Best FTP and SFTP Clients in 2026
Updated
In short: FileZilla Client is ranked #1 of 36 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of Cyberduck and FTP Rush. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Cyberduck. The lowest first paid tier on this page is FileZilla Pro at €1.08/mo.
Moving files between systems can call for different protocols and transfer workflows. Compare protocol coverage and supported platforms with concurrent transfers, synchronization, and scheduled transfers to gauge how a client might fit your routine. Transfer automation can be relevant for repeat tasks, while a portable version, free plan, and paid-from price add other practical distinctions. FileZilla Client, Cyberduck, and CrossFTP are among the options to weigh against those criteria. Consider the protocols and devices you need to support, as well as whether you expect to handle transfers manually, synchronize files, or automate recurring work.
36 FTP and SFTP clients ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
36ranked
9free plans on this page
€1.08/molowest paid tier
7 Oct 2026last checked
Input list FTP and SFTP clients 25 channels on this page · 143 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromProtocol coverageSupported platformsFile synchronizationScheduled transfersTransfer automationConcurrent transfers Spec sheet Score
01 FileZilla Client Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coverageftp-ftps-sftpSupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationnot statedScheduled transfersnot statedTransfer automationnot statedConcurrent transfersnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 8.5
02 Cyberduck Free planYesPaid from$10one-timeProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersNoTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 8.4
03 FTP Rush Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 8.4
04 CrossFTP Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 8.3
05 WinSCP Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coverageFTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV and S3Supported platformsMicrosoft WindowsFile synchronizationnot statedScheduled transfersnot statedTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 8.2
06 lftp Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformslinuxFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.7
07 Core FTP Free planYesPaid from$24.95one-timeProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
08 FTP Commander Free planYesPaid from$49.95one-timeProtocol coverageftp-ftps-sftpSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
09 FTPShell Client Free planYesPaid from$59.95one-timeProtocol coverageftp-ftps-sftpSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 7.6
10 WS_FTP Professional Free planNoPaid from$58one-timeProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 7.4
11 Transmit Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformsmacosFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfers20 transfers 7/8spec lines stated 7.3
12 SmartFTP Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
13 Fetch Free planNoPaid from$29one-timeProtocol coverageftp-ftps-sftpSupported platformsmacosFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersnot statedTransfer automationNoConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
14 FlashFXP Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
15 FileZilla Pro Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersNoTransfer automationNoConcurrent transfers10 transfers 7/8spec lines stated 7.2
16 sFTP Client Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationnot statedScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.1
17 gFTP Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformslinuxFile synchronizationnot statedScheduled transfersnot statedTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.9
18 CuteFTP Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfers100 transfers 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
19 NcFTP Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coverageftp-onlySupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationnot statedScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
20 Faro Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformscross-platformFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersnot statedTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.8
21 FTPie Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationNoScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.8
22 Serv-U FTP Server Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragenot statedSupported platformsnot statedFile synchronizationnot statedScheduled transfersnot statedTransfer automationnot statedConcurrent transfersnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.8
23 AndFTP Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtocol coveragemulti-protocolSupported platformsnot statedFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
24 TurboFTP Free planNoPaid from$49.95one-timeProtocol coverageftp-ftps-sftpSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfers1 transfers 8/8spec lines stated 6.6
25 FTPGetter Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtocol coverageftp-ftps-sftpSupported platformswindowsFile synchronizationYesScheduled transfersYesTransfer automationYesConcurrent transfersnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.4
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Protocol coverage | Supported platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FileZilla Client | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | ftp-ftps-sftp | cross-platform |
| 2 | Cyberduck | 8.4 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | $10one-time | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 3 | FTP Rush | 8.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 4 | CrossFTP | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 5 | WinSCP | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV and S3 | Microsoft Windows |
| 6 | lftp | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | linux |
| 7 | Core FTP | 7.7 | No | $16.95/mo | Yes | $24.95one-time | multi-protocol | windows |
| 8 | FTP Commander | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | $49.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
| 9 | FTPShell Client | 7.6 | No | — | Yes | $59.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
| 10 | WS_FTP Professional | 7.4 | No | $58/mo | No | $58one-time | multi-protocol | windows |
| 11 | Transmit | 7.3 | No | $2.08/mo | No | — | multi-protocol | macos |
| 12 | SmartFTP | 7.3 | No | — | No | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 13 | Fetch | 7.3 | No | $4/mo | No | $29one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | macos |
| 14 | FlashFXP | 7.2 | No | — | No | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 15 | FileZilla Pro | 7.2 | No | €1.08/mo | No | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 16 | sFTP Client | 7.1 | No | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 17 | gFTP | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | linux |
| 18 | CuteFTP | 6.9 | No | — | No | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 19 | NcFTP | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | ftp-only | cross-platform |
| 20 | Faro | 6.8 | No | — | — | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 21 | FTPie | 6.8 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 22 | Serv-U FTP Server | 6.8 | No | $4.58/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 23 | AndFTP | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | — |
| 24 | TurboFTP | 6.6 | No | $4.16/mo | No | $49.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
| 25 | FTPGetter | 6.4 | No | — | No | — | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which FTP and SFTP client is ranked first on Specifiction?
FileZilla Client is ranked #1 of 36 with a score of 8.5. Cyberduck is second and FTP Rush third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, FileZilla Pro has the lowest first paid tier we found: €1.08/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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