gBurner Virtual Drive vs ImgDrive

gBurner Virtual Drive is a free Windows utility for creating virtual CD/DVD drives and accessing disc images without burning them to physical discs. It can create up to 16 virtual drives and supports formats including ISO, GBI/GBP, DAA, NRG, MDF/MDS, BIN/CUE, UIF, ISZ, DMG, IMG, and VCD. To mount an image, users open the virtual-drive tray menu, choose the mount command, select an image, and confirm. The same menu provides an unmount command. The download page lists Windows support from version 98 through Windows 11, including 32-bit and 64-bit editions. The free utility is listed at free and is described as free for personal and business use. However, the download comparison identifies mounting an image file to a virtual drive as a gBurner Pro feature rather than a gBurner Free feature. Pro costs $39.95, paid once. The maker says game and program images can run at over 200 times the speed of a conventional CD/DVD-ROM.

ImgDrive emulates virtual CD, DVD, and Blu-ray drives for disc image files on Windows. It supports formats including CCD, CUE, ISO, ISZ, MDS, NRG, ASHDISC, CDI, PDI, BWT, B5T/B6T, MDX, and UIF, and can mount folders as virtual drives. CUE files paired with WAV, APE, or FLAC can be mounted as Audio CDs; Pro adds M4A, TTA, and WV. Free editions support up to four virtual drives, while Pro supports up to nine. ImgDrive can create image files from folders and copy discs to image files. It integrates with Windows Explorer and includes a command-line interface. Version 2.x supports Windows 7, 10, and 11; users of Windows XP, 2003, Vista, or 8 are directed to version 1.8.8.7. The free plan is for personal use; commercial use requires Pro. ImgDrive Pro Lifetime costs $12, paid once. A single-user license can be used on any number of computers if only that person uses it. Yubsoft states purchases are not refundable.