Cerberus FTP Server vs CompleteFTP

Cerberus FTP Server is a secure file transfer server built for Windows. It supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, SCP, and HTTP/S transfers, with a web client for accessing, editing, and transferring files from desktop or mobile browsers. Administrators can manage accounts through the native user database or Active Directory and LDAP; version 2026.3 adds RADIUS authentication. That version also supports Amazon S3 and Azure Blob Storage as Virtual Directory backends. Security features include SSH, SSL, FIPS 140-3, and TLS 1.3. Event, alert, and synchronization tools support managed file transfer automation, while file access, user, and administrator logs support auditing and reporting. The product is positioned for PCI DSS, HIPAA, FIPS-140-2, and GDPR requirements. Professional and Enterprise editions include unlimited phone and email support during business hours; Enterprise Plus adds 24/7/365 Severity 1 support. Commercial use requires a subscription license, and each license permits installation on one machine. The paid product has no free plan but offers a 25-day trial. Cerberus FTP Server was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

CompleteFTP is a file server and managed file transfer product for moving files on premises or in the cloud. It supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, SCP, HTTP, HTTPS, and SSH, and can integrate Amazon S3, Azure file shares, Google Cloud Storage, SharePoint, and OneDrive folders. Authentication options include Active Directory, LDAP, external databases, SAML single sign-on, and custom extensions. Workflows can use event notifications, scheduled and process triggers, email alerts, scripts, and CompleteAgent. Administration options include a REST AdminAPI, CLI, mobile-friendly web administration, and an MCP server. Security controls include TLS 1.3, AES-256, encryption at rest, PGP, SSH keys, and two-factor authentication; auditing includes IP filtering, automatic banning, permissions, and logs. All editions run on Windows; Linux is available only with Enterprise MFT, whose installer has no GUI. Professional and Enterprise MFT include a browser-based file manager. The free edition supports FTP and FTPS; paid licenses start at $369 once.