brew install --cask nghialuong/fileoctopus/fileoctopus

FileOctopus pricing

FileOctopus has a free version, and some features or usage are paid. Uneed does not list exact prices yet: see the current prices on fileoctopus.com.

What users say 5

5.0

3 ratings

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chugaconchaylonton-10f2mranhminh115-6e73つーつー / Tsutsualexwesterlund-2a43in.between.techsolutions-401c
Join chugaconchaylonton-10f2 and 4 others
chugaconchaylonton-10f2's avatar

chugaconchaylonton-10f2

Nov 13, 2026

The best Finder alternative I've used. It keeps the familiar shortcuts and views but adds everything Finder is missing: Split View, blazingly fast search, and seamless remote server (SFTP/S3) integrations. Love that it's a native, lightweight app under 15MB rather than a bulky Electron app. Highly recommended!

つーつー / Tsutsu's avatar

つーつー / Tsutsu

Nov 13, 2026

Keeping Finder's views and shortcuts so nothing has to be relearned is the smartest decision here, since that's what stops most people from switching file managers. Pausable background copies and checking every copy before an original is removed are exactly the safety details Finder has always lacked.

nghia-luong's avatar
nghia-luongMaker

thanks, thats exactly the tradeoff i wanted. the familiar parts should stay boring, and the extra work should go into the safety details you only notice when something goes wrong

alexwesterlund-2a43's avatar

alexwesterlund-2a43

Nov 12, 2026

Awesome Finder replacement with loads of extra file management features and a developer devoted to the app. I have been turning to it more and more and use Finder only by accident now. It will probably replace a bunch of other apps I use for less usual needs. It's nice to have everything in one and the same place. Highly recommended!

nghia-luong's avatar
nghia-luongMaker

this means a lot, thanks. keeping the Finder habits while making the less usual tools available in the same place is exactly what im aiming for. if anything still sends you back to Finder or another app, please tell me

in.between.techsolutions-401c's avatar

in.between.techsolutions-401c

Nov 12, 2026

Keeping Finder's views and shortcuts so nothing has to be relearned is the right trade-off; most Finder replacements lose me on day one because they change the habits first. Undo that still works after quitting is a detail I have not seen elsewhere. Does pause-and-resume for copies also survive the Mac going to sleep or an external drive being unplugged halfway?

nghia-luong's avatar
nghia-luongMaker

the pause state is in memory, unlike the undo history. while a copy is running FileOctopus asks macOS to keep the Mac awake; when it's paused that request is released. it should continue after wake if both volumes are still available, but i haven't tested enough sleep and lid-close combinations to promise that yet.

unplugging a drive is handled more conservatively. the copy fails, the source stays intact, and the partial copy is never committed under the final filename. reconnecting and retrying is required rn; it doesn't automatically resume across an unplug

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Questions about FileOctopus

FileOctopus is a business product listed on Uneed, with a free version and paid features. It's tagged with Productivity, Desktop Apps. See the best Productivity products for related options.

What is FileOctopus?

FileOctopus is A macOS file manager that works like Finder, but does what Finder can't.

Is FileOctopus free?

FileOctopus has a free version. Some features or usage are paid. The current prices are on fileoctopus.com.

What are alternatives to FileOctopus?

Discover similar productivity, desktop apps, macos products in the Uneed directory.

What category does FileOctopus belong to?

FileOctopus is listed under Business on Uneed.

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