The lack of native support is a significant obstacle for Mac users who need to transfer files to or modify data on external drives with the NTFS file system. Thankfully, there are many free software tools that make this possible and easy.
In this post, we will look at some top free NTFS for Mac and their unique features. With their help, you can easily transfer and manage data between Windows and Mac. Let's get into the details.
An acronym for New Technology File System, NTFS - is a file system made by Microsoft. It's the default file system for Windows operating systems and offers advanced features like encryption, file compression, and large file support. This file system is known for its capability to handle large storage devices efficiently.
In addition, it can handle large storage devices efficiently, so many external hard drives use it as their file system.
Why You Need a Free NTFS Software for Mac
Considering that macOS only allows files to be read from NTFS drives, for the following reasons, you need an additional tool to assist with your work.
📝 You want to get the write permissions to freely write data, edit files, or even delete on NTFS devices in your Mac.
📬 You need to transfer data between Windows PC and Mac frequently.
♻️ You don't want to reconvert the file system to work with macOS.
Top 12 Free NTFS for Mac
Unlocking the write permissions of NTFS storage devices on a Mac without formatting is very useful. They are different in terms of functionality, performance, and usability, so it is helpful to understand each other before choosing the tool that suits your needs.
#1. NTFS Tool
Many users might not be aware of it because it was developed by many programmers in their spare time and released on GitHub. While this free NTFS software for Mac doesn’t automatically update nor has technical support, its effectiveness is still commendable.
Unique Features
It supports USB-mounted NTFS drives and notifies users when tasks are complete.
You can use it to load the image file.
It lets users check the read-write disk capacity.
Pros & Cons
Simple and clear interface suitable for all users.
You can use it freely and without functional restrictions
Lightweight software with little to no impact on system performance.
Lacks some advanced features found in premium NTFS tools.
Occasional issues were reported with macOS Big Sur and newer versions.
The dark mode and some UI enhancements are still pending release
Haslio is easy to use and focuses on providing high-performance read and write access. It is perfect for users looking for an uncomplicated, free NTFS reader for Mac to manage files across systems.
Unique Features
Mount and unmount NTFS drives from the status bar.
With their free tool, you can fully access BitLocker encrypted drives on your Mac.
Supports different devices, including hard drives, external hard disks, SSD, USB drives, Thunderbolt drives, SD cards, and CF cards.
Pros & Cons
Provides comprehensive functionality at no cost.
Installs easily and integrates well with macOS.
Has no upgrade fees or hidden costs.
Requires manual mounting to get full access.
Users may encounter errors when accessing NTFS drives over a network.
Lacks functionalities for repairing or formatting NTFS drives.
If you just want to use NTFS formatted storage devices on your Mac to copy and share files, then Nigate is an option. Although Nigate does not have a user interface, but its homepage provides complete videos and text tutorials, making it still easy for users to use.
Unique Features
Simple command line tool, easy to operate.
You can use it online or save it to a USB drive
Pros & Cons
Free to use, making it accessible for all users.
Lightweight and fast with minimal system resource usage.
Continuous updates to enhance functionality.
It's limited to basic file management features and lacks advanced options like other Mac OS NTFS free tools.
Doesn’t support advanced features like disk formatting or NTFS drive repairs.
This is another NTFS free Mac OS X solution that provides basic read-and-write access to NTFS drives on your MacBook, iMac, and more. Mounty for NTFS functions using the built-in macOS mechanisms, which means it does not install additional drivers and doesn’t make any significant changes to system settings. This is a good option to consider if you occasionally transfer files between macOS and NTFS-formatted drives.
Unique Features
You can clearly know its status by the color of its menu icon.
You will be notified if your NTFS drive is ready to be remounted in read-write mode.
Uses native macOS functionality for file access.
Pros & Cons
Lightweight and simple to use.
No licensing fees are required.
Writing speed may be slower than some paid alternatives.
