Fetch
Current Version: 4.0.3 (December 10, 2002) / 5.0.5 (January 3, 2006) / 5.6 (April 30, 2010)
Fetch, like Interarchy, is a powerful FTP tool with a great interface. Fetch was one of the first Mac FTP clients available, and it remains a favorite of many web site authors due to is simplicity. Version 4 added a number of new features, including mirroring, remote editing, and server-to-server transfers, along with a clearer, updated user interface (check out the new circular progress bar . . . WOW!). Version 5.0 - for Mac OS X 10.2.4 and later - was probably the single most significant update to Fetch since its introduction, offering an overhauled interface and stupendously increased functionality.
Version 5.6 - the latest release for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and higher - makes the following enhancements and fixes:
- Transient errors or stalls can all too often cause a website update or large download to grind to a halt, wasting time and requiring tedious and error-prone manual intervention. Fetch 5.6 automatically resumes uploads, downloads, and mirror operations, to ensure that network glitches and server hiccups do not stand in the way of successful FTP or SFTP transfers.
Since the latest "Universal Binary" versions of Fetch require Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later, version 5.0.5 remains available for users of Mac OS X 10.2.4 and higher.
Fetch 5.6 is shareware, $29 (available for immediate online purchase), and multi-user discounts are available.
Fetch 5.3.1 is shareware, $25 (available for immediate online purchase), and multi-user discounts are available.
Fetch 4.0.3 (which is the last version to run on "Classic" Mac OS) is also shareware, $25 (available for immediate online purchase), and multi-user discounts are available. Fetch 4.0.3 is a free upgrade for customers who have licensed 3.0.3, 4.0 or later from Fetch Softworks; the serial numbers for those releases will also work in 4.0.x.
User Reviews
[3.0.3] "After much frustration with my ISP's advice on maintaining my Home Page files, along came Fetch! For a non-techie, this is the best and easiest way to update my Web files I have come across. It's quick, doesn't take up a lot of disk space and the price is right. I agree - an essential!"
—Peter P. Huang, M.D.
[3.0.3] "I recently began uploading files to a remote web server and Fetch was easy to figure out within 5 minutes without reading anything. A user friendly product to get up and running without having to figure out all the features right away."
—Jim Conrey, Kentucky Country Day School
[3.0.3] "I live in a house where we have one phone line, and I always have someone pick up the phone while I am downloading. With Fetch's feature of being able to resume transfers after getting disconnected, I try to use Fetch for any big downloads so I don't have to start over."
—Derik DeLong
[3.0.3] "What can I say? First used it years ago as an idiot newbie to pull mail attachments off a UNIX mail server, have run various fairly complicated websites with it since (altho' I'm still an idiot!). One of those apps that has remained perfect while the entire fabric of the Internet reinvents itself every six months!"
—Michael Jardine
[4.0.3] "Absolutely reliable, stable, easy to use, very mature FTP client with some unique features (for Mac FTP clients anyway) like Kerberos support. If you want Kerberos, Fetch is the only way to go, and that's not such a bad thing. For despite its lack of SFTP support and rather old fashioned interface it's a top notch workhorse FTP client. In fact, I probably shouldn't put down the interface, as that's part of what makes it such an easy program to get the hang of. Nothing wrong with an old interface if it's still highly functional. I've used far prettier programs unable to do half as good a job as Fetch. Plus you get a cool running dog cursor - can't beat that! :-) Fetch also has a great help file that covers all the basics as well as an active user help forum where the program's authors will answer any technical support queries they're able to. Likewise free email support. Not only that, Fetch has a toll free tech support phone line (with a minimal one-off charge for solving your problem). I can't think of any other FTP client, or shareware in general with such well rounded, professional support."
—Jamie Kahn Genet, 3/10/2005
Submit another review!
version 5.6 (Carbon / Universal) for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later.Also See . . .
Can't find what you're looking for? Try a search:
Also, if you have an older Mac, be sure to check out the "Classic" applications page for more options.
Finally, take a look at ALEMIA if you think you know that name of an application, but aren't quite sure.
Also Consider . . .
These are applications that are newer and of potential interest, but which I haven't yet selected for permanent inclusion. Have a look, and let me know if you think they deserve to be part of the permanent collection!