SFTP, S3 & cloud client for macOS
An SFTP & S3 Client for Mac - Inside a Real File Manager
Connect to SFTP, FTP, S3, WebDAV, Azure, and Google Drive from a native macOS app - then manage those files in a dual-pane window with a terminal at hand. EmpiricCommander pairs serious remote support (pure-Swift SFTP with key authentication) with the file management you actually do around it. Also on iPad and iPhone.
$29.99 one-time · no subscription · macOS, iPad & iPhone
No OpenSSH dependency
Plus native Amazon S3
Never in plaintext files
Every protocol you need, built in
SFTP
Pure-Swift SFTP via Citadel with host-key verification, fingerprint display, and password or key authentication. No OpenSSH dependency.
FTP & FTPS
Classic FTP with optional TLS. Credentials are stored in the system Keychain, not config files.
Amazon S3 & compatible
Native S3 API with SigV4 signing. Works with Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2 (S3 API), Wasabi, MinIO, and any S3-compatible endpoint.
WebDAV
Connect to Nextcloud, Apache mod_dav, Box, and any WebDAV-compatible server.
Azure Blob & Google Drive
Azure Blob Storage, plus OAuth-authenticated Google Drive with resumable uploads for reliable large transfers.
SMB network shares
Mount Windows shares and NAS devices via the native NetFS framework on macOS.
A transfer client and a file manager at once
A standalone SFTP client gets files on and off a server. But you still open Finder to organize what you downloaded, a terminal to run a command, and another window to compare two folders. EmpiricCommander folds that into one dual-pane window: a remote server in one pane, a local folder in the other, and a terminal a keystroke away.
You can drag straight from an S3 bucket to a Google Drive folder, or from SFTP to local, without a visible intermediate download. Saved connection profiles keep every host one click away.
- Either pane can be local or any remote backend
- Cross-backend transfers (S3 to Drive, SFTP to local, and so on)
- Connections also appear under Locations in the system Files app
- Batch rename, archive browsing, and Quick Look on remote files
Security handled properly
SFTP uses host-key verification with fingerprint display so you can confirm you are connecting to the right server, and supports key-based authentication, not just passwords. Every connection password, OAuth token, and private key lives in the system Keychain - never in plaintext files or UserDefaults.
For secrets you carry around, the Locked Shelf is an AES-GCM encrypted vault with a passphrase-derived key (PBKDF2).
- Host-key verification with fingerprint display
- Password and key authentication for SFTP
- Keychain-backed credential storage
- AES-GCM encrypted Locked Shelf for secrets
On your Mac, iPad, and iPhone
The same connections and workflow are available on native iPad and iPhone apps under one license, so you can check a server or pull a file from your phone. The Universal Shelf syncs staged files across devices via iCloud.
SMB/CIFS network shares use macOS frameworks and are macOS-only; SFTP, FTP, S3, WebDAV, Azure, and Google Drive work across all three platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EmpiricCommander a good SFTP client for Mac?
Yes. It uses pure-Swift SFTP (Citadel) with host-key verification and password or key authentication, and pairs it with a dual-pane file manager and a built-in terminal, so you manage files and run commands without leaving the app.
Does it support S3 and S3-compatible storage?
Yes - native Amazon S3 with SigV4 signing, plus any S3-compatible endpoint including Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2 (via the S3 API), Wasabi, and MinIO.
Does SFTP support SSH key authentication?
Yes. SFTP supports both password and key-based authentication, with host-key verification and fingerprint display so you can confirm the server's identity.
Where are my passwords stored?
All connection passwords, OAuth tokens, and private keys are stored in the system Keychain - never in plaintext files or UserDefaults. Secrets you want to carry can also go in the AES-GCM encrypted Locked Shelf.
Can I use it on iPhone and iPad?
Yes - native macOS, iPadOS, and iOS apps with one $29.99 license covering 1 Mac, 1 iPad, and 1 iPhone, with a 7-day free trial.