Mac file managers comparedBurrow and the alternatives
Every Finder replacement makes different trade-offs. Here's how Burrow lines up against the apps people usually weigh it with, including where they're the better choice.
- $29.95 a year, or a license from $32.95 Burrow vs Path Finder Path Finder is one of the oldest Finder replacements, with two panes, a Drop Stack, folder sync and merge, a Size Browser, a terminal and git. It's the closest of these to Burrow. Burrow adds notes, image tools, a command palette and SFTP servers in a pane, for $19 once rather than a subscription or term license.
- From $19.95, once Burrow vs ForkLift ForkLift is a long-standing dual-pane file manager and transfer client. Both apps open SFTP servers and network shares; ForkLift also uploads over FTP, connects to cloud storage such as Amazon S3 and Google Drive, and syncs remote folders. Burrow brings more tools to the files themselves.
- Pro $29.99, once ($13.99 on sale when checked) Burrow vs QSpace Pro QSpace Pro is a multi-pane Finder replacement with twelve layouts, deep customisation, and paid extensions for servers, batch renaming and a shelf. Burrow has fewer layouts but builds in git, Markdown notes, image tools and disk-space tools.
- Free; PRO Pack $29.99, once Burrow vs Commander One Commander One is a two-panel file manager in the Total Commander tradition, with a free version and a PRO Pack. In PRO it adds FTP upload and cloud storage services, and mounts phones, which Burrow doesn't do. Burrow is built around notes, image tools and git for work on your Mac.
At a glance
| Feature | Burrow | Path Finder | ForkLift | QSpace Pro | Commander One |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Command palette | ✓Yes | ?Not listed | ◐Partly | ?Not listed | ?Not listed |
| Servers: SFTP, FTP and cloud storage | ✓Yes | ◐Partly | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Compare and sync folders | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ?Not listed |
| Built-in terminal | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | –No | –No | ✓Yes |
| Git | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ?Not listed | ?Not listed |
| Markdown notes | ✓Yes | ◐Partly | ?Not listed | ◐Partly | ?Not listed |
| Image tools | ✓Yes | ?Not listed | ?Not listed | ◐Partly | ?Not listed |
| Price | $19, once | $29.95 a year, or a license from $32.95 | From $19.95, once | Pro $29.99, once ($13.99 on sale when checked) | Free; PRO Pack $29.99, once |
"Not listed" means that app's own site doesn't mention it. Each page has the details and the sources. Looking at Finder itself? See Burrow as a Finder alternative.