10 Best Free FTP Clients for Desktop (2024)

10 Best Free FTP Clients for Desktop (2024).

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) are customary network protocols used for transferring giant information over the web. FTP is extensively used for its simplicity and pace, whereas SFTP gives the additional advantage of safe, encrypted transfers. These instruments are invaluable for net builders, IT professionals, and anybody needing to switch giant quantities of knowledge securely and effectively. Although there are various dependable paid FTP providers, gaining access to free FTP options is a great addition to your digital toolkit.

In this text, we’ll discover a few of the best free FTP purposes, in addition to various strategies for transferring information using FTP, even in case you don’t have specialised software program.

1. FileZilla

Screenshot of FileZilla, a versatile FTP client

My high choose, FileZilla, is an open-source FTP consumer supporting FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS), and SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). Its user-friendly tabbed interface permits managing a number of connections and monitoring ongoing file transfers. Notably, it’s IPv6 appropriate and may deal with information bigger than 4GB.

FileZilla’s standout options embrace distant file modifying, SOCKS5, and FTP-Proxy assist, together with drag-and-drop performance for easy file importing/downloading.

Additionally, it gives capabilities like distant file looking, multi-language assist, and adjustable pace limits for file transfers to attenuate influence in your web searching.

Download FileZilla for:

Mac
Windows
Linux

2. Cyberduck

Interface of Cyberduck FTP Client

Cyberduck stands out with its skill to connect with numerous protocols like FTP, SFTP, and more, together with third-party providers like Amazon S3 and OpenStack Swift. Its drag-and-drop performance and the choice to edit information in an exterior editor are fairly helpful.

This instrument gives seamless searching, downloading, importing of information with the flexibleness to pause and resume as wanted. You can handle concurrent transfers, use common expressions for file filtering, and even encrypt information and entry cloud storage providers like Google Drive and Dropbox.

Download Cyberduck for:

Mac
Windows

3. GoAnywhere MFT

Overview of GoAnywhere MFT

GoAnywhere MFT is a user-friendly instrument enabling automated file transfers via a browser-based interface. It’s distinctive for its skill to watch FTP websites and gives scheduled transfers all the way down to the minute. It helps all switch choices and customized instructions.

With options like autodetecting file modes and dealing with information of limitless sizes, it’s extremely versatile. It can automate transfers with numerous variables, ship alerts through electronic mail or textual content, and helps HTTP and SOCKS proxy. Additionally, it could actually alter file permissions if approved.

Download GoAnywhere MFT for:

Windows
Linux

4. CrossFTP

Screenshot showing CrossFTP interface

CrossFTP is an environment friendly free consumer able to batch transferring information seamlessly. It incorporates a tabbed interface, permitting connections to a number of websites concurrently. Users can compress, extract, and discover archives straight throughout the software. Notably, it helps information with worldwide encoding and features a direct file search perform.

Its user-friendliness is a standout characteristic. Additionally, CrossFTP integrates with Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and Amazon Glacier. It additionally gives an added layer of safety by encrypting website passwords.

Download CrossFTP for:

Mac
Windows
Linux

5. NcFTP Client

Display of NcFTP Client's command-line interface

NcFTP is a novel FTP consumer providing the simplicity and adaptableness of a command-line interface. Unlike graphical purchasers, it’s designed for high-traffic websites, supporting simultaneous a number of connections.

NcFTP facilitates knowledge change with different packages and, impressively for a command-line instrument, exhibits progress meters for uploads/downloads. It helps background processing, obtain resuming, bookmarking, caching, and is appropriate with firewalls and proxies, amongst different superior options.

Download NcFTP Client for:

Mac
Windows
Linux

6. FTP Voyager

User interface of FTP Voyager

FTP Voyager excels with its assist for FTP, FTPS, and SFTP (SSH) protocols, wrapped in a user-friendly interface. It shines with options like automated file administration and folder synchronization. A spotlight is its customizable post-transfer actions, permitting you to ship emails or run packages after finishing transfers.

Its file-transfer scheduler is a standout, enabling automated uploads or downloads. Additionally, FTP Voyager helps refined scheduling scripts, providing enhanced automation capabilities.

