CloudMounter Review: Mount Cloud Storage and SFTP as Local Drives

• Current Version: As of now, the latest version is 4.11 (released in February 2025).
• Website: https://www.cloudmounter.net
• Runs on: macOS and Windows

Managing cloud storage and remote servers shouldn’t be tedious. If you’re tired of juggling multiple apps, logging into different accounts, and manually shuffling files, CloudMounter brings a more fluid approach.

Available for Windows and macOS, it mounts cloud services and remote servers as local drives, letting you access them straight from Finder or File Explorer—no downloads, no endless browser windows. 

We tested CloudMounter on macOS, experimenting with various features, including mounting Google Drive and the world’s best SFTP server (SFTP To Go). Here’s our hands-on experience, covering installation, setup, and daily use.

Installing CloudMounter on macOS

The installation process follows the usual Mac routine:

1. Download the DMG from CloudMounter’s website.
2. Open the downloaded file in Finder and double-click the .dmg file.
3. Drag the CloudMounter app into the Applications folder.

4. Launch CloudMounter from the Applications folder. 

On first launch, CloudMounter requests a few system permissions and prompts you to pick a subscription plan.

Mounting cloud and remote servers

The app supports all sorts of cloud services, but we only tested two connection types to see how they stack up. SFTP (specifically, SFTP To Go) and Google Drive, because we use those the most.

Once installed, CloudMounter presents a straightforward interface with a list of connection options, covering a broad range of storage types:

• Cloud storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Box, Mega.
• Remote servers: SFTP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, Backblaze B2, OpenStack Swift.

Depending on your plan, all or only a few of these will be supported. 

Connecting to Google Drive

Google Drive is a popular option, so we tested this first:

1. Select Google Drive from the list of connections.

2. Click "Continue" when prompted to let CloudMounter access your Google account.

3. Choose the Google account you want to connect to.
4. Approve the requested permissions and click "Continue."

5. Click "Mount."

Once mounted, Google Drive appears under Locations in Finder as "CloudMounter." 

We found that changes made to smaller files in Google Drive reflect near instantly in Finder, and vice versa. CloudMounter does exactly what it’s meant to, quickly and conveniently. For larger files, speeds are dependent on file size and internet connection speed, so we won’t get into specifics.

Opening GoogleDocs files to edit them is also seamless, except that they will still open via browser—because they’re not really local. The only delay in opening a file in the cloud from Finder is, therefore, the time it takes for your browser to open, which isn’t long at all.

For regular files (non-Google Docs), CloudMounter lets you open and edit them directly in your local apps, just like they’re stored on your Mac. No need to go through a browser—everything works as if the files are actually on your disk.

You can edit a Word document in Word, a Photoshop file in Photoshop, etc., and changes will sync back to the cloud automatically. This means there’s no delay.

Connecting to SFTP To Go

To test CloudMounter’s SFTP capabilities, we then connected it to SFTP To Go:

1. Select FTP & SFTP from the connection options.

2. Enter the server credentials (found under the "Credentials" tab in SFTP To Go’s web portal).

3. Click "Mount."

Once connected, the SFTP server appears alongside other mounted drives in Finder. You can connect multiple drives at once and see them all in Finder/Locations, with no need to unmount and mount—very convenient!

File transfers were quick, with no perceptible lag for standard file sizes and, once again, the experience felt no different from working with a local drive. This setup is especially useful for businesses managing remote file storage without wanting to burden themselves with on-premises infrastructure.

Performance and features

CloudMounter integrates deeply into the OS—it doesn’t feel like a separate app but an extension of your file system. Here’s what we found really compelling:

• Multi-cloud convenience: You can access all of your favourite cloud services without bouncing between apps and browser tabs, the process is refreshingly simple.
• Drag-and-drop file transfers: The ability to move files between cloud accounts like SFTP To Go and Google Drive right from Finder or Explorer is a massive time saver.
• Runs quietly in the background: Even with multiple accounts connected, we didn’t notice any performance issues or system lag—it just works.
• Works across multiple accounts: If you have multiple accounts from the same cloud provider (such as separate work and personal Google Drives), CloudMounter lets you mount and manage them all at once.
• Seamless OS integration: CloudMounter operates natively within Finder on macOS and File Explorer on Windows, making it feel like an inherent part of the system.
• Reliable offline access: Even if you're disconnected, you can still open and edit files, with changes syncing automatically once you're back online. Note that this option is in the works for Windows, while it’s already available for macOS.

User experience

CloudMounter’s is refreshingly direct. If you’re comfortable working with local folders, this feels no different. Besides the familiar Finder (or Windows File Explorer) interface to streamline and centralize your cloud data management operations, the menu bar icon also provides quick access to:

• Adding or switching drives.
• Managing licenses and preferences.
• Checking for updates.
• Requesting support.
• Quitting the app.

The sleek simplicity of the whole app, from the connection process to the dual pane connection window, Finder integration, and easy access preferences that aren’t over-complex, makes it feel lightweight and refreshing. 

With that said, it does an impressive job of mounting multiple drives at once, so the convenience and functionality it brings are far from lightweight.

Preferences and customization

In the Preferences menu, you can:

• Enable mounted drives to appear on the desktop.
• Set drives to mount at startup.
• Use short device names in the Finder sidebar, and more.

These options let you tweak CloudMounter to fit your workflow, whether you need instant access to files or stronger security measures.

Who should use CloudMounter?

CloudMounter is a great fit for:

• Freelancers & remote workers juggling multiple cloud accounts.
• Developers & IT people needing SFTP/FTP/WebDAV integration.
• Businesses looking for centralized file management without local servers.
• Mac users who want Finder-native cloud access.
• Windows users who want File-Explorer-native access.

If you regularly interact with SFTP servers, CloudMounter offers one of the most effortless ways to integrate remote storage into your workflow. For businesses using SFTP To Go, this setup comes highly recommended.

In conclusion

CloudMounter delivers exactly what it promises: quick cloud and remote server access without the baggage of slow syncing, redundant apps, or unnecessary complexity.

Pros:

• Mount cloud storage & SFTP as local drives.
• No unnecessary local file duplication.
• Encryption for added security.
• Tight OS integration.

Cons:

• No mobile version (desktop-only solution).

For those handling SFTP-based workflows, pairing CloudMounter with SFTP To Go makes managing secure file transfers much more practical than wrestling with a traditional FTP client. 

Whether you’re mounting Google Drive or working with encrypted remote files on any number of CloudMounter’s other supported services, CloudMounter is a sleek and highly functional solution.

Read our article on the Best SFTP Client / FTP Client of 2025 to see how CloudMounter matched up. Curious to try it? Check out CloudMounter and see how it fits into your workflow.