Best File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software transfers files between a computer and a server over the internet. It is built on a client-server model architecture, in which one computer acts as the server to store information and the other acts as the client to send or request files from the server. Companies leverage these tools to transfer large files or large amounts of data between multiple stakeholders. In particular, webmaster teams use FTP to transfer web pages, web application files, and images to their web server; additionally, IT teams utilize FTP solutions to transfer data back to disaster recovery, or DR, sites.
FTP solutions are similar to managed file transfer (MFT) software in that both types of tools facilitate the transfer of files and data. However, they do not utilize the same server. Furthermore, while FTP is a traditional File Transfer Protocol, SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is an alternative which adds a security layer in the file transfer process through encryption and authentication features.
To qualify for inclusion in the FTP category, a product must:
Featured File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software At A Glance
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Progress MOVEit is Managed File Transfer Software that enables the consolidation of all file transfer activities to one system to ensure better management control over core business processes. It prov
MOVEit is a tool designed to send large documents as packages to different users, ensuring encryption and zero data loss throughout the process. Reviewers like the seamless transition, the ability to automate file transfers, the secure handling of files, and the user-friendly interface of MOVEit, which gives them confidence in the secure and consistent management of their files. Reviewers mentioned issues such as the slightly higher pricing compared to other tools, difficulties in moving files and uploading folders, problems with third-party encryption key importing, latency while transferring large datasets, and the lack of user-friendliness for beginners.
48,885 Twitter followers
GoAnywhere MFT is a secure managed file transfer solution that automates and secures file transfers between systems, employees, and partners. Keep sensitive data safe—in transit or at rest—with built-
GoAnywhere MFT is a platform that provides secure file transfer and automation capabilities, with features for encryption, compliance support, and centralized management. Reviewers appreciate the platform's strong security, ease of use, and automation capabilities, which save time and reduce manual work, and its ability to integrate with various systems. Users experienced a steep learning curve during initial setup, found the user interface to be outdated, and reported slow response times from customer support for complex issues.
2,603 Twitter followers
Files.com is the cloud-native, next-generation MFT, SFTP, and secure file-sharing platform built for the cloud-integrated world. It replaces brittle legacy infrastructure with one secure, always-on fa
Files.com is a secure online platform that provides file sharing and storage services, including SFTP and SFTP services, automation capabilities, and integration with other tools. Reviewers frequently mention the ease of use, intuitive interface, reliable and secure services, and responsive customer support as standout features of Files.com. Reviewers noted occasional downtime, lack of customization options in notifications, and high cost as areas that could be improved in Files.com.
FileZilla is a free, open-source, cross-platform FTP application that includes both client and server components. It supports FTP, FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS), and SFTP protocols, enabling secure and effi
191 Twitter followers
SFTP To Go is a secure cloud file transfer and storage service built to deliver safe and efficient cloud file storage, sharing and integration for businesses of every size. Powered by the robust infra
SFTP To Go is a system used for secure file transfers between third-party vendors, with features such as 2FA and temporary credentials for enhanced security. Users frequently mention the ease of setup and navigation, the ability to customize credentials, and the reliability of the system as key benefits of using SFTP To Go. Users mentioned limitations in file storage limits, high cost compared to competitors, and a lack of support for FTP only transfers as drawbacks of the product.
50 Twitter followers
From the beginning, Thru’s cloud-native MFT solutions have been designed for businesses with the principles of security, integration, flexibility and scalability at heart. The no-code, web-based confi
1,781 Twitter followers
JSCAPE is a platform-independent managed file transfer server that centralizes all of your file transfer processes into a single easy-to-use application. JSCAPE secure MFT Server supports all major fi
828 Twitter followers
Cerberus FTP Server provides a secure and reliable file transfer solution for the demanding IT professional. Supporting SFTP, FTP/S, and HTTP/S, Cerberus is able to authenticate against Active Directo
828 Twitter followers
WinSCP is a free and open-source file transfer client for Microsoft Windows, supporting protocols such as SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3. Its primary function is to facilitate secure file trans
1,771 Twitter followers
Kiteworks’ mission is to empower organizations to effectively manage risk in every send, share, receive, and save of sensitive content. To this end, we created a platform that delivers content governa
Kiteworks is a secure file sharing and collaboration platform that offers encryption, access controls, and compliance-focused tools, integrating with tools like Microsoft Office and Salesforce. Reviewers appreciate Kiteworks' robust security features, detailed audit trails, and seamless integration with existing tools, which enhance secure collaboration and compliance with regulatory requirements. Reviewers mentioned that the mobile app user experience could be improved, the interface could be more intuitive, and the initial setup can be complex for new users.
3,462 Twitter followers
Fortra’s Globalscape EFT is a sophisticated Managed File Transfer (MFT) solution built to facilitate the secure, efficient, and automated movement of business-critical or sensitive data within Windows
2,603 Twitter followers
An easy-to-use utility that mounts SFTP servers as local drives. Once connected, you can browse and work with files as if they were stored on your local machine. SFTP Drive is Yubikey verified and ru
1,918 Twitter followers
A Key Part of Fortra (the new face of HelpSystems) Globalscape is proud to be part of Fortra’s comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio. Fortra simplifies today’s complex cybersecurity landscape by bring
2,603 Twitter followers
Learn More About File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software
What is File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software?