Download FTP Voyager for:

Windows

7. WinSCP

WinSCP application interface

WinSCP, a Windows-exclusive open-source FTP consumer, additionally helps WebDAV and SCP. Its power lies in activity automation through command line instruments and batch scripting. It facilitates semi and absolutely automated listing synchronization and shares settings with PuTTY.

This multilingual instrument ensures password-protected website info and doubles as a transportable consumer. It options an built-in textual content editor for modifying native and distant information. Its integration with PuTTY’s authentication consumer (Pageant) permits public key authentication with SSH.

Download WinSCP for:

Windows

8. Core FTP

Core FTP's main window

Core FTP impresses with its in depth assist for protocols like FTP, SFTP, and FTPS. Known for quick and safe file transfers, it additionally options Mode Z compression and site-to-site transfers. Its accessible interface helps drag and drop, and versatile switch controls like pause, resume, and cease.

Notably, it gives bandwidth management, distant file search, and modifying of .htaccess and .htpasswd information. Among its highly effective capabilities are S/Key assist, command line utilities, and assist for FTP/HTTP and Socks 4 & 5 proxies. Its skill to encrypt and decrypt information additionally stands out.

Download Core FTP for:

Windows

9. SmartFTP

SmartFTPinterface

SmartFTP goes past customary FTP purchasers, supporting FTP, SFTP, FTPS, SSH, WebDAV, Google Drive, OneDrive, Amazon S3, and Terminal protocols. It’s a sophisticated instrument that permits file transfers, backups, and synchronization of native and distant information. However, be aware that some options are unique to the paid model.

Like WinSCP, SmartFTP consists of an built-in editor for native and distant information. Its fashionable interface, supporting over 20 languages, is especially spectacular. It shares options like IPv6 protocol and Mode Z compression with CoreFTP, and likewise gives SOCKS5, SOCKS4, SOCKS4A, and HTTP proxy assist.

Download SmartFTP for:

Windows

10. FTP Manager Lite

FTP Manager Lite interface

FTP Manager Lite stands out as one of many quickest FTP purchasers, providing safe file switch between your PC and server. Its tab-styled interface simplifies connections, permitting you to handle them in a single window. This consumer is appropriate with most protocols like FTP, FTPS, and so on.

It options drag-and-drop performance for swift transfers, helps automated encoding choice, and gives each energetic and passive switch modes. It auto-reconnects after switch failures and means that you can pause and resume transfers at any time.

Download FTP Manager Lite for:

Windows

11. Commander One

Commander One's dual-pane interface

Developed in Swift, Commander One is a flexible file supervisor for Mac, providing a dual-pane interface for environment friendly file administration. It options customizable themes, fonts, Dark Mode, simple navigation, drag-and-drop performance, hidden file visibility, and file renaming throughout transfers.

The software program enhances file searching with a number of tabs, three viewing modes, and superior search options like Regex and Spotlight search. Additional functionalities embrace hotkey customization, course of viewing, Finder Tags assist, and numerous file preview choices. The PRO model gives FTP/SFTP administration, 7zip and RAR assist, customized themes, cloud service integration, and safe file encryption, positioning Commander One as a complete answer for Mac file administration.

Download Commander One for:

Mac

Bonus: Other Alternative Methods to Connect

If you’re an informal consumer or choose to not set up a selected FTP software, listed here are some strategies you should utilize together with your present working system or apps for FTP file transfers.

Firefox FireFTP

An FTP file switch plugin for Firefox, permitting you to handle FTP duties straight inside your browser tab.

Interface of Firefox FireFTP plugin
Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer can perform as an FTP instrument. Simply use the next format for FTP connections: ftp://username:password@ftp.server.com/

DOS Command Lines

Windows Command Prompt helps FTP, albeit with out a graphical interface. Here’s how to connect with FTP using Windows DOS Command Prompt:

  1. Click Start on the Desktop and choose Run.
  2. Type in cmd and press Enter.
  3. In the Command Prompt, sort FTP.
  4. Connect to your website with: open ftp.server.com
  5. Enter your username and password.

Using the Command Prompt for FTP transfers is easy. If you’re new to the instructions or encounter difficulties, sort HELP and press enter for more info, or consult with this record of instructions.


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