The Best Virtual Drive Software in 2026

• 24 tools ranked
• Updated Oct 2026
• Researched from official sources
• Compare tools in this directory
• Sponsor this list

DAEMON Tools Lite is the top-ranked virtual drive software of the 24 we ranked (9.3/10, free plan), best for windows users wanting broad free mounting features. WinCDEmu is the runner-up (9.2/10), and ImDisk is the next highest-ranked option with a free plan (9.1/10). We researched virtual drive software through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings reflect the category’s core job, value for money, and verified features, helping buyers compare tools for mounting disk images and virtual disk files as local drives.

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

The full ranking 24 tools, best first

1. 1
   
   DAEMON Tools Lite 9.3

   Best forWindows users wanting broad free mounting features

   A broad Windows virtual-drive toolkit with a capable free license and four-device limit.

   • Write images
   • Persistent mounts
   • Virtual disk files

   Free plan Our DAEMON Tools Lite verdict → + Compare Visit DAEMON ToolsFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →
   9.3/10★★★★★

   Visit DAEMON Tools
2. 2
   
   WinCDEmu 9.2

   Best forFree Windows users needing flexible ISO mounting

   A flexible, free Windows utility for mounting and managing optical-image files.

   • Persistent mounts
   • Optical image mounting

   Free plan Our WinCDEmu verdict → + Compare Visit WinCDEmuFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #2 · $99/mo →
   9.2/10★★★★★

   Visit WinCDEmu
3. 3
   
   ImDisk 9.1

   Best forOpen-source Windows virtual disks and RAM disks

   A free, flexible Windows driver for mounting images and creating virtual disks.

   • Virtual disk files
   • Optical image mounting

   Free plan Our ImDisk verdict → + Compare Visit ImDiskFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →
   9.1/10★★★★★

   Visit ImDisk
4. 4
   VC
   Virtual CloneDrive 8.9

   Best forSimple, high-capacity free optical mounting

   A free Windows utility for mounting disc images with up to 15 virtual drives.

   • Optical image mounting

   Free plan Our Virtual CloneDrive verdict → + Compare Visit siteFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #4 · $69/mo →
   8.9/10★★★★☆

   Visit site
5. 5
   T
   TotalMounter 8.8

   Best forWindows users needing mounting plus network storage

   A free Windows virtual-drive utility with broad image support and iSCSI connectivity.

   • Virtual disk files
   • Optical image mounting

   Free plan Our TotalMounter verdict → + Compare Visit TotalMounterFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #5 · $59/mo →
   8.8/10★★★★☆

   Visit TotalMounter
6. 6
   GV
   gBurner Virtual Drive 8.7

   Best forFree Windows optical-drive emulation

   A focused Windows utility for mounting many optical-image formats without burning discs.

   • Optical image mounting

   Free plan Our gBurner Virtual Drive verdict → + Compare Visit gBurner
   8.7/10★★★★☆

   Visit gBurner
7. 7
   I
   ImgDrive 8.6

   Best forLow-cost Windows optical mounting and folder drives

   A low-cost Windows utility for optical images, folder drives, and command-line control.

   • Optical image mounting

   Free plan Our ImgDrive verdict → + Compare Visit ImgDrive
   8.6/10★★★★☆

   Visit ImgDrive
8. 8
   O
   OSFMount 8.5

   Best forFree forensic and raw-image mounting on Windows

   A focused free tool for forensic, raw-image, virtual-disk, and RAM-disk workflows on Windows.

   • Virtual disk files
   • Optical image mounting

   Free plan Our OSFMount verdict → + Compare Visit OSFMount
   8.5/10★★★★☆

   Visit OSFMount
9. 9
   
   ExpanDrive 8.4

   Best forCross-platform cloud and server drive access

   A cross-platform drive client for remote storage, with caching, scripting, and broad protocol support.

   Free plan Our ExpanDrive verdict → + Compare Visit ExpanDrive
   8.4/10★★★★☆

   Visit ExpanDrive
10. 10
    
    RaiDrive 8.3

    Best forFree Windows cloud-drive mounting

    A focused virtual-drive client for accessing cloud and remote storage without folder synchronization.

    Free plan · 14-day trial Our RaiDrive verdict → + Compare Visit RaiDrive
    8.3/10★★★★☆

    Visit RaiDrive
11. 11
    C
    CDEmu 8.2

    Best forLinux users needing broad optical-image support

    A focused, format-rich virtual drive for Linux users working with optical images.

    • Optical image mounting

    Free plan Our CDEmu verdict → + Compare Visit CDEmu
    8.2/10★★★★☆

    Visit CDEmu
12. 12
    
    VHD Attach 8.1

    Best forFree Windows VHD/VHDX auto-mounting

    A focused, free Windows tool for mounting VHD, VHDX, and ISO files.

    • Persistent mounts
    • Virtual disk files
    • Optical image mounting

    Free plan Our VHD Attach verdict → + Compare Visit VHD Attach
    8.1/10★★★★☆

    Visit VHD Attach
13. 13
    A
    Alcohol 52% 7.9

    Best forFree Windows users needing basic optical mounting

    A focused free Windows tool for mounting and managing optical disc images.

