Captain's Deck — dual-pane file manager for Mac · version comparison

Captain’s Deck on the
Mac App Store vs Direct Download

Captain’s Deck, the dual-pane file manager for Mac, is available in two versions: a full-featured Direct Download and a Mac App Store version that complies with Apple’s sandboxing requirements. Both are priced at €19.99. Same dual-pane core, same SFTP/S3, same Git inline — Direct adds the embedded terminal, JavaScript plugins, admin mode, and Sparkle auto-updates.

Direct Download

Full functionality including embedded terminal, JavaScript plugins, process viewer, and privileged file operations. Updates via Sparkle.

Recommended for power users

Mac App Store

Sandboxed version with all core file management features. Some power features unavailable due to Apple's restrictions. Updates via App Store.

Get on App Store

Feature Comparison

See exactly what's available in each version.

Feature Direct Download Mac App Store
Basics
Price €19.99 €19.99
Updates Automatic (Sparkle) Via App Store
Sandboxed No Yes
Core File Management
Dual-pane interface Yes Yes
Tabs Yes Yes
Vim-style navigation (hjkl) Yes Yes
File operations (Copy, Move, Delete, Rename) Yes Yes
Batch rename Yes Yes
Quick Look preview Yes Yes
Flat view (recursive listing) Yes Yes
Views & Preview
List, Icon, Column (Norton multi-column) views Yes Yes
Preview panel Yes Yes
Hex/binary preview Yes Yes
Image thumbnails Yes Yes
Search
Quick search (Cmd+F) Yes Yes
Quick filter (/) Yes Yes
Full search (Cmd+Shift+F) Yes Yes
Navigation & Organization
Bookmarks & Quick bookmarks (Cmd+1-9) Yes Yes
Workspaces Yes Yes
Dropstack Yes Yes
Remote Connections
SFTP / FTP Yes Yes
Amazon S3 / Backblaze B2 Yes Yes
WebDAV Yes Yes
Google Drive / OneDrive / Dropbox Yes Yes
SMB / AFP / NFS shares Yes Yes
Archives
Browse ZIP archives (and JAR, IPA, APK) Yes Yes
Browse RAR archives (needs the free unar tool) Yes No
Create archives (ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2) Yes Yes
Create 7z archives with AES-256 password (needs p7zip) Yes No
Git Integration
Git status badges & file coloring Yes Yes
Stage/unstage, commit, diff Yes Yes
Sync & Compare
Folder sync (bidirectional) Yes Yes
FileMerge integration Yes Yes
Tools
App deleter Yes Yes
Column View (Finder-style) Yes Yes
Folder Sync presets (Synclets) Yes Yes
Operation Log Yes Yes
Remote editing (save uploads back) Yes Yes
Disk Usage Analyzer Yes Yes
Split / Combine files Yes Yes
Process viewer Yes No
Themes
Modern theme Yes Yes
Norton Commander theme Yes Yes
Power Features (Direct Download Only)
Embedded terminal Yes No
Bidirectional terminal path sync Yes No
JavaScript plugins Yes No
Privileged file operations Yes No
Fast search with fd / ripgrep Yes No
Server tabs reopen at launch Yes No

Why Two Versions?

The Mac App Store version runs in Apple's App Sandbox, which provides additional security but restricts certain functionality:

  • Terminal: The sandbox doesn't allow spawning shell processes (PTY/fork)
  • Plugins: JavaScript execution is restricted in sandboxed apps
  • Process Viewer: Darwin system APIs are not accessible from the sandbox
  • Privileged Operations: SMJobBless helpers are not allowed in sandboxed apps

If you need these features, choose the Direct Download version.

Which Version Should I Choose?

Choose Direct Download if:

  • You want the embedded terminal for command-line work
  • You want to extend functionality with JavaScript plugins
  • You need to perform privileged file operations (system files)
  • You want the Process Viewer utility

Choose Mac App Store if:

  • You prefer the convenience of App Store updates
  • You want the security of Apple's sandbox
  • You don't need terminal integration or plugins
  • You want centralized app management

Frequently asked questions

App Store vs Direct Download for the Captain's Deck dual-pane file manager.

Q. Is Captain's Deck on the Mac App Store?
Yes. Captain's Deck is on the Mac App Store at €19.99. The App Store version is sandboxed per Apple's policy — that means no built-in terminal, no JavaScript plugins, no Process Viewer, no admin/root mode, and updates flow through the App Store rather than Sparkle. All core dual-pane file management, tabs, archive browsing, themes, Quick Look, and most remote/cloud connections work identically.
Q. What's the difference between Direct Download and Mac App Store?
Both are €19.99 and ship the same dual-pane file manager core. The Direct Download (.dmg) is notarized but unsandboxed, which unlocks the embedded PTY terminal, JavaScript plugin SDK, Process Viewer, admin/root mode via SMJobBless, fast search via fd/ripgrep, and Sparkle auto-updates. The Mac App Store version is sandboxed — App Store policy forbids those features — but is purchased through Apple.
Q. Should I buy the Direct or Mac App Store version?
Choose Direct Download if you want the embedded terminal, plugins, admin mode, or fast fd/ripgrep search. Choose Mac App Store if you prefer Apple-managed billing and updates, you're a Setapp-style "everything through Apple" user, or your IT policy mandates App Store distribution. The core file management is identical.
Q. Can I move my license from Mac App Store to Direct Download?
The two versions have separate licensing. App Store purchases are tied to your Apple ID; direct purchases are tied to your email via LemonSqueezy. If you bought the App Store version and want to switch to Direct, email [email protected] — we'll work out a fair upgrade path on a case-by-case basis.
Q. Does Captain's Deck work on Setapp?
Yes — Captain's Deck is listed on Setapp as a standalone app, sold separately from the Setapp subscription bundle. It's the full direct-download build (terminal, plugins, admin mode included), with updates delivered through the Setapp client.

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Direct Download Download on the Mac App Store