I’ve experimented with a few apps and tools on how to best manage my files on macOS and in the end, no option is better than the other. It ultimately depends on how you like to do things and what functions you need out of a file manager. There are 2 file managers for Mac that stand out in my opinion – ForkLift, and Pathfinder. Both of these file managers are literally Finder on steroids. They allow you to folder sync, switch to dual pane view, and have better renaming capabilities. There are, however, minor differences and features that make each of these options stand out.
Forklift
ForkLift‘s ability to manage and access remote connections is simply awesome! I’ve tried a lot of renaming tools and ForkLift’s builtin renamer function is the best I’ve used. Its Workspaces function is a major time saver if you tend to do a lot of repetitive tasks requiring you to access specific folders and tabs (dual pane view included) regularly – https://binarynights.com
PathFinder
PathFinder is on a whole other level. Although it doesn’t seem to allow for remote connections… it makes up in a whole bunch of other useful tools. It’s “Drop Stack” function is a godsend for drag-dropping files from one location to another by placing files into a temporary “stack”. Integrated terminal?! Yes, integrated. These are what I feel pops out. There are more you can find out from their website: https://cocoatech.com/#/
This video is dated but is a good overview.
Worth Mentioning: Yoink
While I’ve personally enjoyed using ForkLift, I’ve admittedly returned to using Finder. Its simplicity continues to draw me in. However, PathFinder’s Drop Stack function is something I’ve come to love and miss, that’s where Yoink comes in. Yoink isn’t a file manager but it’s a great companion app which allows me to drag things into a temporary bin/holding stack and then drop them wherever/whenever. – https://eternalstorms.at/yoink/mac/