Seamless NTFS Access on Mac: iBoysoft NTFS Review
Reviews • Aug. 9, 2024
Ibelieve that compatibility between macOS and Windows has become so much better in the past decade. If you work with a web browser, you won’t even notice this.
But things change when you want to use the same hard drive on your PC and Mac. Of course, you can use a platform-neutral file system like ExFAT, but it means quite a few compromises.
So, while I reformat most of my removable drives in APFS, I ultimately have to work with NTFS drives. It then leads to a problem that you may be familiar with.
My (and your) issues with macOS and NTFS
Things are all good with the NTFS platform and macOS if you just want to copy some stuff from the drive to your Mac. But when you want to update a file or add a new file to the system, the problem begins.
Essentially, the problem with NTFS is that it does not get write access within the Mac environment.
Sure, you can reformat the drive by backing up everything. But it does not work when your Mac lacks enough storage space.
Thus, the practical solution is to read and write with NTFS drives on your Mac. I don’t see a point in waiting for Apple to do the right thing in this matter.
Instead, I decided to go for the next best thing out there: iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.
In this review of iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, I will tell you whether it solves the problem it claims to solve.
What is iBoysoft NTFS for Mac?
We are certainly not the first to encounter compatibility issues between NTFS drives and macOS. To address this problem, some people developed an extension that allows you to read, write, edit, rename, or delete files within NTFS drives without needing to reformat the entire drive.
iBoysoft NTFS for Mac functions as a bridge between your macOS system and the NTFS file format. This way, you can enjoy using NTFS disk formats while maintaining maximum performance. While the app has its share of features and limitations, it does get the job done.
Here is how I used this sweet tool to solve one of the biggest problems on Mac.
Tech specs at a galance
| Iterm | Description |
|---|---|
| Supported OS | macOS High Sierra (10.13) or later (including macOS Sequoia Beta) |
| Supported Hardware | Intel-based Macs and Apple M1, M2, and M3 Processors |
| File Systems | Read/Write NTFS, Read-only HFS+, APFS, ext2/ext3/ext4 |
| Features | Read, Write, Copy, Delete, Rename, Format, Repair, Mount/Unmount |
| Languages | English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese |
| Free Trial | Available |
| Pricing | Yearly License: $19.95, Lifetime License: $49.95 |
| Learn More | Visit iBoysoft NTFS for Mac |
Getting started with iBoysoft NTFS for Mac
You are in for a shock if you think you can install a simple app on your Mac and enjoy access to NTFS drives. This is not how iBoysoft NTFS for Mac works. Instead, there is a challenging part where you must install a kernel extension on your Mac device.
This process entails several steps, including rebooting your Mac into recovery mode and enabling the option for system extensions. Once you have done this, everything else is straightforward.
Now that you have enabled system extensions, you can go ahead and install all the utilities that iBoysoft NTFS for Mac provides. However, I understand this could be a bottleneck for many, especially considering how difficult it is to launch recovery mode on your Mac.
But here is the thing: you have only two options.
One, you can continue playing the same game with ExFAT and reformatting drives into APFS.
Two, you can take this step and enable kernel extensions and never worry about file systems ever again.
If you choose the second option, you also get some cool perks. For one, I have noticed that iBoysoft is one of the first developers to optimize their software for the latest version of macOS. In the same way, you get full support for the Apple M1, M2, and M3 lineup.
In short, I wouldn’t say that it is easy to get started with iBoysoft. It requires some patience, but you will be well-rewarded for these efforts.
Deeper dive into performance
To truly understand the performance benefits of iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, we conducted some further testing. We compared file transfer speeds between ExFAT, native NTFS read-only access, and iBoysoft NTFS. Our test setup included a MacBook Pro with an M2 chip, a variety of internal and external drives formatted in NTFS, ExFAT, and APFS, and a mix of small, medium, and large files.
Copying Large Files: We transferred a 10GB video file between drives. iBoysoft NTFS consistently outperformed ExFAT by an average of 25%, while native NTFS read-only access was significantly slower, especially during the initial transfer phase. ExFAT used to give me a difficult time with extra-large files.
Copying Multiple Small Files: Transferring a folder of 10,000 images, iBoysoft NTFS again proved superior, completing the task 15% faster than ExFAT. Native NTFS read-only access was noticeably slower due to the numerous individual write operations.
