Copsy vs Ingesto: two free Mac offload tools, compared
Copsy and Ingesto are both free, and both verify every file, so this is a real choice rather than free-versus-paid. Ingesto is free and open-source (GPL v3) and runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, with xxHash/MD5 verification, MHL export and detailed reports. Copsy is macOS-only for now and its edge is the cloud: it copies to a drive and to Google Drive or Dropbox in parallel, auto-detects the card by content, and pings you on Telegram when it's done.
Short version: pick Copsy if you're on a Mac and want a parallel cloud copy plus a phone ping. Pick Ingesto if you need Windows or Linux, want open-source, or want its richer report formats.
Download Copsy for Mac → · macOS 13+ · no account needed
What is Ingesto?
Ingesto is a free, open-source (GPL v3) camera-card offload tool that runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. It copies from several sources to several destinations in one pass and verifies the copy bit for bit with xxHash64, xxHash128 or MD5, writing checksum lists to each destination and exporting an MHL that Silverstack, YoYotta and OffShoot can read. It auto-detects the camera brand and model, names folders from presets, tracks cards so you don't wipe an unverified one, and writes ingest reports in HTML, CSV, JSON and PDF. There's a KIOSK mode for camera operators and a post-ingest hook that runs a command after each copy. It got a nice writeup on Newsshooter in July 2026, and it deserves it. No account, no cost.
Honest notes: Ingesto copies to local and attached drives only, with no documented cloud destination (Google Drive, Dropbox, S3). Its macOS builds are unsigned, so on first launch the app can appear as "damaged" and you have to clear the quarantine flag with a Terminal command (xattr -cr /Applications/ingesto.app) before it opens. It's a solo open-source project distributed through GitHub releases rather than an app store, with no mobile app.
What is Copsy?
Copsy is a free macOS app for offloading and backing up camera footage. Plug in an SD, CFexpress, camera, drone or audio card and Copsy auto-detects it by content (Sony, ARRI, Blackmagic/BMD, RED, Canon, drones, audio recorders), copies the footage to an external drive and, if you want, to Google Drive or Dropbox in parallel, and verifies every file with ASC-MHL checksums. It organizes clips by date and source, writes a delivery-ready report, and sends a Telegram message when the card is safely copied. Free, no signup, no card limit. It runs on macOS 13 or later, and a Windows version is on the way.
Honest notes: Copsy is macOS-only today, it's a younger project than the paid incumbents, and it isn't open-source. It doesn't try to be a full DIT cart with a clip library or QC. For copying a card safely, putting it in two places at once, and proving it copied, it does the job for free.
Copsy vs Ingesto — honest comparison
| Feature | Copsy | Ingesto |
|---|---|---|
| Price | FREE | FREE (open source, GPL v3) |
| Platforms | macOS 13+ (Windows coming) | macOS / Windows / Linux |
| Open source | — | ✓ GPL v3 |
| Checksum verification | ✓ ASC-MHL | ✓ xxHash / MD5 + MHL export |
| Auto-detect card / camera | ✓ by content | ✓ brand & model |
| Copy to a drive AND cloud (Drive/Dropbox) in parallel | ✓ | ✗ local drives only |
| Multi-source to multi-destination in one pass | ✓ (drive + cloud) | ✓ (multiple drives) |
| Reports | delivery-ready report | HTML / CSV / JSON / PDF |
| Phone notification | ✓ Telegram | — (scriptable via post-ingest hook) |
| Mac install | standard Mac app from copsy.app | unsigned build; may need Terminal xattr -cr |
| Distribution | copsy.app | GitHub releases |
Features were last verified in August 2026 and can change. Check each project's own site (copsy.app and the Ingesto GitHub) for current details.
Where Ingesto is the better pick
- You're on Windows or Linux. Ingesto runs on all three desktops today; Copsy is macOS-only for now.
- You want open-source. Ingesto is GPL v3, so you can read and build the code. Copsy is closed-source.
- You want detailed report files. Ingesto exports HTML, CSV, JSON and PDF ingest reports, plus a KIOSK mode for camera operators.
- You script your set. Its post-ingest hook can run any command after a copy, which is handy for custom pipelines.
Where Copsy wins
- Drive and cloud together. Copsy copies to your drive and to Google Drive or Dropbox in the same offload. Ingesto is local-drive only, so an offsite copy is a separate step.
- Simpler first launch on Mac. Copsy opens as a normal Mac app from copsy.app. Ingesto's Mac build is unsigned and can need a Terminal command to clear quarantine before it runs.
- A ping on your phone. Copsy sends a Telegram message when the card is copied and verified, so you can walk away. Ingesto has no built-in notification (you'd script one).
- Auto-detect by content. Both auto-detect; Copsy identifies the source by what's on the card across Sony, ARRI, BMD, RED, Canon, drone and audio media.
Who should choose which
Choose Copsy if you…
- Work on a Mac and want a drive copy and a Google Drive or Dropbox copy from one offload.
- Want the finished-and-verified ping on your phone over Telegram.
- Prefer to download and open a normal Mac app without a Terminal step.
Choose Ingesto if you…
- Need Windows or Linux, not just macOS.
- Want open-source software you can inspect and build yourself.
- Want HTML/CSV/JSON/PDF ingest reports or a KIOSK mode for operators.
What about PhotoSync, DaVinci Resolve or the paid tools?
A quick note so this stays honest. PhotoSync is a good wireless photo and video transfer app for phones, but it isn't a verified card offloader (no checksum step), so it's a different job. DaVinci Resolve's Clone Tool is another solid free, verified option if Resolve is already open, though it's drive-to-drive only with no cloud. And the paid incumbents (OffShoot / Hedge, ShotPut Pro, Pomfort Silverstack) earn their price if you need Windows plus a mature support contract, formal PDF deliverables or a full DIT cart. See our roundup of free offload software and free Hedge alternative for the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
Offload your next card for free — to a drive and the cloud
Copsy, a free Mac camera-offload app. Auto-detect, copy to a drive and Google Drive or Dropbox in parallel, ASC-MHL verified, Telegram ping when it's safe.
⬇ Download Copsy for Mac