The ExpanDrive Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ExpanDrive in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ExpanDrive
The Insider’s Guide
Mounts cloud storage and servers as drives on Mac, Windows and Linux
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from ExpanDrive’s own pages.
Made by Files.com · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ExpanDrive’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ExpanDrive’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
ExpanDrive mounts services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, S3, SharePoint and SFTP as drives that appear in Finder or File Explorer, so any app can open the files without a full local copy. It is free for personal use and for teams up to 10 users, with a paid Business plan that adds a server edition and team management. It is built by Files.com.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ExpanDrive, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Each drive needs account details and a connection set up.
- 1
Best for cloud storage in Finder or Explorer for free
ExpanDrive mounts 15 cloud services and protocols as drives, and it's free for personal use and teams up to 10 users.
- 2
Paid plans start at $29 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $29 per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly.
- 3
There is a 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.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
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.
- 6
Stream on demand
Files are fetched when opened, with local caching, rather than mirrored in full to the disk.
- 7
Offline access
Pin the files you need offline and let changes sync back once the connection returns.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 154 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace ExpanDrive you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
ExpanDrive at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $29 per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Files.com
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for cloud storage in Finder or Explorer for free
ExpanDrive mounts 15 cloud services and protocols as drives, and it's free for personal use and teams up to 10 users. But the server edition, web console and priority support need Business at $29 a month, and it is computers only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The free plan carries all 15 services, offline caching and Finder or Explorer integration, with community support only. |
| Features | B | On-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. |
| Ease of use | C | Each drive needs account details and a connection set up. No store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, Windows and Linux, plus Windows Server and Linux for the server edition. Computers only: no phone or web app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who ExpanDrive is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Individuals who want cloud storage in Finder or Explorer at no cost
- Small teams of up to 10 people who can stay on the free plan
- Servers that need cloud storage as a network filesystem
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$29
A month to start. There is a free plan too
ExpanDrive has a free plan. Paid plans start at $29 per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly.
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.
Enterprise
Custom
Sold through sales. Adds a response SLA under 30 minutes, SAML SSO, audit logs and role-based access controls.
The 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.
Read from expandrive.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on expandrive.comEducation
Typically 40% off for academics and nonprofits
Verified academic institutions and registered non-profits are typically offered 40% off Business plans, requested by email.
Stated on expandrive.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Mounts cloud storage and servers as drives on Mac, Windows and Linux. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, file sync, file sharing, file management.
On-demand streaming, offline pinning, FTP, SFTP and WebDAV and a command line tool.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Amazon S3
- Google Drive
- OneDrive
- SharePoint
- Dropbox
- Box
- Backblaze B2
- Wasabi
ExpanDrive is made by Files.com.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
154/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
ExpanDrive's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on ease of use (C, above 5).
Its paid plans start at $29 a month, against a middle price of $2.99 for the category: 34 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 14 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. ExpanDrive’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ExpanDrive is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace ExpanDrive you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade. It costs $348 a year.
What you could not
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Amazon S3, Google Drive and OneDrive among them.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. ExpanDrive’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Mountain Duck, CloudMounter, Cyberduck, Transmit and FileZilla
The 5 tools ExpanDrive is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Mountain Duck
Free trial · from $49 one-time
Mounts server and cloud storage as a drive on Mac and Windows.
- ExpanDrive has a free plan. Mountain Duck does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ExpanDrive lists a Linux app.
- Mountain Duck is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
CloudMounter
Free plan · from $29/yr
Mount cloud storage and servers as drives on Mac and Windows.
- Only ExpanDrive lists a Linux app.
- ExpanDrive also covers file sync and file sharing.
- 3.0GPA
Cyberduck
Free plan · from $10
Server and cloud storage browser for Mac and Windows.
- Only ExpanDrive lists a Linux app.
- ExpanDrive also covers file sync.
- 2.2GPA
Transmit
Free trial · from $45 one-time
Mac file transfer app for servers and cloud storage.
- ExpanDrive has a free plan. Transmit does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ExpanDrive lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Transmit can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
FileZilla
Free plan · from €99
Free FTP, FTPS and SFTP client, with a paid Pro tier for cloud storage.
- FileZilla is open source, according to its own site.
- ExpanDrive also covers file sync and file sharing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is ExpanDrive free?
ExpanDrive has a 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.
How much does ExpanDrive cost?
ExpanDrive lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does ExpanDrive work on?
ExpanDrive is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does ExpanDrive offer any discounts?
ExpanDrive publicly lists the following: Annual billing saves 10 to 15%; Typically 40% off for academics and nonprofits.
Does ExpanDrive have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. ExpanDrive is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does ExpanDrive have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. ExpanDrive is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is ExpanDrive open source?
ExpanDrive is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does ExpanDrive work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does ExpanDrive integrate with?
ExpanDrive's listing names Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox, Box, Backblaze B2 and Wasabi.
Does ExpanDrive have a student discount?
Typically 40% off for academics and nonprofits. Verified academic institutions and registered non-profits are typically offered 40% off Business plans, requested by email.
Who makes ExpanDrive?
ExpanDrive is made by Files.com.
What are the alternatives to ExpanDrive?
The closest alternatives to ExpanDrive in our directory are Mountain Duck, CloudMounter, Cyberduck, Transmit and FileZilla.
How does ExpanDrive compare with other desktop utilities?
ExpanDrive's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
Is ExpanDrive good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ExpanDrive A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $29 a month, against a middle price of $2.99 for the category: 34 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of ExpanDrive?
To replace ExpanDrive you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ExpanDrive’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ExpanDrive's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Files.com. Prices change, so check expandrive.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ExpanDrive, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/expandrive
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ExpanDrive: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/expandrive
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/expandrive/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Mos Insider's GuideFree Mac menu bar utility for smooth mouse wheel scrolling3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ExpanDrive’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ExpanDrive is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Files.com. Prices and plans change: check expandrive.com before you buy.