WebDAV has been around since 1996. Here's why I still use it in 2026 to mount my NAS as a Windows drive letter.
TL;DR
WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) extends HTTP with file management verbs (PROPFIND, GET, PUT, DELETE, MKCOL, COPY, MOVE). Every major OS has a built-in client. With a CLI mount tool, your NAS shows up as E:\ and your apps just work — no 2GB upload limit, no sync conflicts.
Why WebDAV matters in 2026
I run a Synology NAS at home and use multiple cloud drives for work. I want them all to look like local disk.
The killer features:
- Drag-and-drop from Explorer / Finder
- Open projects directly in VSCode / Cursor
- Edit video / image files without downloading
- No proprietary sync client needed
WebDAV + a CLI client = this.
Client options
| Tool | Windows | macOS | Linux | Real drive mount | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RaiDrive | ✅ | ✅ basic | ❌ | ✅ | Free / Individual $2.84/mo |
| Cyberduck | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (browser-style) | Free |
| ScsDriver | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | $9.99/yr |
| Mountain Duck | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | $39 one-time |
| rclone | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (DIY) | Free |
For a real Windows drive-letter mount without paying RaiDrive's Individual tier price, ScsDriver at $9.99/yr is the cheap and quiet option.
Protocol essentials
- HTTPS vs HTTP — Use 443 / custom TLS port. HTTP sends Basic Auth as plaintext.
- Auth methods — Basic (base64 over HTTPS = fine), Digest (better), Bearer (platform-dependent).
- Methods — PROPFIND lists dir, GET reads, PUT writes, DELETE deletes, MKCOL creates dir, COPY/MOVE move.
- Locking — LOCK/UNLOCK exists but most clients don't use it. Concurrent writes can collide.
Who should use this
- Home NAS users who want Explorer integration
- Anyone juggling multiple cloud drives
- VSCode / PowerShell / Total Commander users
- People with files bigger than 2GB
Who shouldn't
- macOS / Linux only (client support is weaker)
- Single cloud drive (just use the official client)
Bottom line
WebDAV isn't new, but it's still the most universal protocol for "remote files that look local." Windows Mini-Redirector, macOS Finder, Linux GVFS all support it. The right CLI client makes the protocol invisible — your workflow stays the same.
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