# Best Free NTFS for Mac Tools \[Tested and Compared\]

## What are free NTFS for Mac tools?

**Quick Answer:**

Mounty for NTFS and NTFS\-3G. Both are open\-source tools. However, they require running commands and exhibit unstable performance.

If you prefer a simpler, safer, and more reliable solution, consider a user\-friendly paid tool \-[iBoysoft NTFS for Mac](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/), which sometimes runs giveaways.

This page focuses on tested free and paid NTFS for Mac tools, helping you choose a safe way to read and write NTFS drives on macOS.

![free NTFS for Mac software](https://iboysoft.com/images/en-ntfs-for-mac/free-ntfs-for-mac/summary-free-ntfs-for-mac-software.jpg)

When you choose**free NTFS for Mac solutions**to help write to NTFS drives on a Mac, be cautious that not all "free NTFS for Mac" tools are actually free and safe.

Based on our hands\-on tests, they fall into 3 categories:

- Truly free \(open\-source / workaround tools\) → limited stability, speed, and safety
- Free trial tools → fully functional but time\-limited
- Paid NTFS drivers → stable, fast, and safe for daily use

👉 If you're unclear which is the best free NTFS for Mac option, follow our test report. It also covers the comparison between the free and paid utilities, helping you get a clearer understanding of them and make a wiser decision.

## Quick overview of the tools we tested

| **Tools** | **Whether Truly Free** | **Key Points** | **Best for who** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1.**Mounty for NTFS** 2.**NTFS\-3G\+macFUSE** | Truly Free | ❌ Limited features ❌ Unstable and slow performance, especially for large files ❌ Complex to use | ✅ Tech\-savvy people who need to complete some tests ✅ Users who need free tools and ignore the poor performance and troublesome setup |
| 1.**iBoysoft NTFS for Mac** 2.**Paragon NTFS for Mac** 3.**Tuxera NTFS for Mac** | No, need to pay | ✔ Stable and fast performance \([iBoysoft NTFS for Mac read\-write speed](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/ntfs-read-write-speed.html)is the best among them\) ✔ Modern UI and easy to use ✔ Apple\-authenticated app and is safe to use | ✅ Tech\-newbies ✅ Users who seek safe, stable, and fast performance |

## How we evaluated free NTFS for Mac tools

### Preparations:

- **Three external drives** : a 2 TB WD SSD, a 1 TB Lacie SSD, and a 256 GB SanDisk USB flash drive.
- **Two Mac models** : a MacBook Air \(2020, Intel chip, 13\-inch\); a MacBook Pro \(2025, M5, 14\-inch\).
- **macOS versions** : macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 10.15 Catalina.
- **A Windows PC** : It is used to format the three external drives to NTFS, and each one is saved with around 5 GB of files, including videos, documents, and audio.

### Test Process:

1. Install the free NTFS for Mac software on the two Macs one by one.
2. Follow the app's official guide to mount the NTFS drive in read\-write mode.
3. Do these tasks on the NTFS drive on the MacBook Air and repeat them on the MacBook Pro: ✔ Rename and delete the same 8.47GB ISO file on the NTFS drive. ✔ Add a copy of the 8.47GB ISO file from the Mac to the NTFS drive. ✔ Start the Mac from sleep mode, delete the duplicate 8.47GB ISO file, and check if its speed is the same as what we did before. ✔ Restart the Mac, copy the 8.47GB ISO to the NTFS drive, and check if its speed is the same as what we did before.
4. Use the iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Mac's Speed Test function to test the read\-write speed of the NTFS drive and record it.
5. Repeat the operation for each NTFS for Mac tool.

## Free NTFS for Mac tools \(Open\-source apps\)

We have a comprehensive understanding of the 100% free NTFS drivers, based on my tests, and provide an objective review of them below.

### Option 1. Mounty for NTFS

[Mounty for NTFS](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/mounty-for-ntfs.html)is the most widely known free NTFS solution for Mac users. It activates Apple's built\-in NTFS write support and remounts the drive so you can copy, edit, and delete files on NTFS volumes.

