Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CloudMounter VS SteadyMount

Compare CloudMounter VS SteadyMount and see what are their differences

CloudMounter logo CloudMounter

CloudMounter for Mac OS X: map Dropbox as network drive, mount OneDrive, Google Drive and Amazon S3; FTP client and WebDAV client.

SteadyMount logo SteadyMount

SteadyMount mounts SFTP, WebDAV, and FTP servers as native Finder drives on macOS, using Apple's File Provider API instead of a FUSE kernel extension. One-time purchase, no subscription.
  • CloudMounter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-14

Mount cloud storage as a local drive for the easiest access from your PC. Connect and upload files to the supported cloud storages and web services from File Explorer, as if just copying and moving files locally on your computer. CloudMounter is a great utility that will make life a lot easier for many PC owners! Moreover, many users of corporate cloud systems will have a huge advantage without cluttering their drives with a huge amount of network storage.

  • SteadyMount Your server, in Finder
    Your server, in Finder //
    2026-07-02
  • SteadyMount Appears like iCloud Drive
    Appears like iCloud Drive //
    2026-07-02
  • SteadyMount Lives in your menu bar
    Lives in your menu bar //
    2026-07-02

SteadyMount mounts SFTP, WebDAV, and FTP servers as native Finder drives on macOS, using Apple's File Provider API (NSFileProviderReplicatedExtension) instead of a FUSE kernel extension. That's the same framework iCloud Drive uses, so files download on demand and the mount survives macOS pausing the extension to save power, instead of throwing a "server disconnected" error. Protocols: SFTP (password or ED25519/RSA key auth, TOFU host key verification), WebDAV (Basic/Digest, HTTPS), and FTP (standard or anonymous login, with FTPS). Why it exists: Mountain Duck is the closest comparable tool, but moved existing perpetual-license customers onto a subscription in late 2025, which caused significant backlash. SteadyMount is a one-time purchase: free for the first 30 days, then one connection stays free permanently, or $27.99 unlocks unlimited connections with no recurring fee. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

CloudMounter

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

SteadyMount

$ Details
freemium $27.99 / One-off (Unlimited connections)
Platforms
MacOS
Release Date
2026 July

CloudMounter features and specs

  • Centralized Access
    CloudMounter allows you to access multiple cloud storage services and remote servers from a single interface, making file management easier.
  • Local Drive Integration
    It integrates cloud storages directly into Finder as local drives, offering a native experience to macOS users.
  • Encryption
    CloudMounter supports data encryption to enhance security for your files stored in the cloud.
  • Multiple Cloud Services
    Supports a wide variety of cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, and more.
  • Bandwidth Efficient
    Files are not downloaded to your local drive until they are opened, saving bandwidth and local storage space.
  • Secure
    Does not store your login details on third-party servers; the app keeps everything securely on your Mac.

Possible disadvantages of CloudMounter

  • Subscription Cost
    CloudMounter requires a subscription, making it a recurring cost rather than a one-time purchase.
  • Limited Free Features
    The free version offers very limited features, requiring a purchase for full functionality.
  • Performance
    Performance can vary based on the speed and stability of your internet connection.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with mounting cloud storage as local drives might experience a learning curve.
  • OS Specific
    Primarily designed for macOS, limiting its utility for users who operate on multiple operating systems.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Services
    Reliance on the uptime and reliability of third-party cloud services can make the app less reliable when those services are down.

SteadyMount features and specs

  • File Provider API
    No macFUSE or kernel extension required
  • Protocols
    SFTP, WebDAV, FTP
  • Self-Healing Mount
    Recovers automatically when macOS pauses the extension

Analysis of CloudMounter

Overall verdict

  • CloudMounter is generally considered a reliable and efficient tool for managing multiple cloud storage accounts from a single interface on macOS. Users appreciate its seamless integration with Finder and its ability to save local disk space while providing easy access to cloud files. However, its performance can vary based on the network speed and the specific configurations of the cloud services being used.

Why this product is good

  • CloudMounter is a versatile application for macOS that allows users to mount cloud storage accounts as local drives. This offers the convenience of managing cloud files just like accessing local files, integrating with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. Its ability to enhance productivity by simplifying file management and its strong encryption features for secure file transfer are notable advantages.