This is a specialized tool that can directly access and manage your NTFS drives without complicated configuration. Paragon NTFS for Mac can run silently in the background and basically will not interrupt any of your work. If you often need to exchange files between Mac and Windows, choosing it won't disappoint you.
Unique Features
The file transfers up to six times faster than its closest competitors.
Quick setup process that requires little to no user intervention.
Offers settings to mount drives in read-only mode or control automatic mounting.
Pros & Cons
Fully compatible with the latest Mac hardware, including M1, M2, and M3 chips.
Provides other management tools and options.
A familiar user interface similar to Disk Utility.
The free version is only available for 10 days, after which it will be locked.
While installation is easy, troubleshooting issues may require technical support.
If you're looking for NTFS drive support on Mac without unnecessary complexities, this tool is for you. You can complete all actions directly from the status bar at the top. This pure tool should be what most users want.
Unique Features
In addition to full read/write access to NTFS drives, you can also use it to erase disks and convert to other file systems.
It can fix issues with some external hard drives not showing up on Mac.
Works well with almost all external hard drives and macOS.
Pros & Cons
One-click access to make drives writable with minimal configuration.
Works well with MacOS, providing easy and smooth access to NTFS volumes.
It has no noticeable slowdown times when writing or transferring files.
The free version provides only 7 days of full access before requiring a paid license.
The monthly fee of $14.95 or a one-time fee of $49.95 is expensive.
It lacks advanced file management options and is only suitable for basic use cases.
This tool is designed for users looking to access and manage NTFS storage devices on their MacOS. Its simple menu bar interface makes it easy to mount and unmount drives. Kingshiper NTFS for Mac also supports multiple storage devices, including USBs, SSDs, and HDDs. It is indeed a valuable option for those looking for macOS NTFS free tools.
Unique Features
Features menu bar application for easy drive management.
NTFS-3G is an NTFS for Mac open source solution that suitable for multiple platforms, such as macOS, Linux, NetBSD, QNX, FreeBSD, and more. Given that users can DIY specific configurations, it has attracted many technology enthusiasts. It is your best choice if you like complete control of the situation.
Unique Features
Supports all file and directory operations, including creating, reading, writing, and deleting files.
Implements file ownership and permissions, which makes it interoperable with Windows ACLs.
Supports sockets, symlinks, and special device files.
Can create and manage compressed files.
It has tools for applying unfinished metadata updates to prevent data loss after wrong unmounting.
Provides access to NTFS internal data through extended attributes for better file management.
Pros & Cons
You can freely customize parameters and use it.
Provides access to NTFS internal data through extended attributes for better file management.
It has not been updated for a long time, which makes it unsupported by the latest macOS.
It can also effectively read and write to your NTFS drives on Mac but requires the installation of additional drivers. iBoysoft NTFS for Mac transfers large videos or batch files as fast as native Mac hard drives. If you frequently use NTFS external hard drives with Mac OS, then this is an available option.
Unique Features
Integrates tools from Disk Utility and can clean up junk files.
Fast and efficient file transfers.
Support BootCamp NTFS Partition
Pros & Cons
Friendly interface
Offers support for multiple macOS versions
Support drag-and-drop
May experience occasional connectivity issues with some devices.
It is a commercial derivative of NTFS-3G and is a natural part of major Linux distributions. As a reliable free NTFS reader for Mac, it addresses the general limitations of macOS regarding NTFS compatibility. Its proprietary NFS-embedded driver enables file editing and transfers up to 6 times faster than the open-source version.
Unique Features
Combined with Tuxera Disk Manager, you can easily format, check, and repair NTFS drives.
You can be used with the dual boot or virtual machine setups.
High-speed data transfer through caching technology.
Support all NTFS versions from Windows NT 3.1 to Windows 10.
Pros & Cons
User-friendly and intuitive interface.
With advanced optimization features such as hardware acceleration.
Stable operation without modifying system files or kernel extensions.