**How it works**:

Mounty does not provide its own NTFS driver. Instead, it mounts NTFS volumes in read\-write mode by re\-enabling Apple's hidden NTFS write support. This tool mainly works on OS X 10.9 Mavericks through macOS 12 Monterey.

Starting with macOS 13 Ventura, Apple removed the legacy NTFS mounting mechanism that Mounty originally depended on. As a result,**Mounty now requires macFUSE and NTFS\-3G to enable NTFS write access on macOS 13 and later versions**.

- Mounty → provides the menu bar UI and remount command
- NTFS\-3G → performs the actual NTFS read/write operations
- macFUSE → allows user\-space file systems to run on macOS

- Pros:
- Completely Free
- Simple and lightweight
- Works for basic NTFS write operations

- Cons:
- Relies on Apple's experimental NTFS implementation
- No guarantee of stability or data integrity
- May stop working after macOS updates
- Not recommended for large file transfers or long\-term use

**Best for:**

Occasional NTFS write access when no sensitive or large data is involved.

**How to use**:

Note:If your Mac runs macOS 13 Ventura or later, follow the full steps below. If your Mac runs macOS 12 Monterey or earlier, skip the steps to install macFUSE and NTFS\-3G.

✅**Install macFUSE**

1. [Download macFUSE](https://macfuse.github.io/2025/12/23/macfuse-5.1.3.html) and install it.
2. Enable system extension for macFUSE. \(System Settings → Privacy & Security → Allow system software from macFUSE\)
3. Restart your Mac. Restarting is required for the kernel extension to load. ![install macFUSE](https://iboysoft.com/images/en-ntfs-for-mac/free-ntfs-for-mac/install-macfuse.jpg)

✅**Install NTFS\-3G**

1. Run the command below to install Homebrew. Homebrew is used to install NTFS\-3G easily. /bin/bash \-c "$\(curl \-fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh\)" Press Return or Enter as the Terminal notifies, and wait for Homebrew to be installed. ![install Homebrew with Terminal](https://iboysoft.com/images/en-ntfs-for-mac/free-ntfs-for-mac/install-homebrew-with-terminal.jpg)
2. Run the command below to let Homebrew automatically install NTFS\-3G. brew tap gromgit/fuse brew install ntfs\-3g\-mac

Be cautious\! Some guides suggest running*brew install ntfs\-3g*to let Homebrew install NTFS\-3G. After my first attempt, it failed and prompted the following error:

ntfs\-3g: Linux is required for this software. libfuse@2: Linux is required for this software. Error: ntfs\-3g: Unsatisfied requirements failed this build.

![NTFS 3G installation failure](https://iboysoft.com/images/en-ntfs-for-mac/free-ntfs-for-mac/ntfs-3g-installation-failure-error.jpg)

After investigation, we learned that the*brew install ntfs\-3g*command is now Linux\-only, but third\-party repositories can be used. So, the command should be replaced with the one that we mentioned above.

✅**Install Mounty for NTFS**

1. [Download Mounty for NTFS](https://mounty.app/) and install it.
2. Grant the required permissions for Mounty if prompted.
3. Launch this app. You'll see Mounty shows on the menu bar.
4. 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 reconnect it.
5. Click Mounty on the menu bar and select "Re\-mount \[the NTFS drive's name\]." You are required to enter the admin password to remount the NTFS drive in read\-write mode on the Mac. ![Mounty mount NTFS drive on Mac](https://iboysoft.com/images/en-ntfs-for-mac/free-ntfs-for-mac/mounty-mount-ntfs-drive-mac.jpg)

⚠️ If Mounty shows an error such as "Volume is in use by another program," make sure:

- No Finder window is open for the drive.
- Disk Utility and third\-party apps are not accessing the disk.
- Spotlight indexing has finished.

Then try remounting the drive again.

Once everything is done, you can start to add files to or edit files on the NTFS drive on your Mac.

