After posting free windows FTP client software, here is free Mac FTP client software that provides FTP account management and FTP functionality to upload and download files to your FTP server on Mac OS. Most of free MAC FTP client able to support various FTP technology such as FTP, SFTP and even webDAV. FTP client for Mac with great variety of advanced functions Commander One is a perfect dual panel file manager that flawlessly combines an FTP client for Mac and an Amazon S3 browser and provides you with the built-in Mac Terminal emulator making it super easy for you to manage all the system processes. Tabs make dealing with more than one connection easy. Intuitive layout.
My point here is this: every IT professional and practitioner needs a good FTP client (and possibly server) in their corner. Whether you’re building a site or sharing files, FTP provides ease and capacity unavailable in simple computer-to-computer transfers. The popularity and long history of this protocol means there are lots of players in the game—FTP clients for Windows, FTP clients for macOS, FTP clients for mobile, free FTP clients and paid FTP clients—and the right one for you depends on the client’s features and your needs. We’re here to help you sort through the clutter with the following list. Don’t have time to read through top FTP programs? My top pick is the SolarWinds® Serv-U® Managed File Transfer Server solution if you need reliable, business-level capabilities.
Here you can jump ahead to FTP Client Software reviews:
What to Keep in Mind When Choosing FTP Client Software
File Transfer Protocol is necessary when you’re communicating with a server. It’s the FTP client software that initiates the request of the server. That’s typically relevant when you’re building or maintaining a website but could also matter when transferring large files that can’t be stored on RAM. (This latter use has become less popular with the rise of cloud computing.) For smaller data transfers, going machine-to-machine is still fine.
A note on security: FTP was developed before cybersecurity was the concern that it is today, so data is sent unencrypted. That might be fine if you’re just hosting whitepapers for download or transferring non-private information. But if you have any sensitive documents or your industry has privacy regulations, using an unsecured connection could be a PR headache at best and regulatory negligence charges at worst.
That’s why Secure FTP, or SFTP, was developed. (FTPS is another, less common, encrypted form of FTP.) In fact, FTP and SFTP are often used interchangeably now, though you shouldn’t assume this is the case when choosing your client; verify that you’re getting SFTP if you need it.
Why pay for a top FTP program when there are so many popular free versions? As we’ve noted previously in this blog, “Open-source is only free if your time is worthless.” That’s a bit harsh, but the message is important: open-source and free proprietary options aren’t going to provide the support and customization of a paid service and team. You’ll spend a lot of time learning, customizing, and maintaining the program yourself, and it still might fail sometimes. This should be foremost on your mind if regular, secure, and reliable data transfer is mission-critical for your business and not just tangential.
Best FTP Client Overall
With SolarWinds Serv-U Managed File Transfer (MFT) Server, you get all the business-level capabilities you need at the affordable price you’ve come to expect from other Serv-U product offerings like Serv-U File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Server.
Like FTP Server, Serv-U MFT provides total control over your file transfers—even 3GB+ files—within your organization, over both web and mobile devices. It simplifies file transfer for users with single drag-and-drop features. I’d say the real advantage here is the intuitive dashboard that allows central control and customizable automation abilities (and the ability to look over activity logs as needed).
And of course, you get the crucial security features you need and expect for business functions, like Active Directory integration and authentication features. Files can be transferred over FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and HTTP/S protocols, over both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Designed to deliver reliable and secure file transfers, this file transfer tool focuses on helping you ensure regulatory compliance for PCI DSS, HIPAA, and other standards that require secure data transfers. Serv-U MFT can take loads off your plate and keep your system running smoothly.
Serv-U MFT Server is designed to be easy to install and supports deployment on Windows and Linux® platforms.
Best Free FTP Client for Windows
WinSCP is like the Honda Civic of FTP clients—ubiquitous, relatively reliable, and affordable (free, in fact, because it’s open-source), all-in-all a decent option for a variety of users. It supports the SFTP protocol for added security and supports SCP (as the name suggests), as well as WebDAV and Amazon S3. WinSCP has an integrated text editor and allows for remote editing, which is then uploaded to the server automatically when saving, making editing a snap. And there are three portable versions, including one for Linux.
A few drawbacks: it’s built on Windows, so Mac users are out of luck. And if you use UNC to organize files on a LAN, WinSCP isn’t compatible with that either. Plus, some users criticize WinSCP’s odd keyboard command layout and the inability to customize shortcuts. (A minor gripe, but I bet it will annoy you after a while.)
