CuteFTP vs ST Explorer
CuteFTP
globalscape.comST Explorer
stexplorer.stivetec.comSide by side
| Figure | CuteFTP | ST Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · SFTP Client Software | 8.4 (#7) | 7.3 (#23) |
| Supported platforms | windows | The download page requires Windows 10 or 11 with WebView2; macOS and Linux are supported through Wails builds from source. |
Plans
CuteFTP
- CuteFTP 9Price not published
- CuteFTP 9 with 1 year Maintenance & SupportPrice not published
- CuteFTP 9 (Windows)$59.99, paid once
- CuteFTP 9 with 1 year Maintenance & Support (Windows)$89.99, paid once
In their own words
ST Explorer
ST Explorer is a free native SFTP client for browsing and transferring remote files on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers icons, list, and column views, plus an integrated SSH terminal that supports multiple tabs on the same connection. Transfers include drag-and-drop uploads, clipboard uploads, server-side remote-to-remote copies, and a live progress panel. On Windows, files copied in Explorer can be pasted into ST Explorer using native clipboard integration. The site says host key pinning uses known_hosts with TOFU, and describes the app as having no telemetry or phone-home behavior. ST Explorer is open source under the MIT license and is approximately 12 MB as a single executable without an installer. The listed Free plan costs nothing; it specifies Windows 10/11 with WebView2, while macOS and Linux builds are available from source. SSH key authentication is supported. Stivetec makes the app and links to GitHub for issue reports.