# ExpanDrive Alternative for S3 on Mac

> An ExpanDrive alternative built only for S3. BucketMate has setup and features tuned for AWS, R2, MinIO, B2, and more, in a polished app for Mac, iPhone, and Web.

Canonical: https://www.bucketmate.app/alternatives/expandrive

ExpanDrive mounts many cloud services as a network drive on Mac, Windows, and Linux. BucketMate does one thing: S3. It has setup and features tuned for each provider, in a modern native app for Mac, iPhone, and Web.

- **ExpanDrive**: A cloud drive mount for S3, cloud drives, SFTP, and WebDAV. Runs on macOS, Windows, Linux. Free for personal use. Business is $29 per month for up to 10 users.
- **BucketMate**: Built only for S3, with support tuned for each provider. A polished, modern native app for macOS, iPhone, and Web. Free plan, or pay once: $29 Mac, $19 iPhone, $39 Universal.

## Which one fits

- Cloud storage as a drive letter or Finder volume: ExpanDrive
- Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, and S3 in one mount: ExpanDrive
- Linux or a headless server mount: ExpanDrive
- Features tuned for R2, MinIO, Hetzner, or Tigris: BucketMate
- A polished, modern app for managing buckets: BucketMate

## Built only for S3, tuned for each provider

- **AWS profiles and SSO**: Sign in with your AWS profiles and SSO, change storage classes, and restore Glacier files. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/aws-s3.md
- **R2 custom domains**: Copy public URLs on your own domain, and use EU or US jurisdiction buckets. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/cloudflare-r2.md
- **MinIO on localhost**: Connect to a local MinIO over HTTP and turn on versioning without the command line. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/minio.md
- **B2 versions**: B2 keeps every version. See them, recover deleted files, and clean up old ones. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/backblaze-b2.md
- **Hetzner locations**: One connection per location, grouped in a workspace for fsn1, nbg1, and hel1. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/hetzner-object-storage.md
- **Tigris tiers**: See and change Standard, Infrequent Access, and Archive tiers per file. https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client/tigris.md

## ExpanDrive vs BucketMate (checked October 2026)

| Feature | ExpanDrive | BucketMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focus | Many cloud services as a drive | S3 only, in depth |
| Interface | Your files in Finder or Explorer | Modern native app with sidebar, previews, and a detail panel |
| S3 providers | Amazon S3, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, IDrive e2 | AWS S3, R2, MinIO, Wasabi, B2, Spaces, Supabase, Hetzner, Tigris, GCS, any endpoint |
| Provider support | One drive view for every service | Setup and features per provider, like AWS SSO, R2 custom domains, and B2 versions |
| Storage classes and versions | Not shown in a drive | Change class, restore archived files, recover versions |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, iPhone, Web |
| Team pricing | $29 per month for 10 users | One-time license per person |

Source: https://www.expandrive.com/pricing/

## Where ExpanDrive wins

- **Works in every app**: A mounted drive lets any app open and save remote files directly. BucketMate does not mount a drive.
- **Linux and servers**: ExpanDrive runs on Linux and has a headless Server Edition. BucketMate is for Mac, iPhone, and Web.
- **Many services in one place**: Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, SFTP, and S3 in one drive. Personal use is free.

## Where BucketMate wins

- **S3 is the whole product**: Presigned links, storage classes, Glacier restores, versions, and folder sizes, all things a drive can't show.
- **Tuned for each provider**: AWS SSO, R2 custom domains and jurisdictions, MinIO on localhost, B2 versions, and Hetzner locations.
- **Polished and easy to learn**: A clean sidebar, Quick Look, drag and drop, and rename in place. Simple on the surface, with power a right-click away.
- **Pay once**: No monthly fee. Pro is a one-time purchase that covers Mac, iPhone, and Web with Universal.

## Switching from ExpanDrive

1. Copy the endpoint, access key, and secret from your ExpanDrive connection.
2. In BucketMate, choose Add connection and pick your provider. The form fills in what that provider needs.
3. Test the connection and browse your buckets.

## FAQ

### What makes BucketMate different?

It only does S3, and it does it in depth. Each provider gets its own setup and features, like AWS SSO, R2 custom domains, MinIO on localhost, and B2 version cleanup. All of it sits behind a clean, modern interface that stays simple for everyday work.

### Does BucketMate mount S3 as a drive like ExpanDrive?

No. BucketMate is a dedicated S3 app. You drag files between Finder and your buckets, and preview files with Quick Look.

### Which providers does BucketMate support?

AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, MinIO, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, DigitalOcean Spaces, Supabase Storage, Hetzner Object Storage, Tigris, and Google Cloud Storage, each with its own setup. Any other S3-compatible endpoint works too.

### Does BucketMate run on Linux or Windows?

Not as a desktop app, but the BucketMate web app runs in any modern browser on Windows and Linux.

### How much does BucketMate cost?

There is a free plan for personal use. Pro is a one-time purchase: $29 for Mac, $19 for iPhone, or $39 for Universal (Mac, iPhone, and Web), with lifetime updates.

## Links

- Download: https://www.bucketmate.app/download
- Web app: https://web.bucketmate.app/
- Providers: https://www.bucketmate.app/s3-client.md
- All alternatives: https://www.bucketmate.app/alternatives.md