Runner-Up, Best Free FTP Client for Windows
FileZilla might be the undisputed champ of open-source FTP clients if not for some unfortunate moves and PR. It works for Windows, macOS, and Linux, has drag-and-drop, tabbed interface, bookmarks, and remote editing as well as file search. Out since the early 2000s, FileZilla has racked up thousands of happy users and supporters.
But the program’s host, SourceForge, earned some ill will when it started bundling FileZilla downloads with adware or using deceiving tactics to get users to download unwanted programs. Some users even claimed malware was loaded onto their computers. Current versions still contain ads on update pages, so be careful. And in 2014, it was revealed that fake versions of FileZilla were loaded with malware that was stealing login credentials, so you should make sure you are downloading a legit version.
Best Free FTP Client for macOS
At first glance, Transmit might not seem like a standout. Like other competitive FTP clients, it supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, Amazon S3, or WebDAV protocols, and integrates easily with Amazon Drive, Backblaze B2, DreamObjects, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft OneDrive for Business, OpenStack Swift, and Rackspace Cloud Files cloud storage accounts. Transmit is also great for automated syncing.
What makes Transmit special? It does all this for macOS. In a field dominated by Windows FTP clients, this is easily the best FTP client for macOS. And as proprietary freeware, you get the updates and guidance of a paid service without spending a dime.
Runner-Up, Best Free FTP Client for macOS
Cyberduck is another big name among the best free FTP clients, especially among FTP clients for macOS. (There is also a Windows version, but because Cyberduck was built on macOS, its features are macOS-leaning.) It supports FTP and SFTP, WebDAV, OpenStack Swift, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, and Microsoft Azure. Users love its simple and friendly graphic interface with drag-and-drop (for bookmarks too) and its support of dozens of languages. Cyberduck doesn’t have a built-in text editor but integrates with whichever your favorite is. And it allows for remote previewing of some files without downloading them.
However, that simple and easy user interface might not be sufficient for some power users. And though this is a free open-source program, it will prompt you for donations until you donate, which can get irritating.
Honorable Mentions
FireFTP is unique in that it’s not a standalone desktop program, but an add-on for the Mozilla Firefox browser (although the creators now recommend using Waterfox). This adds a lot of convenience for Firefox power users, but not much advantage for everyone else. If you prefer trees of directories and lists of files to a more dressed-up user interface, FireFTP’s two-pane display is for you.
CuteFTP is one of the most popular paid FTP clients on the web. Reviews tout its ease of use and simplicity. Standouts include the automation of file transfers and the built-in editor (Scintilla). Thanks to a feature called Tappin, you can easily share files between desktop and mobile devices. Available for Windows, CuteFTP is free to try and costs $59.99 standalone, with an additional $30 for a year of maintenance and support.
CloudMounter works a little differently because it’s not exactly an FTP client. It’s more like a direct connection to your FTP server as if the server were a removable drive. So instead of complicated software and interfaces, all you have to do is open up Finder. Few other FTP clients can say that they make it as easy as plugging in a thumbnail drive. CloudMounter is free to try and costs $29.99 (or an additional $10 for a “lifetime upgrades guarantee”). It’s primarily known for its macOS version but is also available for Windows and Linux according to its website.
One More Time: The Best FTP Client
Free Ftp Software For Mac Os X 10.10
The best FTP software depends all on your needs and budget, but I highly recommend looking at paid services to ensure regulatory compliance, security, and reliability. Check out SolarWinds Serv-U MFT for the most reliable option—and with all the security issues that can arise with transfers, you shouldn’t take that reliability lightly.
Related Articles
Best SIEM Tools 2020 – the best FTP Client software can support sending server logs to SIEM tools for help with deeper security analysis and compliance reporting. Check the list of best SIEM software.
Best Website Monitoring Tools 2020 – If you’re reading this article, you likely have a website to run. Monitoring is another important part of that and has a similar cost/benefit analysis between free and paid software.
Best Log Management Software 2020 – Time to update your strategy for log management? Here’s our 2020 list of tools with suggestions for every budget.
An FTP Clients (File Transfer Protocol) are one of the most important tools for webmasters, server administrators, as well as designers and developers. It is used to transfer files from computer to the web-server.
Most often, an FTP Client is used while working on the web, upload/download of images, documents, and files, for sharing of files, and also for backup of local or remote files.
