The best FTP clients for Windows and Mac

8 May 2023 13 minutes Author: Lady Liberty

The best free FTP client

A file transfer protocol, known as FTP, allows data to be exchanged over specific networks called the IP protocol. FTP transfers data between two PCs. The FTP server is responsible for managing incoming requests to connect to the network from another computer. FTP software establishes a connection between the computer and the client. FTP clients are software designed specifically for transferring files between PCs and servers over the Internet. These tools support protocols like FTP, SFTP, HTTP/HTTPS, etc. Many FTP clients have drag-and-drop features to copy a file from one location to another. A good FTP client software offers you features like ease of use, which means the user interface should be smooth enough that you don’t have to dive deep into menus, commands, or do anything else intuitive to connect to the server. Another important characteristic is that the software must be reliable, unlike browser software. It should be able to download large files without errors, which is rarely the case with browser programs.

FTP client software should be lightweight and compact, and it shouldn’t take up more of your system’s resources because you won’t be doing one task at a time. You can use these programs to quickly synchronize local and remote folders. Now that you know what an FTP server is, so if you want to share a file with your friends and family, you back it up on a web server and transfer it using FTP.

List of the best FTP clients

1) GoodSync

GoodSync is a file backup and synchronization tool. This software can be used to synchronize files between a computer and storage devices or between a computer and a server. This allows the user to run parallel threads to achieve file transfer speeds.

Features:

  1. Real-time data can be transferred without any problems

  2. It is one of the best FTP programs that performs automated schedule and real-time backup without user intervention.

  3. Encrypts files using AES-256.

  4. It can detect files that have been renamed or moved from one location to another.

  5. You can control the throughput.

  6. Provides action logs and a change report

  7. It can fix access denied errors.

  8. This tool can compare two files by MD5.

  9. You can specify paths for removable drives.

visit GoodSync

2) ForkLift

ForkLift is a file transfer client designed specifically for macOS. This FTP client for Mac allows users to easily manage files across multiple networks and servers.

Features:

  1. Compare local and remote sources and identify matching, deleted or modified files.

  2. A preview panel that displays information about the selected files.

  3. Search for files and filter them by name, type, extension and tags on the remote server.

  4. Easy access to favorites, menu commands and devices.

  5. Rename a large number of files on remote files or on a remote server.

  6. Easily manage every file operation from the keyboard.

  7. Supported languages: English, Chinese, French, Spanish, Hungarian, etc.

visit ForkLift

3) FileZilla

FileZilla is a free FTP solution for transferring data over the Internet. The software helps you filter the file name easily. It is one of the best FTP clients for Windows that offers a drag-and-drop feature to copy the files you want from your local machine to the server.

Features:

  1. You can easily browse your synced library.

  2. It offers remote file search

  3. It is possible to compare the catalog.

  4. You can easily edit remote files.

  5. Available in many languages.

  6. This free FTP client supports FTP, SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), and FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS).

  7. You can adjust the file transfer speed.

  8. This is one of the free FTP programs offered by Network Setup Wizard.

visit FileZilla

4) FTP server software

Serv-U File Transfer Protocol Server helps you easily transfer files from the Internet and mobile devices. You can quickly add and manage users and groups. You can monitor and troubleshoot effectively to resolve issues quickly.

Features:

  1. This makes it easy to transfer multiple large files

  2. Simple administration and control of file transfers

  3. This avoids data interruption in DMZ networks

  4. You can manage file transfer settings and permissions

  5. Free trial: Yes

visit FTP server

5) Commander One

Commander One is a MAC FTP client. Offers convenient ability to copy files from one server to another, delete, etc. The program provides full support for FTP protocols. It helps the user to establish multiple connections simultaneously.

Features:

  1. You can map the FTP server as a local drive.

  2. This allows you to link your entire Amazon S3 (Amazon Simple Storage Service) account.

  3. Connect more than one Dropbox account.

  4. You can work with Google Docs and Sheets.

  5. It supports file encryption between Mac, cloud storage and remote server.

  6. The compressor decompresses archives without any problems.

  7. Convenient file selection.

  8. This FTP software provides access to shared computers over a network.

visit Commander One

6) WinSCP

WinSCP is an FTP program for Microsoft Windows. It is one of the best FTP clients for Windows that allows you to seamlessly copy any file between your local system and a remote server. This software has a basic file manager and file synchronization feature.

