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MacDrive
by MacDrive

What MacDrive is
MacDrive 12 gives Windows PCs read, write, and management access to Mac-formatted storage. It supports HFS+, APFS, and encrypted APFS volumes, with Mac disks appearing in Windows Explorer like native drives. Users can create, partition, format, verify, and repair Mac disks; repair is limited to HFS+ disks. The software supports SoftRAID and Apple RAID volumes and lets Windows users browse Time Machine backups and restore files. OWC describes APFS crash protection for unexpected drive disconnections. Supported hardware includes hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS, NVMe devices, and USB flash drives, with Thunderbolt, USB, FireWire, and eSATA interfaces. MacDrive runs on Windows and includes free updates, a dedicated support team, knowledge base, and contact support. OWC offers a five-day trial and advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee. The plan is listed at $59.99 a month, billed as a one-time purchase with a perpetual license. MacDrive was founded in 1996, and OWC acquired Mediafour in 2017.
Who it suits
MacDrive suits creative professionals, IT administrators, data recovery specialists, production companies, remote teams, and business users who need Windows access to Mac-formatted drives. It is for Windows systems rather than ARM-based systems.
What it does well
- Reads and writes HFS+, APFS, and encrypted APFS
- Windows Explorer integration
- Time Machine browsing and restoration
- SoftRAID and Apple RAID support
- Five-day free trial
What to know first
- Windows only
- No free plan
- Does not support ARM-based systems
- Listed price is $59.99 a month
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MacDrive 12 | One-time purchase; perpetual license · Windows 11/10 and Windows Server 2025/2022/2019; additional seats $29.99 each; Mac disk repair only for HFS+ disks | $59.99, paid once |
As software.owc.com lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
MacDrive 12 provides broad access to Mac storage formats and backup tools from Windows. Its perpetual-license wording, trial, and money-back guarantee add purchase safeguards, but ARM systems are unsupported and no free plan is offered.
Facts from MacDrive's own pages
- Compatibility limit
- OWC states that MacDrive currently does not support ARM-based systems. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Crash protection
- OWC says MacDrive 12 includes APFS crash protection to protect data if a drive disconnects unexpectedly. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Disk tools
- The product can create, partition, format, verify, and repair Mac disks, with repair limited to HFS+ disks. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Explorer integration
- Mac disks appear in Windows Explorer like native Windows drives. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Formats
- It supports HFS+, APFS, and encrypted APFS volumes. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1996 · software.owc.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- No · software.owc.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Hardware
- The product lists support for hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS, NVMe, USB flash drives, and interfaces including Thunderbolt, USB, FireWire, and eSATA. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- OWC describes MacDrive as useful for creative professionals, IT administrators, data recovery specialists, production companies, remote teams, and business users. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Maker history
- OWC says it acquired Mediafour, the maker of MacDrive, in 2017. · owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- windows · software.owc.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- MacDrive 12 gives Windows PCs read, write, and management access to Mac-formatted drives. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- RAID and backups
- It supports SoftRAID and Apple RAID volumes and lets users browse and restore files from Time Machine backups on Windows. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Refund policy
- OWC advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee for MacDrive 12. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Paid from
- 59.99 · software.owc.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Trial
- OWC offers a free five-day MacDrive 12 trial. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Updates and support
- The product page says free updates are included, and OWC offers a dedicated support team, knowledge base, and contact support. · software.owc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where MacDrive stands on Freedom251
- File Manager Software#91 of 100