![read write to NTFS drive with Mounty](https://iboysoft.com/images/en-ntfs-for-mac/free-ntfs-for-mac/read-write-to-ntfs-disk-with-mounty.jpg)

Want more details about the steps? Follow:[Enable NTFS Read/Write Access with macFUSE \+ NTFS\-3G \+ Mounty](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/macfuse-ntfs.html)

**Our overall review**:

For macOS Ventura and later, extra steps are required \(need to install macFUSE and NTFS\-3G\). It is complex to finish the setup before making Mounty for NTFS usable.

And the read\-write speed is slow, especially for large files \(as for us, the write speed of GBs of files is relatively slow\). And during the process, my Mac crashes.

### Option 2. NTFS\-3G \+ macFUSE

[NTFS\-3G](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/ntfs-3g-macos.html)is another free NTFS for Mac program that helps us[read and write NTFS drives on macOS](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/read-write-ntfs-drive-mac.html), Linux, Android, FreeBSD, and other operating systems. However, as an open\-source application, it has security threats.

**How it works:**

NTFS\-3G adds NTFS write support to macOS by implementing NTFS write logic in user space, and it**typically relies on macFUSE**\(also called[FUSE for macOS](https://osxfuse.github.io/)\) on modern macOS versions.

- Pros:
- Freeware
- Works for basic NTFS write operations

- Cons:
- Complicated installation
- Command\-line based
- Noticeably slow write speed

**Best for:**

Technical users who prioritize cost and basic functionality over speed, stability, and seamless macOS integration.

**How to use:**

The operation involves running the command lines. Notably, misoperation with commands may cause data loss and system crashes.

If you insist on it, here are the steps:

1. Install Homebrew.
2. Install macFUSE.
3. Install NTFS\-3G with the following command. brew tap gromgit/fuse brew install ntfs\-3g\-mac
4. Find the disk identifier of your NTFS drive with this command. diskutil list
5. Unmount the NTFS drive with the command below. Replace /dev/disk2s1 with your NTFS drive's disk identifier. sudo umount /dev/disk2s1
6. 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 review**:

The whole process needs to run command lines, which is time\-consuming. And it works with the same performance as using Mounty for NTFS.

### Mounty for NTFS vs. NTFS\-3G \+ macFUSE

In most cases,**Mounty for NTFS and NTFS\-3G have essentially the same read/write performance**.

The reason is simple: Mounty does not provide its own NTFS driver. It only acts as a graphical interface for the NTFS\-3G driver.

For their actual performance, we encountered these troubles when using them:

- The mounted NTFS drive unexpectedly disconnected occasionally. Around 1 time out of 5.
- Transferring large files \(1 GB or larger\) to the NTFS drive is relatively slow and can even lead to my Mac crashing.

## Limitations of free NTFS for Mac solutions

Free NTFS tools usually rely on Terminal\-based NTFS mount commands and open\-source NTFS implementations without active maintenance.

Here are the shared limitations of them that we summarized after the tests:

- No official macOS system\-level integration
- No active maintenance or compatibility guarantees
- Lower write performance
- Lack of performance optimization
- Relies on running commands to use
- High risk of a break after macOS updates
- Increase the risk of file corruption under heavy workloads
- Only suitable for technical users

For users who frequently work with NTFS drives, these limitations become significant very quickly.

## Free ≠ Best: When a paid NTFS driver actually makes sense

At this point, you may consider upgrading to a paid NTFS for Mac driver. This is not a contradiction to this "free NTFS" topic; it is a decision boundary.

In general, paid NTFS tools typically provide:

- Native macOS system extensions
- Full NTFS read/write stability
- Support for large files and long sessions
- Compatibility updates for new macOS releases
- Easy to use; simple for non\-technical users

## Popular paid NTFS for Mac tools

Note:The following tools are not free. They are listed to help you understand what they gain by upgrading.

Most free NTFS for Mac tools have notable limitations, while paid NTFS software delivers better performance, security, and automatic NTFS read\-write mounting.

