CompleteFTP vs Serv-U FTP Server
CompleteFTP
enterprisedt.comServ-U FTP Server
solarwinds.comSide by side
| Figure | CompleteFTP | Serv-U FTP Server |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $4.58/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 4 |
| Spec score · FTP Server Software | 9.4 (#1) | 8.8 (#4) |
| Spec score · SFTP Server Software | 9.4 (#1) | 8.8 (#5) |
| Spec score · Managed File Transfer Software | 9.4 (#1) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Automation | The server provides event notifications, scheduled triggers, process execution, email macros, PowerShell, batch and FTP scripting. | MFT adds event-driven automation, including actions triggered by server, domain, group and user events. |
| Documentation | Documentation includes installation, administration, Web File Manager, CompleteAgent, CompleteBox, REST API, JSS API and command-line references. | SolarWinds publishes administrator help, installation material, system requirements, edition comparisons and versioned release notes in its Success Center. |
| Extensibility | Custom .NET and server-side JavaScript extensions can add authentication, file systems, events, commands and web applications. | Integration libraries can be written as Windows DLLs or shared libraries, with the sample library serving as the API documentation. |
| Founded | 1999 | 1999 |
| Protocols | Supported protocols include FTP, FTPS, SFTP, SCP, HTTP/HTTPS and SSH terminal access. | The FTP Server edition supports FTP and FTPS over IPv4 and IPv6; the comparison page lists HTTP as included as well. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.5 out of 5 from 3 reviews | 4.3 out of 5 from 6 reviews |
| Rating on GetApp | 4.7 out of 5 from 31 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 from 17 reviews |
| Rating on Software Advice | 4.7 out of 5 from 31 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 from 17 reviews |
| Rating on TrustRadius | 5 out of 10 from 1 reviews | 9 out of 10 from 13 reviews |
| Security controls | Security features include TLS 1.3, AES-256, encryption at rest, native PGP, SSH keys, two-factor authentication, SAML and strong password policies. | Serv-U includes anti-hammering connection blocking, configurable passive-port ranges and an option to require matching peer IP addresses to reduce FTP-bounce risk. |
| What it does | CompleteFTP is a secure file server for transferring and sharing files in enterprise environments. | Serv-U is a self-hosted, multiprotocol file server for sending and receiving files through FTP, HTTP, FTPS, HTTPS and SFTP. |
Plans
CompleteFTP
- FreeFree
- Standard$369, paid once
- Professional$749, paid once
- Enterprise MFT$1,699, paid once
Serv-U FTP Server
- Serv-U FTP Server$55 a month
- Serv-U File Transfer Protocol Server$55 a year
- Serv-U Gateway$111 a month
- Serv-U Managed File Transfer Server$335 a month
In their own words
CompleteFTP
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.
Serv-U FTP Server
Serv-U FTP Server provides FTP and FTPS file transfers for organizations, with web and mobile interfaces for viewing, uploading, and downloading files. The FTP Server edition supports IPv4 and IPv6; an edition comparison also lists HTTP. SSL/TLS encrypts transfers. Users can pause or resume multiple and large exchanges, including files larger than 3 GB. Administrators can create users and groups, manage permissions and bandwidth, and review transfer details in a management console. They can set transfer ratios and quotas, limit concurrent sessions, and use IP blocking, reverse DNS options, and anti-hammering controls. Automation can move or delete files after transfer, or disable or reset credentials after a specified number of days. The optional Serv-U Gateway is described as keeping data out of the DMZ and helping meet listed compliance requirements. SolarWinds positions this edition for small businesses and project teams with fewer users and domains on one server. It has no free plan; the listed price is $55 a month, billed annually, and a 14-day trial is available.