    • Persistent mounts
    • Virtual disk files
    • Optical image mounting

    Free plan · 30-day trial Our Alcohol 52% verdict → + Compare Visit Alcohol 52%
    7.9/10★★★★☆

    Visit Alcohol 52%
14. 14
    
    DAEMON Tools Pro 7.8

    Best forPower users wanting comprehensive Windows image tools

    A Windows-focused toolkit for mounting, editing, protecting, burning, and writing disk images.

    • Write images
    • Virtual disk files
    • Optical image mounting

    14-day trial Our DAEMON Tools Pro verdict → + Compare Visit DAEMON Tools
    7.8/10★★★★☆

    Visit DAEMON Tools
15. 15
    MD
    Mount-DiskImage 7.7

    Best forWindows administrators scripting ISO and VHD mounts

    A focused, free Windows cmdlet for scripted ISO and virtual-disk mounting.

    • Virtual disk files
    • Optical image mounting

    Our Mount-DiskImage verdict → + Compare Visit Microsoft
    7.7/10★★★★☆

    Visit Microsoft
16. 16
    L
    libguestfs 7.6

    Best forDevelopers managing virtual-machine disk images

    A capable open-source toolkit for technical VM-image management, not a consumer drive utility.

    • Virtual disk files
    • Optical image mounting

    Free plan Our libguestfs verdict → + Compare Visit libguestfs
    7.6/10★★★★☆

    Visit libguestfs
17. 17
    
    NetDrive 7.5

    Best forTeams mounting cloud and remote storage as drives

    A focused remote-drive tool with broad storage connections and team controls.

    • Persistent mounts

    7-day trial Our NetDrive verdict → + Compare Visit NetDrive
    7.5/10★★★★☆

    Visit NetDrive
18. 18
    
    Mountain Duck 7.4

    Best forUsers needing encrypted cloud-drive workflows

    A paid desktop drive client for encrypted, offline-capable access to remote storage.

    14-day trial Our Mountain Duck verdict → + Compare Visit Mountain Duck
    7.4/10★★★★☆

    Visit Mountain Duck
19. 19
    
    Arsenal Image Mounter 7.3

    Best forForensic and virtual-machine disk-image specialists

    A specialist image mounter with deep forensic features, but a high paid entry point.

    • Write images
    • Virtual disk files
    • Optical image mounting

    Free plan Our Arsenal Image Mounter verdict → + Compare Visit Arsenal Recon
    7.3/10★★★★☆

    Visit Arsenal Recon
20. 20
    
    Mount Image Pro 7.2

    Best forForensic investigators mounting diverse evidence images

    A Windows forensic mounter with broad format support and investigation-focused controls.

    • Virtual disk files
    • Optical image mounting

    30-day trial Our Mount Image Pro verdict → + Compare Try Mount Image Pro
    7.2/10★★★★☆

    Try Mount Image Pro
21. 21
    
    Paragon Image Mounter 7.1

    Best forWindows users mounting cross-platform virtual disks

    A broad Windows mounter for virtual disks, physical drives, and cross-platform filesystems.

    • Virtual disk files

    Pricing on request Our Paragon Image Mounter verdict → + Compare Visit site
    7.1/10★★★★☆

    Visit site
22. 22
    
    Virtual CD 7.0

    Best forBusinesses needing virtual optical media and an API

    A focused Windows virtual-drive tool with broad image support, burning, encryption and an API.

    • Write images
    • Optical image mounting

    30-day trial Our Virtual CD verdict → + Compare Visit Virtual CD
    7.0/10★★★★☆

    Visit Virtual CD
23. 23
    T
    TntDrive 6.5

    Best forAmazon S3 users needing a Windows drive

    A focused Windows S3 drive client with caching, transfers, and persistent mounts.

    • Persistent mounts

    30-day trial Our TntDrive verdict → + Compare Visit TntDrive
    6.5/10★★★☆☆

    Visit TntDrive
24. 24
    SR
    StarWind RAM Disk 6.2

    Best forUsers needing a volatile Windows RAM disk

    A focused, free RAM disk for volatile Windows storage and temporary workloads.

    • Persistent mounts

    Free plan Our StarWind RAM Disk verdict → + Compare Visit StarWind
    6.2/10★★★☆☆

    Visit StarWind

No tools match those filters.

