ForkLift alternative for macOS, iPad & iPhone
EmpiricCommander vs ForkLift
ForkLift is a polished, mature dual-pane file manager for the Mac. EmpiricCommander covers the same dual-pane workflow and remote connections, then extends it to iPad and iPhone and folds in an integrated terminal, Git, and container browsing. Here is a straight comparison - including the things ForkLift still does better.
$49.99 one-time · no subscription · macOS, iPad & iPhone
ForkLift runs on macOS alone
ForkLift is $19.95 + updates, macOS only
Without leaving the file manager
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
An honest side-by-side - including where ForkLift comes out ahead.
One app across your Mac, iPad, and iPhone
ForkLift is a Mac application. If your workflow is entirely on macOS, that is perfectly fine. But the moment you want the same workflow, saved connections, and staged files on an iPad or iPhone, there is no ForkLift to install.
EmpiricCommander ships native apps for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS under a single license (1 Mac + 1 iPad + 1 iPhone). The Universal Shelf syncs staged files across them through iCloud, so a file you set aside on the Mac is waiting on the iPad.
- Same dual-pane model on Mac and iPad, single-pane on iPhone
- Saved SFTP/S3/WebDAV connections available on every device
- Universal Shelf staging synced via iCloud
Honest note: ForkLift has a decade of refinement on macOS. If macOS is your only platform, that maturity is a real advantage.
A file manager that includes the terminal, Git, and containers
ForkLift can open Terminal.app at the current folder. EmpiricCommander embeds a full terminal emulator whose working directory tracks the active pane, so you never lose your place switching windows.
Both apps know Git. ForkLift shows per-file status and does add, commit, push, and pull. EmpiricCommander goes further into the workflow - stage, commit, branch switching and merging, stash, and a branch/merge topology graph - and it runs on iPad as well as the Mac. Alongside it sits read-only browsing of Docker, Colima, and Lima container filesystems with auto-discovered sockets.
- Embedded terminal that follows the active pane
- Git: stage, commit, stash, branch graph, push/pull - Mac, iPad and iPhone
- Browse running container filesystems (read-only in v1)
- Locked Shelf: an AES-GCM encrypted vault for credentials
Honest note: container browsing is read-only in v1. Git runs on all three platforms since 2.1, over HTTPS with a token or over SSH, but conflict resolution is per file - take one side, or abort - never per hunk. ForkLift's own Git support is macOS-only, since ForkLift is a Mac app.
Transfers and remote storage
Both apps are strong remote clients. EmpiricCommander connects over SFTP (pure-Swift Citadel, with host-key verification and password or key authentication), FTP/FTPS, WebDAV, Amazon S3 and S3-compatible endpoints (R2, Backblaze B2, Wasabi, MinIO), Azure Blob Storage, and OAuth-authenticated Google Drive. Credentials live in the system Keychain.
Both apps sync folders. EmpiricCommander has four modes - Mirror, Two-Way, Backup, Fill Gaps - and they run local to remote and remote to remote, with a SHA-256 check after every copy that deletes the destination if it does not match. ForkLift's standout is that its Synclet runs the sync in the background on a schedule, which EmpiricCommander does not do: ours is something you start. If you rely on unattended, scheduled synchronization, that gap matters.
Competitor pricing and features cited here reflect early 2026 - check binarynights.com for the current ForkLift release.
Which One Is Right for You?
No tool wins on every axis. Here is where each genuinely fits.
Choose EmpiricCommander if
- You want the same workflow on iPad and iPhone, not just the Mac
- You live in the terminal and Git and want them in the file manager
- You browse Docker/Colima/Lima container filesystems
- You want one purchase to cover the Mac, the iPad and the iPhone, with no subscription
- You want an encrypted vault for credentials built into the app
Choose ForkLift if
- You need background folder synchronization and comparison
- You only use macOS and value a long, proven track record
- You want AFP and NFS network shares
- You already pay for Setapp and want it bundled there
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EmpiricCommander a good ForkLift alternative?
Yes, if you want a dual-pane macOS file manager that also runs on iPad and iPhone and includes a terminal, Git, and container browsing. ForkLift remains the stronger choice if your priority is background folder synchronization or you only use macOS and value its long track record.
Does EmpiricCommander run on iPhone and iPad?
Yes. EmpiricCommander has native apps for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS. One $49.99 license covers 1 Mac, 1 iPad, and 1 iPhone. ForkLift is macOS-only.
Does EmpiricCommander do folder sync like ForkLift?
Yes. Folder Sync runs over remote connections including SMB, and checksums every file on both sides after it copies - a mismatch removes the bad copy. Folder Compare works alongside it for structural differences; its SHA-256 Verify contents mode reads bytes off the local filesystem, so that part needs both sides local. ForkLift's Synclet remains the more mature choice for continuous background synchronization.
Is EmpiricCommander a subscription?
No. It is a $49.99 one-time purchase per major version, covering a Mac, an iPad and an iPhone, with a 7-day free trial that needs no credit card. Buy 2.0 and every 2.x update is included. ForkLift's licence works differently rather than worse: $19.95 buys the app plus one year of updates, after which you keep the last version covered.
What remote protocols does EmpiricCommander support?
SFTP, FTP/FTPS, WebDAV, Amazon S3 and S3-compatible storage (Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, Wasabi, MinIO), Azure Blob Storage, Google Drive, and SMB network shares - on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. All credentials are stored in the system Keychain.