SFTPro vs ForkLift
The ForkLift alternative for people who just need SFTP.
We wanted one tool that does SFTP beautifully — not a Swiss Army knife that also does SFTP. ForkLift is a whole dual-pane Finder replacement: powerful, and $45. If SFTP is the actual job, SFTPro is the focused, keyboard-first tool with a real editor built in, at $19.43 once.
What changes when you switch.
Line by line — what you leave behind on ForkLift, and what you get instead.
Built like a Mac.
Native SwiftUI and actor-based networking. Fresh design, real macOS performance, and zero lag scrolling huge directories — none of the cross-platform toolkit tax.
Keyboard-first.
Move, open, edit, upload — every action has a key. ForkLift keeps sending you back to the mouse; SFTPro lets you keep your hands where they are.
Yours forever.
$19.43, one-time — free updates included. No subscription, no account, no upgrade treadmill. Buy it, own it, keep it.
SFTPro vs ForkLift 4, side by side.
| ForkLift 4 | SFTPro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $45 | $19.43 |
| Model | One-time | One-time |
| Native SwiftUI | No | Yes |
| Keyboard-first navigation | Partial | Full |
| Built-in editor w/ syntax highlighting | Basic | Yes |
| SSH key auth (Ed25519 / RSA) | Yes | Yes |
| Host-key verification (TOFU) | Yes | Yes |
Where ForkLift still wins
ForkLift is a genuinely powerful file manager, and SFTP is only one of its many jobs. Stay with it if you want:
- A dual-pane Finder replacement for everyday local file management, not just remote work.
- Folder sync and compare, batch renaming, archive handling, and app-deletion tools.
- One window that spans local and remote, with a wide set of protocols beyond SFTP.
Try it free. Pay when you write.
Free to browse and preview. $19.43 one-time to unlock editing and uploads. Works on macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later.
ForkLift switchers ask
Is SFTPro a Finder replacement like ForkLift?+
No, and on purpose. ForkLift manages your whole filesystem; SFTPro does one thing and sweats the details on it — fast, keyboard-first SFTP with a built-in editor. If you want a general dual-pane file manager, ForkLift is the right tool.
Why is SFTPro's editor better for remote work?+
Open any file in place with live syntax highlighting, edit, and ⌘↩ saves straight back over SFTP — ⌘R reverts. It's a real editor tuned for the connect-edit-save loop we do all day, not a basic text box bolted on.
What does the $19.43 unlock?+
Browsing, previewing, and downloading are free. The one-time $19.43 unlocks editing and saving in place, uploads, and file operations (rename, delete, move, permissions, new folder).