ExpanDrive vs StarWind RAM Disk

ExpanDrive mounts cloud storage and protocol endpoints as desktop drives, letting you access files through Finder, Explorer, and other applications. Files stream on demand rather than syncing folders, with local caching and an option to pin files for offline access. Listed connections include Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Nextcloud, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and others. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Server Edition can operate as a headless service on Windows Server and Linux, expose mounted storage as a Windows SMB share, and includes a command line for managing mounts and connections. ExpanDrive says connections use TLS and credentials are kept in the local operating system credential store. Plain FTP sends credentials and file contents in the clear; FTPS or SFTP is recommended for sensitive connections. The Free plan is free, billed forever. Business is $29 a month, billed monthly; Enterprise pricing is custom.

StarWind RAM Disk is a free Windows utility that uses available system RAM as a virtual storage device. It is aimed at testing and development, troubleshooting, and specialized uses such as online payment services or on-the-fly encryption where volatile data is acceptable. The product page says users can create a disk in a few clicks without additional hardware and choose its size from available RAM. Persistent mounts are supported, while virtual disk files are not. StarWind lists the utility as free without hidden payments, required extra licenses, or time limits; its plan is free. A download link appears on the product page, and the maker’s download page lists the utility among Windows software. StarWind’s support navigation includes a forum and knowledge base. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA. No named integrations are listed.