Maestral, the Open Source Splendidly Simple Mac Dropbox Client, Has Been Retired
Maestral, the open-source Mac Dropbox client known for its simple and lightweight syncing, has been retired. Developer Sam Schott archived the project in July 2026, citing lack of time and no longer using Dropbox himself. The current version will continue working for now but will not receive further updates or maintenance.
Background
Maestral was a popular open-source third-party Dropbox client for macOS, maintained by a single developer (Sam Schott). It provided a lightweight alternative to Dropbox's official Mac app, which many users consider bloated and overly complex. Unlike the official client, Maestral avoided Apple's newer File Provider API and instead focused on simple folder syncing — the original Dropbox experience. Because Maestral used Dropbox's public APIs, it was not a hack but a legitimate alternative client. The project has now been archived; certificates will eventually expire, making the current version stop working. Since it was a one-person project and its developer no longer uses Dropbox, no active maintenance or fork is expected. The article's author (John Gruber of Daring Fireball) is a well-known Apple commentator who had praised Maestral as a solution for users who dislike the direction of Dropbox's official client.