Compare at a glance

#	Tool	Free plan	Paid from	Image formats	Virtual disk files	Optical image mounting	Supported platforms	Score
1	DAEMON Tools Lite	Yes		B5T, B6T, BWT, CCD, CDI, APE, FLAC, CUE, ISO, ISZ, MDS, MDX, NRG, VMDK, VHD, TC, RAR, 7Z, HC, DAA, WIM, BIN, WAV, ISO.WV, UIF	Yes	Yes	Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98	9.3
2	WinCDEmu	Yes	Free	ISO, CUE, NRG, MDS/MDF, CCD, IMG		Yes	Microsoft Windows: 10, 8.1, 8, 7, 2008, Vista, 2003 and XP; 32-bit and 64-bit	9.2
3	ImDisk	Yes	Free	raw disk images, VHD, VDI, VMDK, NRG, SDI, BIN	Yes	Yes	Windows	9.1
4	VCVirtual CloneDrive	Yes	Free	ISO, BIN, IMG, UDF, DVD, CCD		Yes	Windows XP, XP64, Vista, Vista64, Windows 7, Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 8, Windows 8 64-bit, Windows 10, Windows 11	8.9
5	TTotalMounter	Yes	Free	ISO, CDI, BIN, MDS, MDF, IMG, RAW, CCD, NRG	Yes	Yes	Windows 2000 or above; 32-bit and 64-bit systems including AMD64, EM64T and IA64	8.8
6	GVgBurner Virtual Drive	Yes	Free	ISO, GBI/GBP, DAA, NRG, MDF/MDS, BIN/CUE, UIF, ISZ, ASHDISC, DMG, GI, BWI/B5I, IMG, CDI, PDI, NCD, LCD, CIF, P01, PXI, C2D, FCD, VCD		Yes	Windows; 32-bit and 64-bit editions	8.7
7	IImgDrive	Yes	$12/user one-time	.ccd, .cue, .iso, .isz, .mds, .nrg, .metaiso, .ashdisc, .cdi, .pdi, .bwt, .b5t, .b6t, .mdx, .uif		Yes	Windows XP, 2003, Vista, 7, 8, 10, 11	8.6
8	OOSFMount	Yes	Free	IMG, DD, ISO, BIN, 00n, NRG, SDI, AFF, AFM, AFD, VMDK, E01, S01, VHD	Yes	Yes	Windows 10 and Windows 11; older versions are available for some earlier Windows releases	8.5
9	ExpanDrive	Yes	$29/mo					8.4
10	RaiDrive	Yes					Windows, Linux	8.3
11	CCDEmu	Yes	Free	MDS, MDX, B5T, B6T, CCD, SUB, IMG, CUE, BIN, TOC, CDI, CIF, C2D, ISO, NRG, UDF, DMG, CDR, CSO, ECM, GZ, GBI, WAV, FLAC, DAA, ISZ, XZ		Yes	Linux	8.2
12	VHD Attach	Yes	Free	VHD, VHDX, ISO	Yes	Yes	Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and later	8.1
13	AAlcohol 52%	Yes		CCD, CUE, ISO, BWF, CDI, MDS, NRG	Yes	Yes	Windows	7.9
14	DAEMON Tools Pro	No		B5T, B6T, BWT, CCD, CDI, APE, FLAC, CUE, ISO, ISZ, MDS, MDX, NRG, VMDK, VHD, ZIP, RAR, TC, WIM, BIN, ISO.WV, WAV, 7Z	Yes	Yes	Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008/2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000	7.8
15	MDMount-DiskImage		Free	ISO, VHD, VHDX, VHDSet	Yes	Yes	Windows	7.7
16	Llibguestfs	Yes	Free	raw, qcow2, vmdk, vdi, vpc, vhd	Yes	Yes	Linux, Mac OS X; some virt tools have been ported to Windows	7.6
17	NetDrive	No	$29.90/seat/yr				Windows, macOS	7.5
18	Mountain Duck	No						7.4
19	Arsenal Image Mounter	Yes	$907/yr	Raw (dd), DMG, AFF4, E01, Ex01, S01, VHD, VDI, XVA, VMDK, OVA, qcow, qcow2, AVHD, AVHDX	Yes	Yes	Windows; Linux CLI	7.3
20	Mount Image Pro	No		AD1, DMG, E01, Ex01, L01, Lx01, AFF, AFF4, ISO, VHD, VHDX, MFS01, ProDiscover, SMART, DD, RAW, VMDK, CTR	Yes	Yes	Windows 7-10	7.2
21	Paragon Image Mounter			RAW, VMDK, VDI, VHD, pVHD, VHDX	Yes		Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 or above	7.1
22	Virtual CD	No	$16.95/device one-time	Virtual CD images; ISO; NRG; C2D; XMF; IMG; BIN; MDF; BWI; B5I; B6I		Yes	Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP, 32-bit and 64-bit	7.0
23	TTntDrive	No	$69.99/device one-time				Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, 10, 11; Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025	6.5
24	SRStarWind RAM Disk	Yes	Free		No		Windows	6.2

Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →

• DAEMON Tools Lite vs WinCDEmu
• DAEMON Tools Lite vs ImDisk
• VCDAEMON Tools Lite vs Virtual CloneDrive
• TDAEMON Tools Lite vs TotalMounter
• GVDAEMON Tools Lite vs gBurner Virtual Drive
• IDAEMON Tools Lite vs ImgDrive
• ODAEMON Tools Lite vs OSFMount
• WinCDEmu vs ImDisk
• VCWinCDEmu vs Virtual CloneDrive

How we rank virtual drive software

Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update