Mountee.app
Download — Free
Comparison · Verified November 14, 2026

Mountee vs Paragon NTFS for Mac.

Paragon is a commercial, closed-source NTFS driver with broad macOS support and volume tools. Mountee is a free, open-source option for macOS 26+ on Apple Silicon. They solve the same core problem with different trade-offs.

Download Mountee — FreeVisit Paragon's official page
Direct answer

Choose Paragon if you need Intel support, macOS 15 or earlier, vendor support, or volume tools such as format and verify. Choose Mountee if you are on macOS 26+ with Apple Silicon and prefer a free, GPL-3.0 driver that uses Apple's FSKit with no macFUSE or kernel extension. Paragon is paid after a 10-day trial; Mountee has no paid tier.

CategoryMounteeParagon NTFS for Mac
PriceFree, GPL-3.0Commercial; 10-day trial. Single-seat checkout listed at €29.95 (Spain/EUR) on the verified date; regional pricing varies.
Source codePublished, GPL-3.0Closed source
Current version0.2.0 · October 16, 202618 (trial download) · vendor page
NTFS read/write Yes Yes
macOS support26 or laterCatalina through 27 (per vendor)
CPU supportApple Silicon onlyIntel and Apple Silicon (per vendor)
macFUSE required No No separate macFUSE install
Kernel extensionNo (FSKit, user space)Vendor system driver; review current vendor documentation
InstallationDMG + enable extension; no rebootInstaller + restart (per vendor guide)
Format / verify / repairNo; never formats, repairs, or erases Yes, per vendor
SupportCommunity GitHub issuesVendor support
Maturity0.2.0; young release, safety-focusedCommercial product with a long release history

Sources: Paragon's official product page and checkout, and the Mountee repository, checked on November 14, 2026. Paragon is a third-party product; prices, requirements, and security guidance can change. Verify with the vendor before purchasing.

Installation and dependencies

Different installation models.

Mountee

One DMG, one app, one extension enablement step. The ntfs-3g engine is bundled. There is no macFUSE, Homebrew, or reboot.

  1. Download MacNTFS-0.2.0.dmg.
  2. Drag MacNTFS.app to Applications and launch it.
  3. Enable the file system extension.
  4. Mount the volume read/write.

Requires macOS 26+ on Apple Silicon. The current installer still uses the MacNTFS name.

Paragon

Paragon's official installation guide is download, install, and restart. The vendor lists macOS Catalina through macOS 27, with Intel and Apple Silicon support.

Paragon is a closed-source commercial product. The trial is 10 days according to the vendor FAQ; after that it requires a license.

Paragon installation guide
Security implications

Closed system driver versus open user-space driver.

Paragon is closed source and ships its own file system driver. The vendor publishes security and support information, and its installer requires a restart. Review the current vendor documentation for the exact security requirements of your macOS version.

Mountee keeps the filesystem code in an FSKit extension in user space, publishes its source under GPL-3.0, and documents its safety gates. That is a different trust model, not proof that one product is universally safer. Both should be used with backups.

Read Mountee's security model

Questions worth asking before buying

  • Does the vendor support your exact macOS version?
  • Does it require a reboot or a security setting change?
  • What happens when the trial ends?
  • Is the license per Mac or per user?
  • Does the installer leave a system driver behind after uninstall?
  • Is your data backed up before the first write?
Trade-offs

Where each option fits.

Choose Paragon if…

  • You use an Intel Mac.
  • You need macOS 15 or earlier.
  • You want vendor support and volume tools.
  • You prefer a commercial product with a long release history.

Choose Mountee if…

  • You are on macOS 26+ with Apple Silicon.
  • You want a free, open-source driver.
  • You want no macFUSE or kernel extension.
  • You do not need format or repair tools.
No affiliation. Mountee is an independent open-source project. Paragon is a separate commercial vendor. We do not claim Paragon is unsafe or discontinued; we simply document the verified differences and link to its official documentation.

Official sources: Paragon NTFS for Mac · Paragon store· Mountee source.

Mountee app icon

Your Windows drive is one install away.

Download Mountee, enable the file system extension once, and mount your NTFS volume read/write. Free, open source, and no macFUSE required.

Download Mountee — FreeRead installation guide

macOS 26 or later · Apple Silicon · 4.25 MB

View on GitHubSponsor developmentSecurity model