Written by
Henrique VieiraSummary: This post introduces and compares the best 7 NTFS for Mac to help you have full read and write access to Windows NTFS drives on Mac, M1/M2/M3/M4 Mac. iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is ideal and you can free download and try it now.
According to Microsoft's official documentation, NTFS is the default file system for Windows, while macOS can only read it natively and does not support writing.
Thus, third-party NTFS drivers were born to help you read NTFS drives on Mac and enable Mac NTFS writing support, solving your Mac external hard drive read-only problem.
Given the plethora of tools and the difficulty distinguishing the best, this post compares 7 popular Microsoft NTFS for Mac software for your choice, including freeware and paid apps.
Special Note: All recommendations are based on our real test data. We picked up 7 best programs. Our tests compare each tool's performance, reading and writing speed on NTFS partitions, stability, and security.
| 🔢 Number of tested tools | 7 |
| ⌛ Overall test time | 2 weeks |
| 💻 Device we tested on | MacBook Air (13-inch, 2020), MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2024, M4) |
| 💻 macOS version we tested on | 15.0 Sequoia |
| 💰 Average cost | $0 |
1. iBoysoft NTFS for Mac
iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is the ultimate Microsoft NTFS solution that supports managing Microsoft NTFS drives on your Mac. Once you install this tool, it will automatically mount your NTFS volumes in full read-write mode. You can directly move files to and edit files on the NTFS drive on your Mac.
This small menu bar utility uses an intuitive interface, showing a list of detected NTFS volumes and disk management tools. NTFS drive for Mac computer by iBoysoft makes it simple, fast, and efficient to write to NTFS drives on M1 Mac, M2 Mac, M3 Mac, M4 Mac, and Intel-based Mac.
#NTFS for M4 Mac #NTFS for M3 Mac #NTFS for Mac Sequoia#NTFS for Mac Sonoma
- Pros:
- Automatically mount connected NTFS drives in full read-write mode
- Support macOS from Sequoia to High Sierra
- Fully compatible with Apple M1, M2, M3 and M4 Mac
- Repair NTFS file system errors
- Erase NTFS volume for data cleanup
- Format drive to NTFS
- Cons:
- No support by phone
How to use iBoysoft NTFS for Mac:
- Free download and install this program on your Mac.
Remember to allow it to run on your Mac in Privacy & Security settings. - Directly open and write to your NTFS drive as the software helps automatically mount the NTFS drive in full read-write mode on Mac.
Our Overall Use Experience
After a free download and easy installation, we can immediately manage NTFS files on the Mac. This includes adding, deleting, and editing files on NTFS hard drives.
When we compare the iBoysoft NTFS driver with other NTFS for Mac software like Paragon and Mounty, it stands out. It leads in mounting speed, stability, performance, and read-write speed.
Full Review
With this software, you can copy and modify files on NTFS drives for free. It enables you to write or edit to your WD My Passport or other brand of drive simply with up to 110MB/s read-write speed, as long as you install this iBoysoft WD NTFS driver for Mac.
This software is also highlighted with simple disk management foreground, including repairing NTFS file system corruption, unmounting NTFS disks, erasing other disks to the Microsoft NTFS, etc.
Editor's Review: We find iBoysoft NTFS for Mac very impressive in our testing. Firstly, it performs very fast while transferring files from Mac computers to NTFS-formatted external drives.
Secondly, it adds additional disk management features, making it possible to reformat, check, and repair an NTFS drive without any hassle. What struck us most is that the software works in full auto mode and you can't even feel its existence. - CravingTech.com
Surprised by the excellent Microsoft Mac NTFS free driver software? Share with your friends and families right now!
2. Mounty for NTFS
Mounty for NTFS is another free NTFS for Mac software. It invokes the NTFS mounting mechanism in macOS rather than installing a third-party driver to realize writing to NTFS partitions.
However, Apple changed the NTFS mount process in macOS Ventura. It removed the old kernel-based system - /System/Library/Extensions/ntfs.kext. As a result, free NTFS drivers for Mac, like Mounty and Terminal command NTFS write, no longer work on macOS 13 Ventura and later.
