CNET Editors' review
Fetch is one of the oldest and most well-loved FTP clients, whose cute fetching-dog animation has been running--literally--on Macs since 1989. Fetch can handle all your basic FTP needs, including SFTP and FTP with TLS/SSL, along with support for AppleScript and one-click remote file editing (with any kind of file and any kind of application). In addition to a fairly minimal and intuitive visual interface, Fetch saves you time with extras like Quick Look previews (optimized for OS X), easy drag and drop (including droplet shortcuts that save you from having to retype connection information), progress-tracking Dashboard widgets (shaped like, what else, doggie bones), autoresume of failed or stalled downloads, and a WebView feature that makes it easy to preview and share Web page updates.
Mac users have many more choices now for FTP clients than they did in 1989, including some free alternatives, and Fetch now falls into the middle ground in terms of price and features, with some notable shortcomings such as lack of support for Amazon S3.
Overall Fetch remains a solid FTP option with handy features that users have been appreciating for years, and a developer that listens to user comments to make the app better. Even when you do have problems, Fetch offers comprehensive help and active user forums.
Publisher's Description
From Fetch Softworks:
Fetch is a full-featured FTP, SFTP and FTPS (FTP with TLS/SSL) client with a simple and easy-to-use interface.
Fetch features include: one-click editing remote files with any application, automatic restart of failed or stalled transfers, Quick Look, WebView, droplet shortcuts, automatic support for Zip, Tar, Gzip, StuffIt and other common file formats, Bonjour support, Unicode file names, synchronizing folders using the Mirror command, automating repetitive tasks with Automator actions and AppleScript recording, a Dashboard widget for easy uploading and tracking the progress of your upload, and extensive online help.
Upgrades for licensed users of Fetch 5.3.1 or earlier are $10.
What's new in this version:
- Fixed a crash connecting to some SFTP servers when the host key has changed
- Fixed a problem with -9807 errors on FTP with TLS/SSL connections
- Fixed a problem with MacBinary uploads to Rumpus and other servers with MacBinary support
- Fixed a problem with mirror downloads not deleting stray files
- Stopped invoking discrete graphics chip on newer MacBook Pros running Mountain Lion to conserve battery power
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All versions:
5.0 starsout of 6 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"Can't live without it!!!"
Version: Fetch 5.6
Pros
Sooo very easy to learn and follow.
Cons
my mind is drawing a blank!
Summary
Easy to install and work with. No problems what-so-ever. Truely reliable.
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"Straightforward user interface, flawless functioning."
Version: Fetch 5.5.3
Pros
Long experience with this and earlier versions of Fetch, and never encountered a problem in any (basic) FTP use.
Cons
Absence of reviewable transfer log file (I never found such function at least).
Summary
Long experience with this and earlier versions of Fetch, and never encountered a problem in any (basic) FTP use. Problemless transition from System 7. 8, 9 to the OS X environment.
Generous free licence (subject to approval ofsimple application) for educational and non-profit users.
Why look for something else in a Mac environment ? -
"Solid FTP Client"
Version: Fetch 5.5.3
Pros
Reliable and simple to use. Drag and drop.
Cons
Saving and editing shortcuts could be easier
Summary
Used Fetch for years. Great FTP app.
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"Excellent. Works flawlessly."
Version: Fetch 5.5.2
Pros
Very user friendly.
Cons
I can't find anything I don't like about it.
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"Easy download and setup. Works great"
Version: Fetch 5.3.1
Pros
Easy download and setup. Works great
Cons
no problems to report
Summary
Very useful. Great product
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"Reliable. Easy to use. FANTASTIC customer support!!!"
Version: Fetch 5.3
Pros
I've been using Fetch FTP client maybe 9 years +- now? Through all the upgrades, I've always enjoyed using the software for the great intuitive interface. Really easy to use. Even better customer support. Absolutely highly recommended product.
Cons
Can't think of any.
Summary
Try it, you'll be hooked!
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"Great"
Version: Fetch 5.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Did exactly what I needed and the free educational (or charitable use) license will have me as their customer for years to come. -
"Awesome FTP application."
Version: Fetch 5.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I have been using Transmit for a few years now but upon trying the new web view feature of Fetch have switched to using Fetch for my FTP. Fetch makes it so easy to edit my website with the click of 1 button, it is great. There is a great feature that you can use to put files up for other people, such as coworkers or customers, to download, this works wonderfully for files that are to big for email.
Give it a try you won't be disappointed. -
"Excellent but not my favorite"
Version: Fetch 5.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Fetch is an excellent (S)FTP client. Very solid, clean and easy to use. Highly recommended and well worth checking out.
That said, I have switched to a different browser due to a few minor issues (which I reported a long time ago). But every program has its quirks and these may not bother you:
- If you click "Edit" on a file of unknown type, it will always ask whether to edit it as an image or a text file. Remote image editing may be a wonderful featurefor some, but I never use it so this is just intrusive. I want to be able to tell it to always edit as a text file and don't ask.
- If you use sftp and public key encryption (e.g. SSH Agent), Fetch insists on a password for the connection even though the password will just be ignored. If you use Fetch then you can avoid the hassle by saving dummy password so no big deal. But I'd rather not clutter up my keychain with meaningless entries and I'd rather be told something more sensible than "invalid password" if SSH Agent isn't running.
So I personally use Yummy FTP instead. It seems just as solid as Fetch and does not have the quirks mentioned above. Also, the author seems more responsive (which may explain the fewer quirks). On the other hand, it has one quirk of its own: one cannot copy URLs from Yummy FTP to Eudora because of a unicode issue I don't understand (and which doesn't happen with Fetch or any web browser).
(Also, if Pepper is your text editor: Yummy FTP has a workaround for a Pepper bug that allows it to display window titles for sftp remote edited files.) -
"The best of the bunch"
Version: Fetch 5.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I have been using Fetch since, what was it?, OS 7?, and have faithfully upgraded to each new version and happily paid the shareware fees. It is without question the most stable, transparent, easy to use, and rock solid of all the FTP clients I've tried (which include, among others, the "duck," the "truck," and the "captain"). I've found it to work in situations where other apps were just stymied.
