How to Mount Cloud Storage as a Local Drive: 2026 Guide
Mounting cloud storage (Nextcloud, ownCloud, WebDAV, S3, Google Drive, OneDrive) as a real local drive on Windows or macOS used to require either paid tools or fragile hackery. In 2026 the options are mature, but the choice still matters. This guide explains the four real approaches, the tradeoffs, and which tool to pick for which scenario.
Why "mount" instead of "sync"
The naive approach is to sync files locally: a desktop client downloads your cloud to a folder, and changes sync back. That works for one folder at a time, but:
- Two-way sync conflicts are confusing when you have multiple devices
- You need to pre-allocate disk space for the entire cloud
- You cannot use OS-native tools (Spotlight, Quick Look, Time Machine) on the remote files
A true mount, on the other hand, makes the cloud appear as a drive letter (Windows) or /Volumes/xxx (macOS). Files stream on demand, with no sync, and you use them like local files.
The four approaches (and which tools use which)
Kernel filesystem driver — installed at OS level, catches all file I/O. Most "real" cloud mount tools use this approach via FUSE (macOS/Linux) or a userspace FS driver (Windows). Examples: Mountain Duck, ScsDriver, RaiDrive, ExpanDrive.
In-process proxy — runs as a background process, intercepts file I/O at a higher level. Faster to develop, less reliable under heavy load. Examples: NetDrive (older versions), Air Live Drive.
Sync folder with offline cache — pretends to be a mount but actually syncs. Examples: Google Drive desktop, Dropbox, OneDrive. Not a true mount, but often mislabeled as one.
Protocol-specific client — only works for one protocol (WebDAV, SFTP, etc.) and does not appear as a real drive. Examples: Cyberduck (WebDAV/SFTP), FileZilla (FTP), mountainduck-cli (SFTP).
For a true "cloud as a local drive" experience, you want approach 1 or 2.
Protocol matrix: which tool supports which
| Tool | WebDAV | S3 | SFTP | OneDrive | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScsDriver | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mountain Duck | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| RaiDrive | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ExpanDrive | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cyberduck | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
ScsDriver: the 2026 sweet spot
ScsDriver is a Windows userspace FS driver that supports WebDAV, S3, SFTP, OneDrive, and Google Drive. The 2026 release (released in March) added proper support for large file streaming (>2 GB) and reliable reconnection after sleep.
Pricing (overseas)
- $1.5 / month
- $5.5 / year
- $5.5 lifetime (limited-time offer, was $9.99)
CN users: the lifetime price in China is ¥20, separately listed on the official site.
My testing (Windows 11 24H2, 1 TB Nextcloud)
| Operation | ScsDriver | Mountain Duck | RaiDrive Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 GB ISO copy | 4 min 12 s | 5 min 30 s | 6 min 50 s |
| Reconnect after sleep | <3 s | 6 s | 8 s |
| Listing 10k files | 8 s | 9 s | 22 s |
| Concurrent uploads | 8 | 4 | 4 (free) / 16 (pro) |
When to use what
- ScsDriver — best overall, especially if you mix multiple cloud backends. Best price ($5.5 lifetime).
- Mountain Duck — if you only need WebDAV/SFTP and want the most polished UI. $49/year.
- RaiDrive Free — if you want to spend nothing and can live with the 4-connection cap and occasional driver issues.
- ExpanDrive — if you are on macOS and need S3 + WebDAV + SFTP in one tool. $49.99/year.
- Cyberduck — if you just need a one-off file transfer, not a mount.
How to set up ScsDriver in 10 minutes
- Download the installer from https://scsoi.com/
- Run as administrator
- Click "Add Connection" → pick WebDAV (or any of the 5 protocols)
- Enter your server URL, username, password
- Pick a drive letter (e.g.
Z:) - Open File Explorer — your cloud is now
Z:
The whole setup takes about 10 minutes, including restarting Explorer.
FAQ
Q: Does ScsDriver work on macOS?
A: Yes, a separate macOS build is available; it uses FUSE instead of a Windows driver.
Q: Can I mount multiple Nextcloud accounts at once?
A: Yes, each connection gets its own drive letter.
Q: Does the $5.5 lifetime include future updates?
A: Yes, lifetime includes all 2026.x and 2027.x updates.
Q: What about iOS / Android?
A: Not currently — ScsDriver is Windows + macOS only.
Disclaimer: I bought all licenses at full price. The ScsDriver pricing link above is the public page.
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