--- title: "AnyBucket vs ForkLift 4: a ForkLift alternative for Mac" description: "AnyBucket and ForkLift 4 compared: price, two panes, copies on the server, commander keys, retries, a queue that survives quitting, checksums and sync." url: https://anybucket.app/compare/forklift lang: en --- # AnyBucket vs ForkLift, built for servers Both put two panes side by side and copy between servers. AnyBucket is made for the transfers themselves: copies on the server, commander keys, retries and a queue that survives quitting. ## The short answer **Pick AnyBucket** if your day is moving files between your Mac, SFTP, S3 and WebDAV, and you want copies that run on the server, commander keys and a queue that retries and resumes after a relaunch, for **$9.99 once, for two Macs**. **ForkLift 4** is a dual-pane Finder replacement with file transfer built in, from $19.95 with one year of updates. ## At a glance ForkLift's column comes from BinaryNights' own pages: binarynights.com (home page, store, manual, support and version history) and its release notes, checked November 4, 2026, when ForkLift 4.7.7 was current. | | AnyBucket | ForkLift 4 | | --- | --- | --- | | SFTP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, Amazon S3 | ✓ | ✓ | | S3-compatible stores by endpoint | ✓ | ✓ | | Reads your `~/.ssh/config`, jump hosts | ✓ | ✓ | | Two panes side by side | ✓ | ✓ | | Copy from one server to another | ✓ | ✓ | | Copies on the server itself when both sides share it | ✓ | Not described | | Commander keys: F5 copies, F6 moves | ✓ | Not described | | Automatic retry on a fresh connection | ✓ | Not described | | The queue picks up again after quitting | ✓ | Not described | | Checksums verified after transfers | ✓ | Not described | | Sync both ways | ✓ | ✓ | | Notifications when transfers finish | ✓ | Not described | | Price | $9.99 once, for two Macs | $19.95 with one year of updates | The [full comparison](https://anybucket.app/compare) has every row, with Cyberduck, Transmit, Commander One, FileZilla and the Finder too. ## Price AnyBucket costs **$9.99, once**. One license covers two Macs, and there's no account to create. ForkLift 4 is a lifetime license with a fixed period of free updates: $19.95 for one user with one year of updates, or $34.95 for one user with two years. Family licenses for all the Macs in a household cost $29.95 or $49.95, and Small Business licenses for up to five Macs $69.95 or $119.95. After the update period, you keep using the latest version your license covers. ## Copies that stay on the server Both apps connect to several servers at once and copy between them. AnyBucket also notices when both panes are on the same server and runs the copy there: **S3 CopyObject**, **WebDAV COPY**, and `cp` over SSH when the SFTP account has a shell. Nothing comes down to your Mac. Between two different servers, files stream through a small, bounded spool on your Mac. Moves copy, verify, then delete. See [server to server](https://anybucket.app/features/server-to-server). ## The keyboard ForkLift has Quick Open and customizable shortcuts. AnyBucket uses the keys of the two-pane commanders: **F5** copies, **F6** moves, **F2** renames, **F3** opens Quick Look, **F4** edits, **F7** makes a folder and **F8** deletes. Space marks, ⇥ switches panes and **+** marks by pattern. **⌘K** goes to bookmarks, recent folders, open tabs or a pasted server address, and **⌘G** copies the marked files anywhere you pick. See [all shortcuts](https://anybucket.app/shortcuts). ## Transfers that finish ForkLift's queue can be reordered, with conflict rules and bandwidth limits. AnyBucket's queue retries transient failures by itself on a fresh connection, after 1, 3 and 8 seconds. It's saved as it runs, so quitting the app or a restart doesn't lose it: interrupted transfers come back at the next launch. Checksums are verified where the protocol allows, and a notification tells you when a batch is done. See [the transfer queue](https://anybucket.app/features/transfer-queue). Both apps sync two folders either way or both ways. AnyBucket's [Compare & Sync](https://anybucket.app/features/compare-sync) lists every file with its action, and you can change any row before anything moves. ## SSH ForkLift moved its SFTP to OpenSSH in 4.2.6 and respects your `~/.ssh/config`, `ProxyJump` included. AnyBucket runs the `ssh` that comes with macOS in the same spirit: whatever works with `ssh user@host` in Terminal works in AnyBucket, with your keys, agent, config and security keys. See [SSH keys and jump hosts](https://anybucket.app/guides/ssh-keys-and-jump-hosts). ## Where ForkLift shines ForkLift is a full Finder replacement that can be your default file viewer. It also connects to SMB, AFP and NFS shares, and comes with tools such as Multi Rename and App Deleter. ## Switching to AnyBucket 1. In AnyBucket, press **⇧⌘K** for each server, or paste its address into the palette (⌘K) and press ⌥↩ to save it as a bookmark. 2. SFTP hosts in your `~/.ssh/config` work as they are. 3. Save the tabs you use every day as a [workspace](https://anybucket.app/features/workspaces) with ⌥⌘S. AnyBucket sits happily beside Finder or ForkLift: drag files in and out of its panes. You can [try it live](https://anybucket.app/try) first. ## Questions, answered ### Can I use AnyBucket alongside ForkLift? Yes, side by side: drag files between AnyBucket's panes and Finder or any other app, and Quick Look and edit files from any server. ### Does AnyBucket copy on the server? When both panes are on the same server, yes: S3 CopyObject, WebDAV COPY, or `cp` over SSH when the account has a shell. See [server to server](https://anybucket.app/features/server-to-server). ### What happens to my transfers if AnyBucket quits? The queue is saved as it runs. Interrupted transfers come back when you open AnyBucket again. ### How much does AnyBucket cost? $9.99, once, for two Macs, with no subscription. See [download](https://anybucket.app/download). ## Read next - [Compare Mac SFTP, S3 and FTP clients](https://anybucket.app/compare) - [AnyBucket vs Commander One](https://anybucket.app/compare/commander-one) - [Server to server](https://anybucket.app/features/server-to-server) - [Transfer queue](https://anybucket.app/features/transfer-queue) **Buy for $9.99:** https://buy.polar.sh/polar_cl_pCF9yOjezTUaUqMPyUsxEho1EjcOvo6Bk49Q929LQCQ --- AnyBucket is independent software by [Clever Mechanisms](https://clevermechanisms.dev). It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Apple Inc. or any storage provider. Independent software in the spirit of Cyberduck and the classic two-pane commanders. Not affiliated with iterate GmbH (Cyberduck). Apple, Mac, macOS, Finder and Quick Look are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Amazon S3 is a trademark of Amazon.com, Inc. Other product names are trademarks of their owners. Email support: support@clevermechanisms.dev