You can also read this[NTFS for Mac tech evolution](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/ntfs-driver-tech-evolution.html)to get a deeper learning of the differences between the free and paid tools.

### ✅ iBoysoft NTFS for Mac

[iBoysoft NTFS for Mac](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/)supports full**read\-write access to NTFS drives on Mac**. Once installed, it auto\-mounts the NTFS volumes for seamless file editing, copying, transferring, and moving on your Mac. Unlike most other NTFS drivers, this tool helps you[write to NTFS drives on a Mac without enabling kernel extensions](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/write-to-ntfs-drives-mac-without-kernel-extensions.html).

- Full NTFS read/write support
- Auto\-mount NTFS drives in read\-write on Mac
- Actively maintained for the latest macOS versions
- System\-level integration with Finder

[iBoysoft NTFS for Mac on Claude](https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/40626b31-f57d-47c8-8d15-5e19b799da14)

### ✅ Paragon NTFS for Mac

The[Paragon NTFS driver](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/paragon-ntfs-for-mac.html)is a file system driver that enables macOS to write to Windows NTFS\-formatted hard drives, SSDs, USB thumb drives, and other storage devices.

- High\-performance NTFS driver
- Enterprise\-grade stability
- Long\-standing reputation

### ✅ Tuxera NTFS for Mac

[Tuxera NTFS driver for Mac](https://iboysoft.com/ntfs-for-mac/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac.html), a commercial Microsoft NTFS implementation for macOS, is built on top of NTFS\-3G. It is designed with a single driver.

- Cross\-platform NTFS expertise
- Optimized for speed and reliability
- Free trial available

All in all, these tools are best suited for users who work with NTFS drives daily or handle important data.

### Benchmark comparison of the three paid solutions

According to macworld.com documentation and my verification, the read/write speeds depend mainly on the NTFS driver implementation and the connection interface \(USB\-C 10Gbps, Thunderbolt, etc.\).

Below are typical benchmark ranges measured using a ~1 GB test file on an NVMe SSD inside a 10 Gbps USB\-C enclosure. The same SSD can reach ~950 MB/s sequential speeds when connected natively and formatted with APFS.

| Solution | Sequential Write Speed | Sequential Read Speed | Crash / Failure Frequency | Compatibility Matrix |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| iBoysoft NTFS for Mac | 850MB/s | 900MB/s | Very Low | macOS 26 \- macOS 10.13 Intel\-based & Apple Silicon Macs |
| Paragon NTFS for Mac | 840MB/s | 890MB/s | Low | macOS 26 \- macOS 10.12 Intel\-based & Apple Silicon Macs |
| Tuxera NTFS for Mac | 780MB/s | 870MB/s | Medium | macOS 26 \- Mac OS X 10.4 Intel\-based & Apple Silicon Macs |

These results indicate that the NTFS driver layer introduces some overhead, but the transfer speed is mainly limited by the 10 Gbps USB interface.

### Final verdict

Free NTFS for Mac tools like Mounty and NTFS\-3G can enable basic NTFS write access, but they rely on experimental system components and offer no long\-term stability guarantees. For occasional, low\-risk file transfers, free NTFS solutions may be acceptable.

However, if you regularly work with NTFS drives or handle important data, it is significantly beneficial to use a paid NTFS for Mac driver that provides stability, compatibility, and system\-level integration.

## FAQ

AFree NTFS tools are usually safe for temporary use without involving critical data. However, they come with important risks and limitations, especially when write access is involved, because: 1. Most free NTFS solutions rely on macFUSE, which runs at the system level and can affect stability. 2. If something goes wrong, there’s usually no help or accountability from official support. 3. Improper NTFS write handling can lead to file system damage or data loss.

ABecause they rely on unstable or unofficial system integrations that updates tend to break.

AIf you are seeking a completely free NTFS for Mac software, here it is: 1. Mounty for NTFS 2. NTFS\-3G \(rely on FUSE for macOS\)