Monsta FTP vs ST Explorer

Monsta FTP is a browser-based file client installed as a subfolder on a website running PHP. It connects to remote systems through FTP, SFTP, or SCP, and supports SSH key authentication. Users can upload, download, copy, move, rename, or delete files and folders, and change permissions with CHMOD. The free Lite plan includes file management and FTP and SFTP/SCP connections. Business adds login profiles protected by a master password, a code editor, and ZIP archive upload and extraction on the remote server. Its editor has syntax colors, line numbers, and tabbed editing. Host adds rebranding, a password manager, and dynamic login forms for dashboards and control panels. The software runs on a standard PHP installation, including Windows IIS. Its maker recommends SSL and SFTP or SCP because FTP itself is not secure. Uploads pass through the installation server's memory, so PHP's per-request memory limit can constrain file size. Business costs $29 a year, with a 59.00 USD lifetime option; Host costs $149 a year, with a 299.00 USD lifetime option.

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.