Organizations have a perennial need to constantly share files or data among employees as well as with external partners, customers, or suppliers. File transfer protocol (FTP) was the standard internet protocol to share files for many years. Secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) and file transfer protocol with support (FTPS) or transport layer security (SSL/TLS) were introduced later as an alternative to FTP software to combat security issues. SFTP, also known as secure shell (SSH) file transfer protocol and FTPS are both secure protocols that provide encrypted file transfers. SFTP is an extension of the SSH protocol, while FTPS simply adds a security layer to the existing FTP protocol.
Companies use FTP software primarily to transfer multiple files or data between a client and server over an established internet connection or transmission control protocol (TCP) network. FTP software is built on a client-server architecture model consisting of an FTP client and an FTP server.
Key Benefits of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software
- Enables the transfer of multiple directories at one time with no size limitations
- Offers automatic data backup and disaster recovery features
- Allows file transfers to be scheduled and resumed
- Availability of multiple free open-source FTP software
Why Use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software?
Large file transfers — FTP software is one of the easiest and quickest ways to transfer large and multiple files at one go as it is able to handle simultaneous transmissions (multi-threaded transfers) with ease.
Ease of use — The software has a user-friendly interface design which it easy and intuitive to use, making file transfer operations efficient.
Operating system (OS) support — FTP software is available on multiple OS. This allows organizations to standardize on a single file transfer client.
Who Uses File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software?
Companies that require to perform multiple or large file sharing on a daily basis use FTP software. In particular, industries like architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), transcription services and printing, manufacturing, retail and wholesale distribution, IT consulting, media and marketing, and many more use FTP software. FTP software is typically used by:
AEC industry — The AEC industry uses FTP to share large files in the form of computer-aided design (CAD) and architecture components.
Graphic designers and transcription services — The graphic design industry leverages the offerings of FTP software to facilitate the sharing of large print jobs as there are no file restrictions.
Website designers — Webmasters employ FTP to facilitate the uploading and downloading of files between their computer and their web-hosting servers.
Educational institutions — FTP software helps in the file or data sharing processes for educational institutions who offer various data-oriented internal services for their students and employees.
Medical industry — The automatic backup feature of an FTP software is widely used in the medical industry where patients' information is considered very crucial.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software Features
Listed below are the main features of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) software:
Synchronize utility — With real-time sync feature, FTP software monitors files and synchronizes them as soon as they are created, updated, or deleted. It works in the background with no user interaction.
Queuing utility — FTP software offers the ability to add items to a queue to be either uploaded or downloaded.
Drag and drop — Drag and drop method within FTP enables users to copy or move files and folders to a new location or even copy a file or an entire folder within the directory in which it resides.
Scheduling — FTP schedulers help in automating file transfers, taking the manual file exchange burden off of individual team members. It helps businesses streamline their file transfer workflows by scheduling a file or directory transfer and allowing file sharing without having to alter work patterns.
File backup and disaster recovery — Disaster recovery ensures files are regularly and automatically backed up to combat the threat of losing data or files due to a natural calamity or power outage.
Data representation — FTP handles three sorts of data representations: ASCII (7 bit), EBCDIC (8-bit), and 8-binary data. The ASCII record is the default position for moving content documents. Each character is encoded using 7-piece ASCII. The sender changes the record from its own representation into ASCII characters and the collector changes the ASCII character to its own representation.
Additionally, SFTP offers some of the following features along with FTP:
File management — SFTP provides a remote file management functionality, allowing applications to resume interrupted file transfers, list the contents of remote directories, and delete remote files.
Encryption — Encryption protects data from eavesdroppers while in transit over the network, while data integrity checks ensure that the transferred data has not been tampered with.
Authentication — An SFTP server requires trading partners to authenticate in two different ways. They may either prove their identity with a user ID and password (this information is encrypted over the SFTP connection and not in plain text) or validate with an SSH key or SSH key and password combination.
Access control — SFTP allows limited user access. It gives select users control over transfer, access, or uploads of new files or dictionaries.
Potential Issues with File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software
Security — FTP was not built to be secure. It is commonly viewed as an insecure protocol because it relies on clear-text usernames and passwords for authentication and does not use encryption. Files sent via FTP are vulnerable to sniffing, spoofing, and brute force attacks, among other basic attack methods.
Compliance — FTP on its own or using an FTP vendor with inadequate security could leave businesses at risk of noncompliance fines. If compliance regulations like Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA ), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and others apply to a company, it is difficult to find an FTP solution that helps to stay compliant.
Lack of logging and limited reporting — A lot of FTP solutions have an inability to track or are inconsistent in tracking what has been uploaded on the remote system. So, if files are mishandled or a data breach occurs, the sender may struggle to track the source of the problem.
Restricted access — Closely connected to file security is file access. Using old FTP methods make it impossible to know who was accessing files and for what purpose.
Loss of data control — Sharing files via FTP allows little control over the data, files, or both. Once the file is sent, the sender has no control over the file, both in terms of how it is used and who is using it. The sender also loses control over how long the downloaded copy will be kept by the recipient.