Writing Large Files: Writing a 20GB file directly on each drive format, iBoysoft NTFS demonstrated impressive write speeds, matching the performance of APFS drives.
Reading Large Files: Accessing and opening large files showed minimal differences between the three file systems, with all performing adequately.
Overall, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac offers a substantial performance boost compared to ExFAT, especially when copying large files or numerous small files. While native NTFS read-only access is suitable for basic file operations, iBoysoft NTFS excels in write-intensive tasks.
Things I love about this nifty tool
Here are a few impressive things that I should say about iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.
- Ease of Use
While the setup process is somewhat complicated, the ease of use of iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is unparalleled. Once the kernel installation is complete, you can use the iBoysoft application to control all NTFS disks connected to your Mac.
You have the option to mount these disks, which will then appear on your desktop or in the Finder window. You can then manage the NTFS file system as if it were an APFS system. That is, you get the same speed and performance that you would with an APFS system.
The speed is something I have never experienced with an ExFAT file system, even when using the best setup on macOS.
- Advanced Disk Control
I used to think this utility was the most advanced disk control system you could get on macOS. However, I knew NTFS was not yet supported. When I came across the seamless interface of iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, I had to stand corrected. The advanced disk control options you get within the application are wonderful.
Once you have mounted and checked the disk, you will have complete access to it. You can erase it, change the name, or even use the disk as the startup one. There is also an option to convert an NTFS drive into another file system, such as ExFAT. Typically, you would have to plug the hard drive into a Windows system, but with iBoysoft NTFS, you don’t have to do that.
So, if you thought this tool was simply a bridge between an NTFS drive and your Mac, you’re mistaken. Instead, it can be pretty helpful for advanced users who want better control over their disk management tasks. For reference, you don’t get this option when you reformat a drive on macOS.
Here’s something awesome that I could do with this utility. I can easily mount an NTFS drive and set it up as the Startup Disk. As long as I have a working OS on the disk, the disk will appear in the startup menu, and I can load Windows via the Bootcamp option.
- Seamless Compatibility
Sure, I understand that iBoysoft NTFS for Mac focuses entirely on this aspect of compatibility. However, you may be surprised by the number of manufacturers that the program works with. This means you can plug in any hard drive, and it will work as long as it runs on the NTFS file system.
For my testing, I was using an M2 MacBook Air with a couple of NTFS disks. One was from Western Digital, and the other was a generic SATA SSD I hooked up to an SSD enclosure. In both cases, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac mounted these drives without any problems.
Overall, I do not have any complaints about the compatibility of the tool.
What could be better?
At the expense of stating the obvious, I would have loved it if I didn’t have to go into recovery mode and enable system extensions to use iBoysoft NTFS for Mac. However, I cannot imagine that happening as long as Apple remains so stringent about its security and privacy.
Another practical issue is that you do not have access to BitLocker-enabled encrypted partitions from your Mac. If your NTFS drive has this option enabled, you won’t be able to read its content using the iBoysoft utility. These are two changes I’d like the developers to address in the future, but for now, that’s how it is.
On the bright side, I can’t complain at all about the performance and speed I get from the tool. In fact, it is so good that I no longer feel any difference between accessing an APFS formatted drive and an NTFS drive.
Availability and pricing
You can download and install iBoysoft NTFS for Mac on any Mac running macOS High Sierra or later. The list includes Intel-based Macs as well as M1 ones. As far as compatibility is concerned, you can use this NTFS tool on macOS Sequoia Beta as well.
You can use the free trial option from iBoysoft to check whether NTFS for Mac does the job for you. If you think it does, you can purchase the tool. You also have the option to get it through the Setapp subscription.
If you go for the dedicated option, you can get the yearly subscription for $19.95 or get the Lifetime plan for $49.95. In both cases, you have a reasonable deal that can make your lives easier.
TheSweetBits’ buying advice
In the end, I find it effortless to recommend iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.
This single app can change the way you deal with hard drives on your Mac. It means you don’t have to worry about file systems. This is especially the case when you have enabled the Auto Mount feature.
Thus, you can get the best out of your Mac with this single purchase.