When you play music or watch a movie, there may be delays.
macFUSE (formerly known as osxFUSE) extends the native file handling capabilities of macOS through third-party file systems written on top of macFUSE. You can use its built-in components to write your own file system to manage NTFS drives on Mac, and it is faster and more orders of magnitude than traditional ones. This is very attractive for technical personnel.
Unique Features
Supports different file systems, including NTFS, through user-space programs.
Allows you to create and tweak file systems and provides an API to improve functionality
Pros & Cons
You can download and use FUSE for free.
Offers documentation and support for developers creating new file systems.
Customize controls to meet your specific needs.
Poor performance when processing large files or large directories
Last but not least on our list of the top 12 free NTFS software for Mac is SL-NTFS. It works as a preference pane that allows users to write to NTFS volumes. Once you have activated the daemon, when you mount a drive without write enabled, just click on the notification. This is very handy when you managing disks.
Unique Features
Integrates directly into macOS.
It is lightweight, with an installation size of just 1.4MB, so it doesn’t take up space on the system.
User-friendly interface with ease of toggling write access without going through complex settings.
Pros & Cons
Absolutely free to use.
Provides a practical solution for accessing and managing NTFS drivers without requiring additional software.
These tools are undoubtedly very useful for managing NTFS drives on Mac, but they are limited. Do you want the freedom to manage your important data in macOS, Windows, or even Linux without the help of any third-party software? The most common way is to convert the NTFS drive to a more universally supported format, such as exFAT or FAT32.
However, this approach still has the following advantages and disadvantages. You can think carefully before making a decision.
Pros & Cons
Native support with all operating systems
Easy to operate
Permanently get rid of write restrictions
The storage file size is limited to 4GB
You cannot encrypt your sensitive data
Step-by-Step Guide to Convert NTFS to exFAT or FAT32
If you want to get rid of these shackles, try the following. But before you start, please back up all the data on your NTFS drive first because they will be erased during the conversion process.
Connect your external disk to your Mac using USB.
Open Disk Utility, select your drive in the left panel and then click the "Erase" option at the top of the page.
Select exFAT or MS-DOS (FAT) from the formatting options and click "Erase."
Confirm again to start the file system conversion. Once completed, your drive will be available for both Windows and Mac systems.
Tip: If you forget to back up some of your files due to unexpected circumstances and lose them, use this free data recovery app for Mac to get them back.
Final Thoughts
In summary, using free NTFS for Mac is the best and must for users who want to access and manage NTFS drives efficiently. To this end, we have listed 12 top freeware tools you can consider and highlighted their unique features, advantages, and disadvantages for your reference and decision.
Finally, if you permanently want to get rid of the limitations of the NTFS file system on Mac, please use alternative solutions. No matter what, these options will be helpful to you.
FAQs
They will install a driver in your macOS that acts as a bridge between your system and the NTFS drive, allowing you to interact with it just like you would with a native HFS+ or APFS drive. However, different tools will vary in transfer speeds, so try them out first when considering such apps.
Not all Mac OS NTFS free tools are available for all systems, so check their specifications before using them.
Among such tools, this is an established and well-known one. It claims to be 6 times faster than its competitors in disk read and write speed, but additional steps are required if you want to use it on machines based on Apple M1/M2/M3 chips. It's not completely free; you can only try it for 10 days. If you want to try it, please click here to download Paragon NTFS for Mac.
NTFS Tool, Hasleo NTFS for Mac, Mounty for NTFS, Nigate, NTFS-3G, etc. are completely free. Paragon NTFS for Mac, EaseUS NTFS for Mac, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, etc., are only available for a limited time.
No, although it works for NTFS drives. However, according to user feedback from the AppStore, it requires the installation of an add-on tool that bypasses Apple App Store protection to run, and there are ads every time it is opened.
Anyway, first you should consider its usability and compatibility, and then choose one with fast read and write speeds. If necessary, it should have attachment functionality In addition, you can also refer to user comments.