Serv-U FTP Server vs SmartFTP
Serv-U FTP Server
solarwinds.comSmartFTP
smartftp.comSide by side
| Figure | Serv-U FTP Server | SmartFTP |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.58/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 12 |
| Spec score · FTP and SFTP clients | 8.5 (#8) | 8.4 (#9) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Protocols | The FTP Server edition supports FTP and FTPS over IPv4 and IPv6; the comparison page lists HTTP as included as well. | The editions page lists FTP, FTPS, SFTP over SSH, and WebDAV in all three editions. |
| Support | The comparison lists email support for both editions and phone support for MFT. | The maker provides tutorials, a regularly updated knowledge base, and a way to request technical support from within the application. |
Plans
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
SmartFTP
- ProfessionalPrice not published
- UltimatePrice not published
- EnterprisePrice not published
- Professional SubscriptionPrice not published
- Ultimate SubscriptionPrice not published
- Enterprise SubscriptionPrice not published
- SmartFTP Professional Subscription$79.99 a year
- SmartFTP Ultimate Subscription$119.99 a year
- SmartFTP Professional$399.95, paid once
- SmartFTP Enterprise Subscription$399.99 a year
In their own words
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.
SmartFTP
SmartFTP is a Windows client for transferring files between local computers and internet servers. It supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP over SSH, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, OneDrive, SSH, and terminal access, with cloud connections varying by edition. Listed uses include website publishing and maintenance, uploads and downloads, managed file transfers, and local or remote backup and synchronization. Professional includes FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, file synchronization, transfer integrity, and an integrated editor. Ultimate adds Google Drive, OneDrive, a terminal client, and password-manager integrations. Enterprise adds scheduled transfers plus Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, and Box. All editions include transfer resume, integrity verification, and on-the-fly compression. Windows downloads include x64 and Arm64 builds for listed Windows versions and servers. SmartFTP has no free plan, but offers a 30-day Enterprise evaluation without limitations. Subscription and perpetual license prices are listed separately, including $79.99 a year for Professional Subscription and $1,995.95 as a one-time purchase for Enterprise.