To make Mounty work again on macOS Ventura and later, you need to use two additional applications (FUSE for macOS and NTFS-3G for Mac) to support Mounty 2.
﹒Enable NTFS Read/Write Access with macFUSE + NTFS-3G + Mounty
#Freeware#Big Sur
- Pros:
- 100% Free
- Runs on Apple Silicon Mac
- Support Mac OS X Mavericks to macOS 15 Sequoia
- Fast and free download of the full version
- Cons:
- The installation is more complex on macOS Sequoia, Sonoma and Ventura
- Rather than slow write speed
- Unstable and data-risky
- No technical support
- Not show volumes in Finder
How to use Mounty for NTFS:
- Download and install Mounty for NTFS on Mac.
- Launch Mounty from the Applications folder in Finder.
- Connect the NTFS drive to your Mac. (If you have connected the NTFS drive to your Mac before installing the software, eject it and then re-connect it again)
- Click "Mount in Read-Write" to re-mount the NTFS drive in read-write mode.
- Start to write to the NTFS drive on your Mac.
Our Overall Use Experience
We found that this free program is only available through a DMG installer and Homebrew on macOS Ventura and later. This makes installation more complex and time-consuming, taking us about 20 minutes.
This free NTFS for Mac software allows file sharing between Windows and macOS. However, it is unstable and can lower Mac performance since our NTFS drives often switch to read-only mode.
Full Review
Mounty for NTFS comes with a frugal appearance. It will be a menu bar utility with a plain interface and only show the list of remounted NTFS drives. This utility won't install a third-party driver but makes use of the mechanisms built in macOS - native Mac NTFS free write support.
As an NTFS reader and writer freeware, it is common to encounter issues such as missing files and uneditable files. You need to bear the risk of data loss, disk failure, and slow transfer speed. Anyhow, it's good enough for freeware.
Editor's Review: It uses the built-in capability of OS X and will not install any additional drivers. This makes Mounty a small and handy utility for your daily file-sharing workflow. - MacUpdate.com
3. NTFS-3G
NTFS-3G is a completely free NTFS for Mac program by Tuxera to read and write NTFS drives on macOS, Linux, Android, FreeBSD, and other operating systems. However, as an open-source application, it more or less has security threats.
Consider a secure NTFS mounter for Mac? Click to get it.
#Open source#Freeware#Command line operation
- Pros:
- Freeware
- Support macOS 10.12 - macOS 15 Sequoia
- Cons:
- Complicated installation
- Command-line based
- Noticeably slow write speed
- No technical support
How to use NTFS-3G:
If you're not familiar with the command lines, you're suggested to try a different tool. Misoperation with commands may cause data loss and system crashes.
- Install Homebrew.
- Install macFUSE.
- Install NTFS-3G with the following command. brew install ntfs-3g
- Find the disk identifier of your NTFS drive with this command. diskutil list
- Unmount the NTFS drive with the command below. Replace /dev/disk2s1 with your NTFS drive's disk identifier. sudo umount /dev/disk2s1
- Enter the following command to re-mount the drive with NTFS-3G in read-write mode. Replace /dev/disk2s1 with your NTFS drive's disk identifier and /Volumes/NTFSDrive with a suitable mount point. sudo ntfs-3g /dev/disk2s1 /Volumes/NTFSDrive -o local -o allow_other
Our Overall Use Experience
NTFS-3G can help us write to NTFS drives without paying a penny. However, it is complex to run it. We got reports about performance issues and mounting difficulties during the usage.
Full Review
Aside from being free, NTFS-3G gets many complaints about its poor performance and usability. It is mainly a source code. Users need extensive knowledge of command lines, FUSE for macOS, Homebrew, or Xcode to compile it. This makes installation unfriendly.
Editor's Review: NTFS-3G for Mac adds drivers to your OS X installation that allows you to read and write to NTFS-formatted thumb and external hard drives as if you're using a Windows machine. The software comes free of charge and features several advanced options such as caching and filename normalization. - download.cnet.com
4. FUSE for macOS
FUSE for macOS (OSXFUSE) allows you to extend Mac's native file management capabilities through a third-party universal file system including SSHFS, NTFS-3G, EXT, and OXFS.