Features:

  1. It offers an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI).

  2. This Windows SFTP client supports scripting and task automation.

  3. It has a built-in text editor

  4. The WinSCP interface can be translated into many languages

  5. Provides a command line interface.

  6. Security through file encryption.

  7. Port forwarding is possible.

  8. It can be downloaded as standalone portable executables.

visit WinSCP

7) Transmit

Transmit is a tool that helps you upload, download and manage files across multiple servers. It is one of the best FTP clients for Mac that has an extremely easy-to-use user interface. This file transfer protocol tool can be used for macOS.

Features:

  1. It has improved the ability to copy URL remotely.

  2. It is one of the best FTP clients that supports Amazon S3 API V4.

  3. Copy and paste files.

  4. It is one of the best FTP clients that provides authentication with NTLM (New Technology LAN Manager) and HTTP Digest authentication.

  5. This tool supports English, French, German and Chinese languages.

  6. Provides additional options related to text size

  7. This FTP client sync progress bar to see how many files are synced.

  8. It offers various authentication methods to verify the user.

visit Transmit

8) Core FTP LE

Core FTP is a secure FTP program for Windows. It provides security by encrypting the FTP client. The tool supports FTP, SFTP SSL/TLS and HTTP/HTTPS. It has a user-friendly interface that allows you to search for remote files.

Features:

  1. Drag and drop support.

  2. You can control the transmission bandwidth.

  3. Transfer a file with just one click.

  4. This Windows SFTP client provides command line support

  5. Data transfer from one site to another.

  6. You can use an international domain (top-level domain)

  7. Automatic retry of files that failed to transfer.

  8. It provides browser integration.

  9. Assign access rights to the file

  10. This FTP client for Windows has an extensive list of directories

visit Core FTP LE

9) Cyberduck

Cyberduck is a software that supports FTP, SFTP, Microsoft Azure, OneDrive, Dropbox and more. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows you to connect to servers, share files, and provides cloud storage.

Features:

  1. It is one of the best FTP software that gives you access to Microsoft Azure cloud storage on your PC.

  2. DropBox can be used without synchronizing documents to a local drive.

  3. It is one of the best SFTP clients that offers file name and content encryption

  4. Quickly copy or select a file URL from a web browser.

  5. You can view images easily.

  6. It is possible to import bookmarks from third-party software.

  7. Browse the large folder structure without any problems.

  8. You can drag bookmarks.

visit Cyberduck

10) Coffeecup

Coffeecup is a free FTP client that allows you to connect to a server with the click of a button. You can upload or download any file by dragging it to your computer or server. The software keeps your website running smoothly.

Features:

  1. You can set permission on files and folders.

  2. Support for secure file transfer via SFTP, SSH (Secure Shell), HTTPS, etc.

  3. You can easily manage local and remote files.

  4. You can quickly create a backup copy of your site.

  5. Precise management of the history of created folders.

visit Coffeecup

11) WS_FTP Professional

WS_FTP Professional offers the easiest way to transfer and download files. It is one of the best SFTP clients that provides FTP transfer capability using encryption technology. This software is easy to use and can reduce the administrative burden.

Features:

  1. Supports a wide range of file transfer protocols, including SSL/FTPS, SSH/SFTP and HTTP/S.

  2. Uses Windows 10 security features.

  3. Automatic backup of your site.

  4. Users can connect an unlimited number of local connections at the same time.

  5. You can transfer more than one file at a time.

  6. Transfer from server to server is possible.

  7. Provides security with PGP (Pretty Good Privacy).

  8. Users can connect an unlimited number of remote connections simultaneously.

visit WS_FTP Professional

12) CuteFTP

CuteFTP is a set of File Transfer Protocol programs. Windows and Mac versions of this software are available. You can use this program to transfer file via FTP between PC, shared system.

Features:

  1. This FTP client for Mac supports OpenPGP encryption, password manager, OTP authentication protocol.

  2. You can schedule a file transfer.

  3. It is one of the best FTP clients that supports fully automated transfers

  4. Quickly monitor local folders for any changes.

  5. You can connect to a new site using a step-by-step wizard.

  6. It is one of the free FTP programs that supports more than 100 simultaneous transfers.

  7. You can view thumbnails of remote images.

  8. Works with more than one remote site at the same time.

visit CuteFTP

13) FTP Voyager

FTP Voyager is an FTP client for Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. This Linux SFTP client tool can transfer files of any size without any problems. FTP Voyager makes it easy to transfer files over a secure shell data stream.

