The best free FTP clients
Transferring files to and from your web host or server is best done with what’s commonly known an FTP client,... though the term is a bit dated because there are more secure alternatives such as SFTP and FTPS. When we were putting together this list, this was our criteria: Supports secure file transfer protocols: FTP isn’t secure. Among its many flaws, plain FTP doesn’t encrypt the data you’re transferring. If your data is compromised en route to its destination, your credentials (username and password) and your data can easily be read. SFTP (which stands for SHH File Transfer Protocol) i...
ftp clients, free, filezilla, winscp, transmit, classic ftp, fireftp, cyberduck, software blog
Transferring files to and from your web host or server is best done with what’s commonly known an FTP client,... though the term is a bit dated because there are more secure alternatives such as SFTP and FTPS.
When we were putting together this list, this was our criteria:
- Supports secure file transfer protocols: FTP isn’t secure. Among its many flaws, plain FTP doesn’t encrypt the data you’re transferring. If your data is compromised en route to its destination, your credentials (username and password) and your data can easily be read. SFTP (which stands for SHH File Transfer Protocol) is a popular secure alternative, but there are many others.
- Has a GUI: There are some awesome FTP clients with a command-line interface, but for a great number of people, a graphical user interface is more approachable and easier to use.
FTP Programs
FileZilla
Topping the list is FileZilla, an open source FTP client. It’s fast, being able to handle simultaneous transmissions (multi-threaded transfers), and supports SFTP and FTPS (which stands for FTP over SSL). What’s more, it’s available on all operating systems, so if you work on multiple computers — like if you’re forced to use Windows at work but you have a Linux at home — you don’t need to use a different application for your file-transferring needs.
Available on Windows, Mac OS and Linux
Cyberduck
Cyberduck can take care of a ton of your file-transferring needs: SFTP, WebDav, Amazon S3, and more. It has a minimalist UI, which makes it super easy to use.
Available on Windows and Mac OS
WinSCP
This popular FTP client has a very long list of features, and if you’re a Windows user, it’s certainly worth a look. WinSCP can deal with multiple file-transfer protocols (SFTP, SCP, FTP, and WebDav). It has a built-in text editor for making quick text edits more convenient, and has scripting support for power users.
Available on Windows