Installing this Mac NTFS free driver package is actually installing a compatibility layer to macOS, allowing users to use any fully functional file system written atop it to work with NTFS files. However, you need to mount NTFS drives on a Mac manually even with this application.
If you want to make NTFS partition writable on Mac automatically, try this tool!
#Open source#Freeware#Monterey
- Pros:
- Free tool
- Support macOS from OS X 10.9 to macOS 15 Sequoia
- Fully compatible with Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3 Mac
- Available in multiple languages
- Cons:
- Can't auto-mount NTFS partitions
- Complicated to use
- No technical support
How to use FUSE for macOS:
- Download FUSE for macOS.
- Double-click the .dmg installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
- Restart your Mac.
- Load the FUSE for macOS kernel extension.
- Enter the command below to manually mount your NTFS drive in read/write mode.
Replace /dev/disk2s1 with your NTFS disk identifier. You can check it in Disk Utility. Also, replace NTFSDrive with the name of your NTFS drive. brew install ntfs-3g
sudo umount /dev/disk2s1
sudo ntfs-3g /dev/disk2s1 /Volumes/NTFSDrive -o local -o allow_other
Our Overall Use Experience
Using FUSE for macOS to mount NTFS partitions in read-write mode is difficult and risky. We must manually mount the NTFS partitions each time to write to NTFS drives on a Mac.
This NTFS driver for Mac free resource requires knowledge of Xcode and command lines for a universal file system installation. Only after that, you can write to NTFS via the assistance of the universal file system.
Full Review
A lot of feedback from forums and the official page shows there are some compatibility issues with this free NTFS support tool. It also requires a tech background in command lines. It's recommended for developers who are aware of the risks and benefits.
User's Comment: It was sometimes necessary for older Mac OS X to have access to other file systems. There were (older) applications that needed this. Nowadays you normally do not need it. Modern OSX does not like it very much. I would advise you to uninstall it. You can replace it with another app. - discussions.apple.com
5. SL-NTFS
SL-NTFS represents Snow Leopard NTFS and it is just a free interface on Apple Mac computer to enable NTFS writing. It is a very basic Microsoft NTFS for Mac tool that can only enable write access and mount/unmount NTFS disks.
#Free app#OS X
- Pros:
- Write NTFS drives free
- Writable access to an NTFS volume
- Simple to install with a small file size
- Cons:
- Not supported on macOS Sequoia, Sonoma to Catalina
- Not compatible with Apple silicon Mac
- Not support large files and volumes
- Failure in writing to NTFS external HDDs
- Conflict with other NTFS support software
- No maintenance since 2010
- No technical support
How to use SL-NTFS:
- Install Homebrew.
- Open Terminal and enter the command lines to install SL-NTFS. brew install sleuthkit
fls -v
- Find the NTFS drive's disk identifier in Disk Utility.
- Enter the command to unmount the NTFS drive. Change /dev/disk2s1 to the NTFS disk identifier. sudo umount /dev/disk2s1
- Mount the NTFS drive with the commands below. Replace /dev/disk2s1 with the NTFS disk identifier and NTFS_Drive with the NTFS drive's name.sudo mkdir /Volumes/NTFS_Drive
sudo mount -t ntfs -o ro /dev/disk2s1 /Volumes/NTFS_Drive
Our Overall Use Experience
Generally speaking, the usage and installation of SL-NTFS are relatively simple. After you unzip the archive and launch it, you will see all NTFS volumes listed along with their read and write status. Then, just check the box under "Write permission" to allow Mac NTFS free write access.
Full Review
SL-NTFS is the less recommended free app because of its poor compatibility and untrusted performance. You should accept the potential risks it brings before using it. For one-time use, you may have a try.
