CloudMounter vs NetApp Global File Cache
CloudMounter
cloudmounter.netNetApp Global File Cache
bluexp.netapp.comSide by side
| Figure | CloudMounter | NetApp Global File Cache |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2.42/mo | $20.83/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 11 | 1 |
| Spec score · Cloud Storage Gateway Software | 8.9 (#2) | 8.2 (#6) |
| Integrations | The listed services include Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Amazon S3, WebDAV, SFTP, FTP, Box, Backblaze, MEGA, OpenStack Swift, and pCloud. | The solution integrates with Active Directory, access control lists, NTFS permissions, and DFS Namespaces. |
| Purpose | CloudMounter mounts cloud storage accounts and web services as local drives so users can access and organize files from their computer. | Global File Cache centralizes unstructured data in cloud storage and caches active datasets at distributed offices. |
| Support | The maker offers support through its support team and lists support contact details on the site. | For GFC users with Cloud Volumes ONTAP, the onboarding page lists guided problem solving, documentation, case management, a knowledgebase, downloads, and tools, plus a phone number for P1 issues. |
Plans
CloudMounter
- Mac Personal 1-year subscription$29 a year
- One-Year Personal Subscription$29.99 a year
- Windows Personal$29.99, paid once
- Mac Personal Lifetime$74, paid once
- Lifetime Purchase Personal License$74.99, paid once
- Mac Team 1-year subscription$99 a year
- One-Year Team Subscription$99.99 a year
- Windows Team$99.99, paid once
- Mac Team Lifetime$249, paid once
- Lifetime Purchase Team License$249.99, paid once
NetApp Global File Cache
- Global File Cache Subscription, 1 Year$250 a year
In their own words
CloudMounter
CloudMounter connects cloud storage and web services to a computer as local drives, so users can browse and manage remote files in Finder on macOS or Explorer on Windows. It supports services including Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Amazon S3, WebDAV, SFTP, FTP, Box, Backblaze, MEGA, OpenStack Swift and pCloud. Files can be transferred between cloud services by dragging and dropping, without first downloading them to the computer. Remote files can also be worked with without using local storage.
The maker describes client-side AES-256 encryption before files are sent to cloud storage. On macOS, the FAQ says login details are held in Keychain rather than on CloudMounter’s servers. Offline work is supported on macOS and listed as coming soon for Windows. Windows Free permits full access to one Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive account after the 14-day PRO trial; additional accounts and services are read-only. Mac yearly subscriptions have a 7-day trial. Mac and Windows Team licenses are separate and cannot be shared across platforms.
NetApp Global File Cache
NetApp Global File Cache centralizes unstructured data in cloud storage while giving distributed offices access to active files. Core and Edge instances form the deployment, with Edge instances serving branches through an intelligent cache and virtual file share. The cache keeps locally relevant active datasets and clears least-recently-used cached files as that dataset changes. SMB provides access, and global locking supports consistency when people collaborate on files. Storage options include Azure NetApp Files, Cloud Volumes ONTAP and Cloud Volumes Service, subject to availability in the cloud environment. Integrations include Active Directory, access control lists, NTFS permissions and DFS Namespaces; deployments can also incorporate DNS/DHCP and SCCM software distribution services. The onboarding guide describes Core and Edge instances on Windows Server virtual machines, including VMware and Hyper-V templates. Cloud deployments require a minimum of 8 vCPU and 32 GB RAM. The licensing service needs HTTPS access over TCP port 443, and licensing is activated in the software UI using a subscription number. The listed one-year subscription is $250 a year; the schedule labels billing MTH. Pricing is also described as available on request.