6 Best Partition Manager Tools for Mac
1. Paragon Hard Disk Manager for Mac
- Expand: Yes | Shrink: Yes | Delete: Yes | Create: Yes | Split and Merge: Yes | Format: Yes | Recover: Yes
- Supported Partitions: APFS, HFS+, NTFS, ext2/3/4, FAT, exFAT
- OS Support: macOS 10.12 Sierra – macOS 12 Monterey
Overview:
Paragon Hard Disk Manager for Mac is a versatile tool that combines disk partitioning with data protection and recovery, Boot Camp management, disk cloning, secure data wiping, and more. It can address most partition- and data-related issues, helping to keep your Mac running smoothly.
Note: Many of Paragon Hard Disk Manager’s features on Mac have limitations with APFS disks. As a result, operations such as Backup, Restore, and Copy may not work properly on APFS-formatted drives.
Key Features:
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Boot Camp resizing: Paragon Hard Disk Manager for Mac can quickly resize Boot Camp volumes by borrowing space from your Mac partition.
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Data recovery: Recover entire partitions or specific files with a few clicks.
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Secure file deletion: Completely erase all data stored on your partitions so that your files can’t be recovered using specialized software.
Pros:
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Extremely versatile
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Data recovery capabilities
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Can undelete lost and accidentally deleted partitions
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Supports all major file systems
Cons:
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Only Intel-based computers are supported
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Certain functions are unavailable for APFS-formatted drives
Pricing plans:
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Free version – 10-day trial
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Single user license – $39.95
2. Disk Drill Partition Software
Expand: No | Shrink: No | Delete: No | Create: No | Split and merge: No | Format: No | Recover: Yes
Supported partitions: FAT16/FAT32/exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, HFS, HFS+, APFS, EXT2/EXT3/EXT4, BTRFS and any RAW disk
OS Support: requires Mac OS X 10.5 or newer
Overview:
Disk Drill is a widely used data recovery application compatible with macOS 10.5 and later. It supports recovery from all commonly used Mac, Windows, and Linux file systems with just a single click. Its modern, intuitive graphical interface and clean layout make it accessible even for users with little experience in data or partition recovery.
When Disk Drill detects a missing partition, it allows you to preview its contents, letting you choose exactly which files you want to recover.
Key Features:
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Preview lost files: Disk Drill can preview lost files from missing partitions, allowing you to recover only important files and leave everything else behind.
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Partition recovery: Disk Drill employs sophisticated algorithms to find and recover partitions that were lost or accidentally deleted.
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One-click recovery: Thanks to its one-click partition recovery process, you can use Disk Drill to easily recover entire partitions and their content without any special skills.
Pros:
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Excellent data recovery performance
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Can preview all recoverable files for free
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Can find lost partitions
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RAW partition recovery capabilities
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One-click partition recovery process
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Modern and intuitive graphical user interface
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Support for all commonly used file systems
Cons:
- No partition management capabilities
Pricing plans:
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Free version – preview recoverable files
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Disk Drill PRO – $89.00
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Disk Drill Enterprise – $499.00
3. Disk Utility
Expand: Yes | Shrink: Yes | Delete: Yes | Create: Yes | Split and merge: No | Format: Yes | Recover: Yes
Supported partitions: APFS, HFS/HFS+, FAT, exFAT
OS Support: Disk Utility is included in Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and newer
Overview:
Disk Utility is a user-friendly partition manager developed by Apple, included with all macOS and Mac OS X versions from 10.3 Panther onward. The app can create, convert, back up, compress, and encrypt logical volume images, verify disk integrity, and check S.M.A.R.T. status, among other functions.
Designed for casual users, Disk Utility doesn’t offer as many advanced partition management features as tools like Paragon Hard Disk Manager for Mac. However, its preinstallation on all Macs makes it an excellent first choice for basic disk and volume management tasks.
Key Features:
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First Aid: Just one click on the First Aid button is often enough to fix common partition issues.
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S.M.A.R.T. status check: Disk Utility lets you monitor the health of your hard drives to prevent data loss.
Pros:
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Easy to use
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Completely free
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Can fix partition issues
Cons:
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Can’t split and merge partitions
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Lacks advanced partition management features
Pricing plans:
- Disk Utility is completely free and included in macOS
4. GParted Live (GNOME Partition Editor)
Expand: Yes | Shrink: Yes | Delete: Yes | Create: Yes | Split and merge: Yes | Format: Yes | Recover: Yes
Supported partitions: BTRFS, EXT2/3/4, FAT16/32, HFS/HFS+, NILFS2, NTFS, REISERFS, UDF, UFS, XFS, and others
OS Support: Can be used to partition any Mac by booting from media containing GParted Live
Overview:
GParted is an open-source partition manager that can be used on any Mac by booting from GParted Live, a live Linux distribution that provides access to all the features of the latest GParted version.