Editor's Review: This is basically an interface that allows you to configure Apple's NTFS driver. The app is free of charge and the installation is super easy. - techsviewer.com
6. Paragon NTFS for Mac
Paragon NTFS driver is a file system driver, which allows macOS to write to Windows NTFS-formatted hard drives, SSD, USB thumb drives, etc. It claims to grant full read-write access to Microsoft NTFS on a Mac computer.
#10-day free trial#NTFS for M1 Mac#NTFS for M2 Mac#Sequoia#Sonoma
- Pros:
- 10-day free trial
- Support macOS High Sierra 13 to macOS Sonoma 15
- Repair NTFS file system errors
- Fast read/write access
- Friendly and modern UI
- Cons:
- Advertising updates and notifications
- Extremely hard to uninstall
- Charge for upgrading
- Loss of users' login account and password
How to use Paragon NTFS for Mac:
- Download this application.
- Double-click the dmg installer and install it step by step.
- Restart your Mac.
- Open your NTFS drive to edit files on it.
Our Overall Use Experience
This tool works well on mounting an NTFS volume in the read-write mode most of the time. Like most products that support NTFS writing, we should download, install, and connect NTFS formatted disks to our Mac to make it effective. However, it is almost impossible to uninstall this application after the installation.
Full Review
Microsoft NTFS support by Paragon allows users to write, edit, copy, move, and delete files on Microsoft NTFS volumes from their Mac. It's a commercial NTFS driver but you can use it free for a trial. However, after that trial period, it's a different story to uninstall it from your Mac.
Notably, it is very hard to uninstall it from your Mac after the trial period. Thus, it's not recommended if you are just a bonus hunter who wants to try a free product. Read the full review.
Editor's Review: It's an easy and brief install procedure that provides much-needed support for writing to NTFS volumes from Mac OS X. There is a range of usage scenarios, from switchers to Boot Campers and those who need to share drives between Windows and OS X computers. - MakeUseOf.com
7. Tuxera NTFS for Mac
Tuxera NTFS driver for Mac is a commercial Microsoft NTFS implementation for macOS built on the base of NTFS-3G. It is not as advanced and secure as iBoysoft NTFS for Mac which is designed with a sole driver.
#15-day free trial#NTFS for M1 Mac#Sonoma#Monterey
- Pros:
- Free trial for 15 days
- Support macOS 15 Sequoia - Mac OS X 10.4
- Fully compatible with Apple Silicon Mac
- Cons:
- Prone to corrupt users' data
- Update NTFS driver too late
- Slower data transfer rate
How to use Tuxera NTFS for Mac:
- Download Tuxera.
- Double-click the installer package to install it.
- Click Continue when installation finishes.
- Restart your Mac.
- Connect the NTFS drive.
- Begin to write to the NTFS drive on your Mac.
Our Overall Use Experience
Speaking of its performance, the Tuxera NTFS driver for macOS does the same work as other free NTFS for Mac alternatives. It helps open, copy, move, and delete files on Windows drives with NTFS format.
But a big notice we have to say is that it's more likely to corrupt data when you transfer files between Windows PC and Mac using an NTFS flash drive.
Tuxera NTFS for Mac not mounting drives on macOS Sonoma/Ventura
Tuxera NTFS for Mac has difficulty mounting Microsoft NTFS drives sometimes. Find solutions in this post to solve the problem. Read more >>
Full Review
Though not completely free, you can try Tuxera with a generous 15-day trial before paying for a lifetime license key. However, you should always back files up in case of data corruption. Read the full review.
