I'm Martin, the developer of DockDuck at Heylel Labs (https://dockduck.app).
DockDuck is a file manager for macOS 15 and later. I built it because I move files around all day and Finder kept sending me to extra windows, extra apps or the terminal for things that should take one step: two folders side by side, renaming forty files at once, connecting to a server, grabbing a file I copied three folders ago. The alternatives that had the power mostly looked like they stopped getting design attention a decade ago. I wanted Finder's feel without Finder's ceiling.
It is native AppKit and SwiftUI, no web views, no bundled third party binaries. Universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel.
Browsing
Spotlight-backed, by filename or full content, with extension, tag, date and size filters. Any search can be saved as a Smart Folder that re-runs live from the sidebar.
Beyond the local disk
The native part
Every shortcut is rebindable from one command registry. The toolbar is customizable. There is an optional menu bar item and a global hotkey that reveals your latest download. DockDuck can be your default app for opening folders, so double-clicking a folder in the Dock, a download notification or another app lands in DockDuck instead of Finder. Pick your terminal (Terminal, iTerm2, Warp, Ghostty) once and every open-in and address bar command uses it. In-app update notices show what is new before you install. Light and dark mode, your accent color, SF Symbols, system materials, 14 languages. Listings, icons and thumbnails render on the first frame from cache and upgrade in place, so opening a folder never shows a spinner.
How it compares
Your files never leave your Mac. No telemetry on your files, no cloud credentials held, remote connections go straight to your servers. You sign in once to start the trial or activate the license and that is it.
Pricing
I am watching this thread and will answer questions here. Bug reports are welcome too, though for anything account specific please use the support page so the thread stays readable. Feedback on what feels wrong or what is missing is more useful to me than anything else, and the shelf and workspaces both exist because of exactly that kind of feedback.
DockDuck is a file manager for macOS 15 and later. I built it because I move files around all day and Finder kept sending me to extra windows, extra apps or the terminal for things that should take one step: two folders side by side, renaming forty files at once, connecting to a server, grabbing a file I copied three folders ago. The alternatives that had the power mostly looked like they stopped getting design attention a decade ago. I wanted Finder's feel without Finder's ceiling.
It is native AppKit and SwiftUI, no web views, no bundled third party binaries. Universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel.
Browsing
- Icons, List and Columns views, configurable list columns, one-click filter chips (Images, Documents, Code, Videos).
- Tabs with session restore and pinned tabs. Named Workspaces save a window's whole tab set and layout and bring it back in one click, each one can open in its own window, and auto-sync keeps a workspace matching the window as you work.
- Pinned files and folders in the sidebar, drag to reorder, and an editable path bar you can type or paste a path into.
- Dual pane on a real AppKit split view, with a folder comparison mode that visually links matching files on both sides and flags different sizes or dates.
- A Command-K switcher that searches every open tab across every window.
- A Home dashboard with your drives and free space, pinned items, recent activity and servers.
- Preview panel, Quick Look, and a Get Info window with overview, permissions and activity tabs. Permissions can be edited in place, including adding a user and applying to enclosed items, and it works on server items too.
- Folders refresh on their own when something else changes them, and type-ahead selection works in every view.
- Type terminal, code or git into the address bar and it opens that tool right there in the current folder.
- Batch rename with find and replace, add text, numbering and case changes. Live preview, and the whole batch undoes as one step.
- Organize into folders by kind, extension, year or first letter, with a preview of the plan before it runs. One undo puts everything back.
- Archives: create zip, 7z, tar.gz and tar.xz, extract those plus RAR. Everything runs through what macOS already ships.
- Quick Actions in the context menu: convert images between PNG, JPEG, HEIC and TIFF, resize to presets, combine PDFs.
- The Shelf: drag files onto a floating tray, navigate anywhere, then drop the batch or choose Move here.
- Real transfer progress with a live throughput graph, undo and redo on file operations, and Finder-style prompts for locked files instead of silent failures.
- Trash across all volumes in one view, with Put Back, and it refreshes live.
- Lock and unlock files from the context menu; locked items show a padlock badge.
- Transfer notifications when a long copy finishes while you are in another app.
- Finder tags: read, write and browse by tag. Everything stays visible in Finder and Spotlight.
- On macOS 26 it reads and writes the new emoji and symbol folder customizations, including on releases where Finder's APIs do not expose them to third party apps.
Spotlight-backed, by filename or full content, with extension, tag, date and size filters. Any search can be saved as a Smart Folder that re-runs live from the sidebar.
Beyond the local disk
- Servers: SFTP, FTP and FTPS, SMB and WebDAV. They browse like local folders, credentials live in the Keychain, host keys and certificates are handled properly.
- Cloud drives: iCloud Drive (including the merged app containers view Finder shows), Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and Box. Sync status badges, download on demand, and Remove Download to free space. DockDuck never talks to a cloud API and never sees your cloud login. It reads the filesystem and the provider's own app keeps owning sync.
The native part
Every shortcut is rebindable from one command registry. The toolbar is customizable. There is an optional menu bar item and a global hotkey that reveals your latest download. DockDuck can be your default app for opening folders, so double-clicking a folder in the Dock, a download notification or another app lands in DockDuck instead of Finder. Pick your terminal (Terminal, iTerm2, Warp, Ghostty) once and every open-in and address bar command uses it. In-app update notices show what is new before you install. Light and dark mode, your accent color, SF Symbols, system materials, 14 languages. Listings, icons and thumbnails render on the first frame from cache and upgrade in place, so opening a folder never shows a spinner.
How it compares
- Finder is fine until it isn't. No dual pane, no batch rename, no servers, silent failures on locked files. If you are happy in Finder, stay there. DockDuck is for the day you catch yourself with three Finder windows and a terminal open for one job.
- ForkLift is the closest established comparison and is strong at transfers. My bet is tighter native polish plus the workflow layer: workspaces, the shelf, folder comparison, smart folders.
- Path Finder is the veteran with the longest feature list, and it shows its age in density and performance. I deliberately ship fewer, deeper features that do not need a manual.
- Marta is fast, keyboard driven and free. If you want an orthodox commander configured in text files, it is genuinely great. DockDuck is for people who want the power with zero configuration.
- QSpace Pro and Commander One are capable and fairly priced, both leaning utilitarian in design. My whole thesis is that this category can be powerful and still look like Apple shipped it.
Your files never leave your Mac. No telemetry on your files, no cloud credentials held, remote connections go straight to your servers. You sign in once to start the trial or activate the license and that is it.
Pricing
- $49 one-time (Pro Lifetime) or $24.99 per year with manual renewal. The yearly plan never auto-charges; it expires and asks.
- Both cover up to 3 Macs.
- 14-day full trial, no card required, and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Requires macOS 15 Sequoia or later. Apple Silicon and Intel.
I am watching this thread and will answer questions here. Bug reports are welcome too, though for anything account specific please use the support page so the thread stays readable. Feedback on what feels wrong or what is missing is more useful to me than anything else, and the shelf and workspaces both exist because of exactly that kind of feedback.