Recommended for

    CloudMounter is recommended for macOS users who work with multiple cloud storage services and seek a centralized tool to manage their files. It is particularly beneficial for those who require secure and quick access to cloud data directly through Finder, such as business professionals, remote workers, and cloud storage enthusiasts.

CloudMounter videos

How to manage multiple cloud storage accounts

More videos:

  • Review - The Ultimate Cloud Storage App: CloudMounter
  • Review - CloudMounter: your ultimate client for the most popular cloud services

SteadyMount videos

No SteadyMount videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CloudMounter and SteadyMount)
Cloud Storage
93 93%
7% 7
Web Service Automation
100 100%
0% 0
SFTP Client
0 0%
100% 100
Backup & Sync
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing CloudMounter and SteadyMount.

What makes your product unique?

SteadyMount's answer:

SteadyMount uses Apple's File Provider API (NSFileProviderReplicatedExtension) instead of a FUSE kernel extension, the same approach iCloud Drive uses. That means no kernel extension install, no Recovery-mode reboots, and files download on demand rather than syncing the whole remote server locally. The mount also self-heals: when macOS pauses the extension to save power, or a connection drops, SteadyMount reconnects silently instead of showing a "server disconnected" popup. And it's a one-time purchase with no subscription.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

SteadyMount's answer:

The closest comparable tool is Mountain Duck, which moved existing perpetual-license customers onto a subscription in late 2025 and caused real backlash. SteadyMount is a one-time purchase instead: free for the first 30 days, then one connection stays free permanently, or $27.99 unlocks unlimited connections with no recurring fee. Compared to free options like macFUSE + sshfs or rclone mount, SteadyMount needs no kernel extension and doesn't show the disconnect popups those tools are known for, because it's built on Apple's native File Provider API.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

SteadyMount's answer:

Mac users who need to work with files on a remote SFTP or WebDAV server as if they were local: developers deploying to a VPS, web developers editing files on shared hosting, self-hosters, and sysadmins. Also anyone who was using Mountain Duck before its 2025 subscription change and wants a one-time-purchase alternative that behaves the same way in Finder.

What's the story behind your product?

SteadyMount's answer:

The macFUSE-based tools that used to be the standard way to mount SFTP on a Mac (osxfuse + sshfs, rclone mount) became increasingly painful: macFUSE was pulled from Homebrew, kernel extension installs meant Recovery-mode reboots, and mounts routinely threw disconnect popups. Around the same time, Mountain Duck, the main app using Apple's newer File Provider API instead of FUSE, moved existing perpetual-license customers onto a subscription. SteadyMount was built to combine the File Provider approach (no kernel extension, no disconnect popups) with a one-time purchase instead of a subscription.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

SteadyMount's answer:

Swift and SwiftUI for the menu bar app. Apple's File Provider API (NSFileProviderReplicatedExtension) running in a sandboxed XPC extension for the actual mounting. Citadel (a Swift SSH library built on SwiftNIO) for the SFTP backend, and URLSession with custom WebDAV methods (PROPFIND, PUT, MKCOL, MOVE, DELETE) for the WebDAV backend. Credentials are stored in the macOS Keychain, shared across the app and extension via an App Group.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CloudMounter and SteadyMount

CloudMounter Reviews

15 Best Rclone Alternatives 2022
CloudMounter is a 100 percent premium tool, unlike rclone thatโ€™s available for free. However, you wonโ€™t be paying recurring subscriptions; you just have to pay a one-time fee to buy the tool. The pricing plans include:

SteadyMount Reviews

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing CloudMounter and SteadyMount, you can also consider the following products

ifttt - IFTTT puts the internet to work for you. Create simple connections between the products you use every day.

Mountain Duck - Cyberduck for mounting volumes in the file explorer. Available for Mac and Windows.

FileCloud - FileCloud is an enterprise file share, sync and mobile access solution.

ExpanDrive - ExpanDrive is a fast network drive and browser for cloud storage.

WebDrive - WebDrive File Access Client allows you to open and edit server-based files without the additional step of downloading the file.

NetDrive - Cloud storage as hard disk