Editor's Review: Most users notice the quick execution by Tuxera, and with the increased security – there's also one more thing where Tuxera excels. It's the ability to help and prevent file loss even before the error happens. It can preserve files in various cases such as power cuts without damaging the drive itself. - TheSweetBits.com
Best NTFS for Mac software comparison table
| Overall Score (out of 10) | Supported macOS | Auto-mount | Transfer Speed | Price | Operability | Other highlights | |
| iBoysoft NTFS for Mac | 9 | macOS 15 - macOS 10.13 | Yes | Fast (110MB/s) | Free trial | Easy | 1. Support M4, M3, M2, and M1 Mac 2. Format to NTFS |
| Mounty for Mac | 6 | macOS 15 - OS X 10.9 | No | Moderate (95MB/s) | Free | Relatively Easy | N/A |
| NTFS-3G macOS | 6 | macOS 15 - OS X 10.6 | No | Slow (87MB/s) | Free | Hard | N/A |
| FUSE for macOS | 7 | macOS 15 - OS X 10.6 | Yes | Slow (86MB/s) | Free | Hard | N/A |
| SL-NTFS | 6 | macOS 10.12 - OS X 10.6 | No | Slow (70MB/s) | Free | Hard | N/A |
| Paragon | 8 | macOS 15 - macOS 10.13 | Yes | Fast (105MB/s) | Free trial | Easy | 1. Format to NTFS 2. Support M1, M2, M3, M4 Mac |
| Tuxera | 8 | macOS 15 - OS X 10.4 | Yes | Relatively fast (100MB/s) | Free trial | Easy | 1. Check NTFS 2. Support M1, M2, M3, M4 Mac |
Note: All the tested results are based on MacBook Air (13-inch, 2020) and MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2024, M4) running macOS Sequoia.
Let's share these wonderful NTFS for Mac Free software with others!
How we tested on the 7 Microsoft NTFS for Mac software
To test and compare the 7 top-rated Mac NTFS reading and writing software, we created a macOS Sequoia virtual machine and other 6 clones on the 2020 13" MacBook Air to ensure all apps were installed and operated in the same system environment.
Then we connected an NTFS drive and tried to move 400 files (containing different file types, such as documents, audio, images, videos, etc.) to the NTFS drive to test if the drive was successfully mounted in read-write mode with each NTFS for Mac software.
After that, we conducted a few of the same write operations on the NTFS drive to test if the most common NTFS write functionalities were supported by each tool, including editing and deleting files on the NTFS drive.
During the tests, we also compare the stability and performance of these NTFS drivers. Moreover, we run these apps on a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2024) to check their compatibility and performance on Apple silicon Macs.
Reddit discussions on free NTFS for Mac software
NTFS is read-only on Mac, but writing to NTFS drives on Mac is necessary for some of us. So, an NTFS for Mac app is required.
We can see an intensive discussion in the following post on Reddit about a free app to write to NTFS partitions on Mac. The answers are decidedly diverse, but it can't say which is the best free NTFS for Mac software in a few words.
What is a good free app to write to NTFS partitions in macOS and one to read APFS and Mac OS Extended in windows?
by u/Fragrant_Hour987 in MacOS
To pick the best one from iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, Mounty for NTFS, Paragon NTFS for Mac, and so on, tests and deep analyses should be made on them. This post is based on real tests and user reviews, giving you a comprehensive comparison among the popular Mac NTFS drivers, keep reading on to select the best in your eyes.
7 best NTFS for Mac software review summary
Although the 7 tools all support read-write NTFS drives on Mac, each of them has pros and cons. After two weeks of tests and discussions, we found that iBoysoft NTFS for Mac outperforms the others.
The speed that iBoysoft NTFS for Mac mounts NTFS drives in full read-write mode faster than other NTFS drivers. In detail, about 5% faster than Paragon NTFS for Mac, about 10% faster than Tuxera NTFS for Mac, and far faster than Mounty for NTFS, NTFS-3G, FUSE for macOS, and SL-NTFS.
For stability, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac and Paragon NTFS for Mac run smoothly. The other five tools have issues of different levels.
Want to try iBoysoft NTFS for Mac for free? Just download it!
Verdict
All Microsoft NTFS for Mac software has obvious flaws or shortcomings (like slow write speed, poor compatibility, and no technical support). Some disadvantages can even put your data at risk.
So, just pay a small budget to get a better experience with the best Mac NTFS free tool - iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, including enough reliability, stability, compatibility, and simplicity.
If you don't care about the risks and want to try out the free NTFS reading and writing programs, Mounty for NTFS or FUSE for macOS are better free choices. Note that most NTFS for Mac free drivers are for earlier macOS editions, and few of them work smoothly with macOS Big Sur and later versions, especially on Apple Silicon Macs.
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