# S3 Browser for Mac: The Best S3 Browser Alternative

> S3 Browser is Windows only. BucketMate is a polished S3 browser for Mac, iPhone, and Web, with setup and features tuned for AWS, R2, MinIO, B2, and more.

Canonical: https://www.bucketmate.app/alternatives/s3-browser

S3 Browser is a popular Windows client for Amazon S3, with no Mac version. BucketMate is built only for S3, with setup and features for each provider, in a modern native app for macOS, iOS, and Web.

- **S3 Browser**: A Windows desktop client for Amazon S3 and S3-compatible storage. Runs on Windows only. Free for personal use with 2 accounts. Pro is a lifetime license per PC.
- **BucketMate**: Built only for S3, with support tuned for each provider. A polished, modern native app for macOS, iPhone, and Web. Free plan, or pay once: $29 Mac, $19 iPhone, $39 Universal.

## Which one fits

- An S3 client on Windows: S3 Browser
- CloudFront invalidation from the client: S3 Browser
- A polished, modern S3 app on Mac: BucketMate
- Features tuned for R2, MinIO, B2, and more: BucketMate
- The same buckets on iPhone and in a browser: BucketMate

## Built only for S3, tuned for each provider

- **AWS profiles and SSO**: Sign in with your AWS profiles and SSO, change storage classes, and restore Glacier files. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/aws-s3.md
- **R2 custom domains**: Copy public URLs on your own domain, and use EU or US jurisdiction buckets. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/cloudflare-r2.md
- **MinIO on localhost**: Connect to a local MinIO over HTTP and turn on versioning without the command line. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/minio.md
- **B2 versions**: B2 keeps every version. See them, recover deleted files, and clean up old ones. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/backblaze-b2.md
- **Hetzner locations**: One connection per location, grouped in a workspace for fsn1, nbg1, and hel1. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/hetzner-object-storage.md
- **Tigris tiers**: See and change Standard, Infrequent Access, and Archive tiers per file. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/tigris.md

## S3 Browser vs BucketMate (checked October 2026)

| Feature | S3 Browser | BucketMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Platforms | Windows | macOS, iPhone, Web |
| Interface | Windows desktop app | Modern native Mac app with Quick Look and Finder drag and drop |
| Provider support | Account types for S3-compatible services | Setup and features per provider, like AWS SSO, R2 custom domains, and B2 versions |
| Restore object versions | Pro only | Yes, on versioned buckets |
| Presigned links | Yes | Yes, with a saved link history |
| Free plan | Personal use, up to 2 accounts | Personal use, 1 connection |
| License | Lifetime Pro per PC, 1 year of updates | One-time Pro with lifetime updates |

Source: https://s3browser.com/s3-browser-free-vs-pro.aspx

## Where S3 Browser wins

- **Deep Windows tooling**: Years of features for Windows admins, including CloudFront invalidation, upload rules, and bucket-wide encryption.
- **Two free accounts**: The free edition allows two accounts for personal use. BucketMate's free plan has one connection.
- **Long track record**: S3 Browser has been around for a long time and many AWS guides still use it in screenshots.

## Where BucketMate wins

- **Made for the Mac**: A polished native app for Apple Silicon and Intel, with Finder drag and drop, Quick Look, and Keychain storage.
- **Tuned for each provider**: AWS SSO and Glacier restores, R2 custom domains, MinIO on localhost, B2 versions, and Tigris tiers, each handled its own way.
- **Easy from the first minute**: Pick a provider and the connection form asks only for what it needs. Everyday work stays simple.
- **iPhone and Web included**: Universal covers Mac, iPhone, and Web on up to 5 devices, with lifetime updates.

## Switching from S3 Browser

1. Copy the access key, secret, and endpoint from your S3 Browser account.
2. In BucketMate on Mac, choose Add connection and pick your provider. The form fills in what that provider needs.
3. Test the connection and start browsing. Add the same keys on iPhone or Web if you need them.

## FAQ

### Is there an S3 Browser for Mac?

No. S3 Browser only runs on Windows. BucketMate is a native S3 browser for Mac, built only for S3 and tuned for each provider.

### Can I use S3 Browser on Mac with a virtual machine?

You can run it in a Windows VM, but a native Mac app is faster, uses less memory, and works with Finder and Quick Look.

### What makes BucketMate different?

It only does S3, and it does it in depth. Each provider gets its own setup and features, like AWS SSO, R2 custom domains, MinIO on localhost, and B2 version cleanup. All of it sits behind a clean, modern interface that stays simple for everyday work.

### Which providers does BucketMate support?

AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, MinIO, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, DigitalOcean Spaces, Supabase Storage, Hetzner Object Storage, Tigris, and Google Cloud Storage, each with its own setup. Any other S3-compatible endpoint works too.

### How much does BucketMate cost?

There is a free plan for personal use. Pro is a one-time purchase: $29 for Mac, $19 for iPhone, or $39 for Universal (Mac, iPhone, and Web), with lifetime updates.

## Links

- Download: https://www.bucketmate.app/download
- Web app: https://web.bucketmate.app/
- Providers: https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client.md
- All alternatives: https://www.bucketmate.app/alternatives.md