Best FTP Client (2026): 10 FTP and SFTP Tools Compared

Even with dashboards and one-click installers, there's still a moment when you need to reach the files on your server directly: a theme fix, a stubborn plugin, a folder of images, a site that won't load. An FTP client is the tool for that job, and the main thing it needs to do is connect safely and show you clearly what's on each side.

This guide is for website owners, freelancers and developers who upload files to a server or hosting account. The ten tools below are in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, and each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today.

File transfer clients compared

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes it as free, free for personal use or open source, and Trial only means a trial version before you buy a licence.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Bitvise SSH Client	Windows SFTP client	Windows SFTP with terminal and tunnels	Yes
Core FTP	Windows FTP client	Free Windows FTP with no ads	Yes
Cyberduck	Open source file transfer client	FTP plus cloud storage browsing	Yes
ExpanDrive	Remote storage drive mounter	Mounting SFTP as a local drive	Yes
FileZilla	Cross-platform FTP client	Familiar free FTP on any system	Yes
FTP Rush	Multi-platform FTP client	Free client including mobile apps	Yes
Mountain Duck	Remote storage drive mounter	Working on server files in any app	Trial only
Transmit	Mac file transfer app	Mac users wanting fast multithreaded transfers	Trial only
WebDrive	Remote drive mapping tool	Organisations mapping remote servers as drives	Trial only
WinSCP	Windows SFTP and FTP client	Windows users needing SFTP and scripting	Yes

Ten FTP and SFTP clients

Bitvise SSH Client

Best for: Windows users who need SFTP file transfer plus a terminal and tunnelling in one client that the site says is free for all types of use.

Core FTP

Best for: Website owners on Windows who want a free, secure FTP client without ads or spyware and can upgrade to a Pro edition later.

Cyberduck

Best for: Mac and Windows users who want one open source browser for FTP, SFTP and cloud storage without registering for an account.

ExpanDrive

Best for: Anyone who'd rather open SFTP and cloud storage as a normal drive in Finder or Explorer, with a free tier for personal use.

FileZilla

Best for: People who need a familiar, free FTP client that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux and also has a companion server project.

FTP Rush

Best for: Users who want free file transfer software that also covers Android and iOS, with a scripting language for custom tasks.

Mountain Duck

Best for: Teams who want servers and cloud storage mounted as volumes so they can open and save files from any app, tried first as a trial.

Transmit

Best for: Mac users who want a polished transfer app for FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and S3 with multithreading, tried free for 7 days first.

WebDrive

Best for: Organisations that want users to reach remote servers and cloud storage as mapped drives while IT keeps policy control, with a trial download.

WinSCP

Best for: Windows admins who need SFTP, SCP or FTP with scripting and a documented open source client.

Classic FTP clients versus drive mounting tools

There are two styles of tool on this list. A classic client shows your computer on one side and the server on the other, and you drag files between them. A drive mounting tool makes the server appear as a drive on your computer, so you can open a file in any app, edit it and save it straight back.

• Choose a classic client for uploads, downloads, folder comparisons and bulk transfers.
• Choose a drive mounting tool if you edit server files in your own apps all day.
• Choose a client with scripting if you upload the same folders on a schedule.

Why plain FTP leaks your password

The IETF's RFC 2577, FTP Security Considerations, is blunt about the original protocol. Standard FTP sends passwords in clear text using the PASS command, and the RFC suggests that FTP clients and servers use alternate authentication mechanisms that aren't subject to eavesdropping.

For you, that means one setting matters more than any feature. When you add a server, choose SFTP, or FTP over TLS if your host offers it instead, and never plain FTP, especially on public Wi-Fi. If your host only offers plain FTP, ask why, and ask whether SSH access or SFTP can be switched on in your control panel.

Connecting to your server safely for the first time

1. Find the SFTP or FTP over TLS details in your hosting control panel: host name, port, user name and login method.
2. Create a dedicated file transfer user if your host allows it, limited to the folders you need.
3. Add the server in your client, choose SFTP and use an SSH key if one's available.
4. Accept the server's key fingerprint only after checking it matches what your host shows.
5. Download a backup of any file before you overwrite it on the server.
6. Save the connection so you don't retype passwords, and protect the saved details with a master password.

For the wider picture, my guide to protecting a website from attacks covers logins, updates and backups alongside file transfer.

Small habits that prevent upload accidents

• Check which side you're on before you drag. Uploading an old file over a new one is the classic mistake.
• Turn on overwrite warnings so you're asked before anything gets replaced.
• Watch file permissions. A wrong permission setting can stop a page loading or open a security hole.
• Use folder comparison to see what changed instead of uploading everything again.

If you're moving a whole site rather than a few files, read my notes on choosing a new host first so you only make the move once.

Do you make an FTP or SFTP client? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice for uploading files to a server

If you only touch your server now and then, a free cross-platform client is all you need: learn where the SFTP setting is and you're set. If you edit live files every day, a drive mounting tool can save a lot of dragging back and forth. On Windows, an SFTP client with scripting is handy for repeat uploads.

Whatever you choose, turn off plain FTP on your hosting account if you can, use SFTP with keys, and always keep a copy of a file before you replace it. And if you're editing your live site through FTP more than occasionally, think about a staging copy so mistakes don't reach your customers.

Frequently asked questions

What is an FTP client?

It's an app that connects your computer to a web server so you can upload, download and manage files on it.

What's the difference between FTP, SFTP and FTPS?

FTP is the original protocol and sends passwords in clear text. SFTP runs over SSH, and FTPS is FTP over TLS. Both of those encrypt the connection.

Is FTP safe to use?

Plain FTP isn't safe for logins, because passwords travel unencrypted. Use SFTP or FTP over TLS instead.

Are there free FTP clients?

Yes. Several well-known clients are free or open source, and some drive mounting tools are free for personal use.

Can I edit server files without downloading them?

Drive mounting tools let you open files on a server from your own apps and save them straight back.

Why can't my FTP client connect?

Check the host name, port and protocol first. Many hosts use SFTP on port 22 rather than FTP, and firewalls can block FTP's extra connections.