GParted stands out for its exceptionally broad file system support—so extensive that it’s impractical to list them all here. Keep in mind, however, that some file systems can only be moved or copied, while others allow resizing, creation, and repair. This makes GParted a powerful choice for advanced users who need flexible partition management across multiple file systems.
Key Features:
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Bootable from a USB drive or CD: GParted is meant to be accessed from a media containing GParted Live, a small Linux distribution that lets you easily manage your disk partitions.
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Rescue lost partitions: GParted can repair and rescue certain partition types, helping you regain access to lost data and even entire operating systems.
Pros:
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Open source
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Can be used to partition any Mac
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Comprehensive file system support
Cons:
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Bootable only
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Outdated user interface
Pricing plans:
- GParted is completely free and can be used without any limitations
5. Stellar Partition Manager (Not Supported Anymore)
Expand: Yes | Shrink: Yes | Delete: Yes | Create: Yes | Split and merge: Yes | Format: Yes | Recover: No
Supported partitions: HFS+, FAT, and NTFS
OS Support: macOS Sierra 10.12 to Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6
Overview:
Stellar Partition Manager is a legacy partition management tool that allows you to create, resize, merge, format, and hide partitions on macOS Sierra 10.12 through Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.
You may also encounter this application under the names Partition Magic Mac and TechSoftwareLogic Mac Partition Manager. This is because Stellar Software acquired both products and retained their original websites for marketing purposes.
Key Features:
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Hide partitions: If you’re sharing your Mac with other users, it may be useful to hide partitions with important data to prevent data loss and accidental formatting.
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Create bootable media: Stellar Partition Manager lets you create a bootable drive that you can use to fix a Mac that refuses to boot.
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Resize Boot Camp partitions: Resizing Boot Camp partitions is easy with this partition manager thanks to its intuitive graphical user interface.
Pros:
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Intuitive graphical user interface
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Ability to create bootable media
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Boot Camp support
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Can hide and reveal partitions
Cons:
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Doesn’t support the latest versions of macOS
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Doesn’t support APFS
Pricing plans:
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Free demo version available
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Single user license – $39.00
6. iPartition for Mac (Not Supported Anymore)
Expand: Yes | Shrink: Yes | Delete: Yes | Create: Yes | Split and merge: Yes | Format: Yes | Recover: No
Supported partitions: HFS+, FAT, and NTFS
OS Support: macOS High Sierra 10.13 to Mac OS X Tiger 10.4
Overview:
iPartition for Mac was once a popular partition manager for Mac computers, but it struggled to keep pace with Apple’s increasingly strict security controls. As a result, the latest version of the software only supports macOS High Sierra 10.13 through Mac OS X Panther 10.3.
The app allows users to easily create, delete, resize, and format HFS+, FAT, and NTFS partitions. If you’re working with an older Mac that requires partitioning, iPartition remains a solid choice. For newer macOS versions, there are many alternative apps that offer similar functionality.
Key Features:
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Partitioning without reformatting: With iPartition for Mac, you can change the size of a partition that’s currently full of data without losing the data.
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Support for Boot Camp: Resizing Boot Camp volumes is easy with this partition manager, regardless of if they contain macOS/Mac OS X or Windows.
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Intelligent partitioning: iPartition for Mac is smart enough to minimize the number of operations it takes to achieve the desired result.
Pros:
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Non-destructive partitioning
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Support for boot camp
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Completely free
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Intuitive user interface
Cons:
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Doesn’t support newer versions of macOS
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Doesn’t support APFS
Pricing plans:
- iPartition for Mac is completely free
So, How to Choose the Right Mac Partition Manager App in 2024?
With so many Mac partitioning tools available, even experienced users can feel overwhelmed when deciding which one to download. If you find yourself in that situation, keep the following selection criteria in mind:
Features
Since macOS already includes a capable free disk partition tool—Disk Utility—it’s best to look for apps that offer extra features. This could be support for additional file systems, the ability to recover lost partitions, or even permanent data recovery capabilities.
Usability
Some developers design software primarily for themselves, not for everyday users. While this isn’t inherently bad, such software is often unintuitive. Mistakes when managing Mac partitions can have serious consequences, so ease of use is crucial.
Customer Support
If you invest in commercial partition software, ensure the company provides reliable customer support. A robust knowledge base with step-by-step tutorials is useful, but nothing replaces having someone available to guide you when you’re unsure of a process.
Compatibility
Don’t assume all partition managers work with the latest macOS versions. Smaller developers, in particular, may take months to release updates. Always verify that the software you choose will run on your system.
Security
Mac partition software should be free of malware, adware, and bugs. Even simple operations like resizing or renaming partitions can lead to significant data loss if the software is unstable or insecure.
Summary
Each of the top Mac partition software applications highlighted here offers unique advantages. To get the most out of your Mac, we recommend trying at least three of the best third-party solutions: Paragon Hard Disk Manager for Mac, Disk Drill Partition Software, and Stellar Partition Manager.