Features:

  1. You can schedule and transfer multiple files at once.

  2. Drag and drop folders from the desktop.

  3. Connect to multiple servers at once

  4. This Linux SFTP client automatically synchronizes directories

  5. Upload or download any file using FTP, SFTP and FTPS.

visit FTP Voyager

14) FetchFTP

FetchFTP is a file transfer client for Macintosh. It supports FTP and SFTP, FTPS, etc. You can use this tool to view the overall progress and time remaining when transferring multiple files. Fetch FTP helps you filter the directories you want.

Features:

  1. Edit any file with one click.

  2. It is one of the best SFTP clients that supports dragging and dropping folders and files between servers and your Mac.

  3. You can synchronize folders using the mirror command.

  4. It has a WebView that allows you to preview files in a web browser.

  5. Upload a file between servers using copy and paste.

  6. Keeps file modification date during uploads and downloads.

  7. You can sync shortcuts between two Macs using Dropbox.

  8. This FTP client for Mac Provides extensive online help.

  9. Compatible with macOS.

visit FetchFTP

15)Pure FTPD

Pure FTPD is a software that can translate server messages in many languages including English, French, Spanish, German, etc. It fully supports LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) authentication.

Features:

  1. Beginners can install this software in less time.

  2. You can limit the number of simultaneous users.

  3. It allows you to connect to the server only from a certain range of IP addresses.

  4. You can disable the download if the system load is heavy.

  5. You can host more than one FTP server on the same server.

  6. Compatibility with existing client and server specification.

  7. You can quickly configure external software such as database archivers and anti-virus scanners.

  8. It has built-in secure cryptographic security methods.

visit Pure FTPD

16) Wise FTP

WISE FTP is an FTP client for professionals. It has a user-friendly interface. This tool includes a built-in HTML editor. You can connect to any FTP servers like FTPES, FTPS, SFTP.

Features:

  1. You can delete, rename or copy from FTP server to local PC.

  2. It offers schedulers to schedule file uploads and downloads.

  3. Easily synchronize files, directories, folders and subfolders.

  4. Security is ensured using the SSH file transfer protocol.

visit WISE FTP

17) CrushFTP

CrushFTP is an easy-to-use file transfer solution that can run on Windows, Solaris, BSD, Unix, and more. It has a built-in zip method that allows users to download any files in a compressed format. The software can manage and monitor the server from anywhere using almost any device.

Features:

  1. It provides thumbnail previews for images, documents, PDFs, and more.

  2. You can customize website forms for users.

  3. Built-in report for monitoring user activity.

  4. You can quickly log in from your browser.

  5. The server administrator can grant permission to the user.

  6. It offers real-time data synchronization.

  7. Jobs or tasks can be set up so that you can complete them at a specific time.

  8. Supports a wide range of plugins.

visit CrushFTP

18) FlashFXP

FlashFXP is a platform that allows you to share files with colleagues and friends using FTP. This tool is available in many languages including Chinese, Dutch, French, German, etc. This software is also available in a portable version.

Features:

  1. You can limit your upload and download speed.

  2. Allows you to connect to a server via FTP, FTPS, HTTP, etc.

  3. You can visually compare folders.

  4. It offers bookmarks for folders.

  5. You can go to the command line interface.

  6. Data rollback.

  7. It provides automatic transmission recovery.

  8. You can calculate the file size.

visit FlashFXP

19) SmartFTP

SmartFTP is an FTP client that allows you to transfer files between a computer and a server. This will help you publish and maintain your website. You can use this tool to download documents, music files, movies, etc.

Features:

  1. This tool allows you to synchronize files or folders with ease.

  2. You can customize the commands as you like.

  3. It is one of the best FTP clients that allows you to preview the output file

  4. Visual comparison of files

  5. Multiple connections are possible

  6. Supports UTF-8 (8-bit block conversion format)

  7. Schedule tasks to be performed at specific times.

visit SmartFTP

20) CrossFTP

CrossFTP is a file transfer protocol client for syncing/transferring data on Windows, Linux, and Mac. This Linux SFTP client allows you to handle database and file backup.

Features:

  1. You can connect multiple site connections in one window.

  2. The latest version of this software protects your password with encryption.

  3. Allows you to compress, browse and extract archives.

  4. Find a file online with one click.

  5. Batch data transfer.

  6. Zoomable for preview

  7. This SFTP client for Linux offers sound and event notifications.

  8. It is one of the best FTP clients for Mac that provides convenient history information.

visit CrossFTP

Other related articles
Found an error?
If you find an error, take a screenshot and send it to the bot.