ExpanDrive vs Transmit (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, ExpanDrive grades higher than Transmit: 3.0 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
ExpanDrive grades higher on value for money, the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
ExpanDrive
Mounts cloud storage and servers as drives on Mac, Windows and Linux
Transmit
Mac file transfer app for servers and cloud storage
Which one is for you
Pick ExpanDrive if
- Fits if you want Google Drive, S3 or SFTP showing as a drive on your own machine
- Works for teams of up to 10 who can live on community support
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need Server Edition, the web console or priority support, as those are Business at $29 a month
- Pricey if you're past 10 users: it's $29 a month for each further 10
- Watch out: annual billing is arranged by emailing sales, not chosen on the page
- Not for you if your storage isn't among the 15 services and has no SFTP, FTP or WebDAV endpoint
Pick Transmit if
- Fits if you manage files on web servers or S3 buckets from a Mac
- Works for freelancers who want a one-time purchase
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Tight if you want free, since the trial lasts 7 days
- Watch out: it needs macOS 13.0 or later
- Watch out: the free upgrade from Transmit 4 applies only to purchases made after about June 1, 2017
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAExpanDriveVery good | 2.2GPATransmitFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree for personal use and for up to 10 users or devices, with every service included. Business is $29 a month for up to 10 users. | B$45 once, under two years of what this category's middle subscription costs. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe free plan carries all 15 services, offline caching and Finder or Explorer integration, with community support only. | CThe download is the full app for 7 days, and the listing doesn't say a card is needed. There is no free plan. |
| Features | BOn-demand streaming, offline pinning, FTP, SFTP and WebDAV and a command line tool. Storage outside the 15 services needs an SFTP, FTP or WebDAV endpoint. | BDual panes, many server types, folder sync, Panic Sync, batch rename and keys. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | CEach drive needs account details and a connection set up. No store rating is on record. | CNo rating on record. You add each server or cloud account yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac, Windows and Linux, plus Windows Server and Linux for the server edition. Computers only: no phone or web app. | DMac only, on macOS 13.0 or later. No Windows, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | cloud storage in Finder or Explorer for free | moving files to servers and S3 on a Mac |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: ExpanDrive and Transmit. How we grade
Where they differ
- Transmit can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- ExpanDrive also covers file sync.
At a glance
| ExpanDrive | Transmit | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $29 per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly | $45 one-time |
| Free plan | Free for personal use with all 15 cloud services and protocols, and for teams of up to 10 users or devices, with community support. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | The download is the full app and works for 7 days. |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Files.com | Panic Inc. |
| Price read from | expandrive.com | panic.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
ExpanDrive
- The free plan covers up to 10 users or devices; past that the Business plan is $29 a month per 10 more.
- Server Edition, the web console and priority support need the Business plan.
- Annual billing is arranged by emailing sales rather than chosen on the page.
- Supports 15 services and protocols, so storage outside that list needs an SFTP, FTP or WebDAV endpoint.
Transmit
- Runs on macOS 13.0 or later only; there is no Windows or Linux version.
- The free download stops working after 7 days without a purchased unlock code.
- A free upgrade from Transmit 4 applies only to purchases made after about June 1, 2017.
Key features
ExpanDrive
- Mount any cloud as a drive
- Lists Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox, Box, Backblaze B2, Wasabi and more as drives alongside local folders.
- Stream on demand
- Files are fetched when opened, with local caching, rather than mirrored in full to the disk.
- Offline access
- Pin the files you need offline and let changes sync back once the connection returns.
- FTP, SFTP and WebDAV
- Generic protocol endpoints are supported alongside the named cloud services, for servers that are not on a major cloud.
- Server Edition
- A headless service for Windows Server and Linux that mounts at boot and can re-share a cloud as SMB on Windows.
- Command line control
- The exfs tool lists, mounts and unmounts drives and installs license keys, so it can be scripted.
Transmit
- Dual-pane browsing
- Shows local and remote files side by side so you can drag items between them.
- Many server types
- Handles FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and Amazon S3, plus Backblaze B2, Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, Azure and Rackspace Cloud Files.
- File Sync
- Mirrors folders in one click, including local-to-local and remote-to-remote sync, with selectable files.
- Panic Sync
- Syncs your saved servers between your Macs so server addresses do not need retyping.
- Batch rename and tags
- Includes batch rename, a Get Info sidebar, a Places bar and file tags.
- Secure keys
- Generates and manages keys in the app, with 2-factor login and YubiKey support listed.
Plans
ExpanDrive
Free$0
All 15 services and protocols, offline caching and Finder or Explorer integration. Up to 10 users or devices.
Business$29
per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly
Adds one Server Edition instance, the web management console, team configuration sharing and priority email support.
EnterpriseCustom
Sold through sales. Adds a response SLA under 30 minutes, SAML SSO, audit logs and role-based access controls.
Transmit
Transmit 5$45
one-time purchase, per copy plus tax
Keep the app permanently with an unlock code. Quantity discounts apply to volume licenses.
Ways to pay less
ExpanDrive
- Annual discount
Annual billing saves 10 to 15%
ExpanDrive says annual customers typically save 10 to 15% against the monthly Business rate, arranged through sales.
- Education
Typically 40% off for academics and nonprofits
Verified academic institutions and registered non-profits are typically offered 40% off Business plans, requested by email.
Transmit
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, ExpanDrive or Transmit?
As of Nov 13, 2026, ExpanDrive starts at $29 per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly, and Transmit starts at $45 one-time.
Which has a free plan, ExpanDrive or Transmit?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only ExpanDrive has a free plan. Transmit does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do ExpanDrive and Transmit run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only ExpanDrive lists Windows and Linux apps. Both list a macOS app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.