In development for macOS
Your folders. Unfolded.
Foldbase keeps everything you like about Finder. The tags, file names and spreadsheets you track your work with become real columns and views.
| Name | Status | Project | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research notes.pdf | In progress | Field study | |
| Project brief.pages | Review | Website | |
| Interview plan.docx | In progress | Field study | |
| Trip itinerary.pdf | Planned | Personal | |
| Moodboard.png | Review | Website |
In progress2
- Research notes
.pdf - Interview plan
.docx
Review2
- Project brief
.pages - Moodboard
.png
Planned1
- Trip itinerary
.pdf
Project brief
- Status
- Review
- Project
- Website
- Due date
- Notes
- Second draft
- Pages
- 12
- Approved
- Yes
- Link
- example.com/brief
- Text
- Select
- Date
- Number
- Checkbox
- URL
Made for your work
Your system, without the workarounds.
Pick your kind of work and see the same folder in Finder and in Foldbase.
Freelance designers, writers and consultants
What’s waiting for the client’s feedback?
- Status and due date are columns, so file names stay clean.
- A saved view lists what waits for feedback, by due date.
- A live group gathers Feedback items from every client folder.
Properties stay on this Mac. They don’t sync to your other Macs yet.
More about client projectsClients twice: in Finder, where file names carry the status, and in Foldbase, where Status and Due date are columns. Use the slider to reveal more of either.
Drag the divider to compare.
Podcasters, video makers and newsletter writers
Which episode comes out next week, and is its edit done?
- A board shows every episode, from idea to published.
- The calendar shows publish dates. Drag to reschedule.
- Links to published pages and guest notes sit next to the script.
External footage drives need APFS for properties.
More about content productionPodcast twice: in Finder, where file names carry the status, and in Foldbase, where Stage and Publish date are columns. Use the slider to reveal more of either.
Drag the divider to compare.
Theses, PhDs and research projects
Which sources have I read, and which one mentioned the sample size?
- Search finds text inside PDFs and shows the line, without Spotlight.
- Reading status, chapter and DOI sit next to each PDF.
- A ready-made board sorts sources into To read, Read and Cited.
Keep your reference manager for citations. PDFs over 10 MB aren’t searched inside.
More about research and thesesThesis twice: in Finder, where file names carry the status, and in Foldbase, where Reading and Chapter are columns. Use the slider to reveal more of either.
Drag the divider to compare.
Many local repositories and a terminal always open
Which repositories have uncommitted changes?
- Project Type is read from files like package.json, never changed.
- Git status shows branch, changes, ahead and behind. No fetching.
- ⌃⌘O opens VS Code, Cursor, Zed or Xcode. iTerm, Ghostty and Warp work too.
Project Type and Git status are off until you turn them on.
More for developersDeveloper twice: in Finder, where file names carry the status, and in Foldbase, where Git Status and Project Type are columns. Use the slider to reveal more of either.
Drag the divider to compare.
How it works
A layer of context over the folders you have.
Foldbase doesn’t ask you to start over. It adds structure on top of what is already on your Mac.
Give files context.
Add properties like Status, Project and Due date, and a note to any file or folder. The details that matter sit right next to your files, typed and consistent.
Research notes.pdf
Choose a file, then change its properties.Give folders perspective.
Finder’s icons, list, columns and gallery are all here, on the same shortcuts. Foldbase adds a board, cards and a calendar. Save a view for each kind of work, put its cards in your own order and switch without moving a thing.
In progress2
- Research notes
.pdf - Trip itinerary
.pdf
Review1
- Project brief
.pages
Planned0
No files
Same files, three saved views. Nothing moved.
- Research notes
A space for every project.
Give each project its own sidebar with pinned folders, links and a live group that gathers matching files. Switch spaces and the window follows.
Pinned
- Client work
- Assets
- Style guide
- In review
In reviewLive group
- Project brief
.pagesin Client work - Moodboard
.pngin Assets
And more
Everything else, one keystroke away.
Foldbase has a command palette for every folder, file and command. Try it: type what you’d look for in Finder.
- Every Finder view, and then someIcons, List, Columns and Gallery on the same ⌘1 to ⌘4, folders that open in place, and groups by kind, date or any property.⌘1
- Search that finds thingsNames, paths, property values and text inside files, from Foldbase’s own index.⌘F
- Up to four panesSide by side or stacked, each pane with its own tabs.
- Copies you can trustVerified copies, clear conflict choices and an undo that checks first. ⌘X and ⌘V move files.
- The details Finder skipsFolder sizes, Copy as Pathname, New File, batch rename and Open in Terminal.
- Notes on any fileWrite plain notes on a file or folder in the inspector. Search finds them.⌥⌘I
- For developersGit status and project type for every repository, and Open in Editor (⌃⌘O) with VS Code, Cursor, Zed or Xcode.
- Nicknames and related itemsShow a file under a friendlier name without renaming it, and link related folders and pages.
- Quick image editsRotate, flip or convert to PNG, JPEG or HEIC. Every edit can be undone.
Working in today’s development build. Details can change before release.
Still your files. Still your folders.
Foldbase never imports, moves or locks away your files. Every other app keeps working with them exactly as before.
- Files stay in their folders, never in a database
- No account, no tracking, no upload
Is Foldbase available now?
Not yet. Foldbase is in development and there is no download. Join the waitlist to hear about early access and to help shape what comes next.
Which drives and cloud services does Foldbase work with?
The first release is planned for your Mac’s APFS disks and iCloud Drive. Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and Proton Drive appear under Locations once their apps are signed in: you can browse and search there without downloading anything, while opening or copying a file does download it. Properties work in all of them on this Mac; for cloud drives they stay in Foldbase’s local database, and nothing is written into the provider folder. Connect to Server mounts network shares through macOS. Each provider is still being tested.
Does Foldbase replace Notion, Zotero or my accounting software?
No. Foldbase organises the files on your Mac. Keep Notion for documents, a reference manager for citations and accounting software for invoices; Foldbase adds status, dates and views to the files around them.
Which Macs will it support?
The first release targets macOS 15 or newer on Macs with Apple silicon only. Final requirements will be confirmed before release.
How much will Foldbase cost?
Pricing has not been decided. Joining the waitlist is free and does not commit you to buying anything.
Be part of what unfolds.
Join the waitlist and hear first when early access opens.
Planned for macOS 15+ · Apple silicon