However, selecting a suitable FTP Client for Windows and Mac is not an easy task. There are quite a lot of them and go on to show varied features. Moreover, most of the FTP Clients are not the easiest to navigate.
If you are looking for the best FTP Client for Windows and Mac, then here is a presentation that will serve your purpose well.
Herein, we have showcased 10 Best FTP Clients for Windows and Mac.
So, there is no need for you to go on and search for the best FTP Client. Simply, go through this post, and you will get as much as 10 Best FTP Clients for Windows and Mac. You can then decide which one is the most suitable for you.
The FTP Clients that have been listed hereunder are safe, secure, fast, and easy to use. They make the process of file transferring between your computer and web hosting server easy, fast, and secure.
As a computer professional, you invariably have to upload or download files to and from a remote server. There are times when you have to share files with your co-workers or friends. In all of these scenarios, a fast, secure, solid, and powerful FTP Client saves your day.
Moreover, an FTP Client is needed by anyone who works on websites or runs a server. It provides a convenient way for updating files without requiring logging into the server. So, FTP Clients facilitate the transfer of files over the Internet.
In today’s list, we have featured FTP Client options for both Windows and Mac users. It includes free as well as premium options to cater to all budgets.
So, let’s get down and see this list featuring 10 Best FTP Clients for Windows and Mac.
Here’s the list for you.
10 Top FTP Clients for Windows, Mac & Linux
1. FileZilla (All Platforms)
FileZilla is a free yet powerful multi-platform FTP Client for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It’s an FTP Client that offers lots of features.
Users get intuitive user interface. FileZilla supports various protocols. It is particularly popular with newbie professionals and developers. In fact, FileZilla includes an impressive set of documentation. Plus, it supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and IPv6, as well.
FileZilla provides an easy login process, and its tab-based interface goes well with every newbie. Overall, it’s the straightforward approach that makes it stand out from rest of the FTP Software.
Other interesting features of FileZilla include its drag and drop support, filename filters, the ability to pause and resume when uploading large files, and of course the feature for comparing two directories, and a number of other features, as well.
Price: Free
2. CuteFTP (Windows and Mac)
CuteFTP is one of the best premium FTP Client.
So, if you are one of those who is looking for advanced functionality and premium support in an FTP Client, then CuteFTP comes as a perfect choice indeed.
CuteFTP works on both Windows as well as Mac OS X.
It is available at $39.99 for the Mac version and $59.99 for the Windows version.
There are some additional features that are available in the Windows version of CuteFTP.
There are some additional features that are available in the Windows version of CuteFTP.
CuteFTP is a fast, powerful, and secured premium FTP Client.
CuteFTP supports a wide range of protocols, including FTP/S, HTTP/S, and SFTP. Another highlight of CuteFTP is the inclusion of TappIn (Windows-only Feature) which is a secure mobile sharing application allowing you to share files between computers and mobile devices.
It provides Drag and Drop support for up to 100 simultaneous transfers. There’s also a built-in text editor for seamless file editing. It uses SFTP and SSL protocol for transferring files between a local computer and web server. It can even transfer multiple files.
Price: Premium
3. WinSCP (Windows)
Windows Secure Copy more popularly known as WinSCP is a free and open source FTP Client. WinSCP supports both SFTP and SCP protocols. It is thoroughly lightweight and fast and goes on to support even advanced features such as remote text editing. Its UI is quite similar to the typical UI concept of Windows.
WinSCP is mainly used as a tool for secure copying of files between two computers. However, it can also be used as an FTP Transfer software too. It’s an ideal choice for anyone whose FTP needs is average.
Price: Free
4. Cyberduck (Windows and Mac)
Cyberduck is an another free FTP Client that can be used by both Windows as well as Mac users. Cyberduck is known for its premium quality features. It offers a simple and easy to use interface along with SSH functionality and bookmarking.
One of the highlights of Cyberduck is that it integrates with external editor applications making it easy to edit files while they reside on the server.
Cyberduck supports FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV protocols. With Cyberduck, you can easily browse and transfer files. It also integrates seamlessly with many big players in the cloud storage space including Amazon S3, OpenStack Swift, etc.
Price: Free
5. Transmit (Mac OS X)
Transmit is a powerful FTP Client for the Mac platform. Transmit is known for its speed and reliability. It has been empowered with Transmit Twin-Turbo Engine for transferring files at a super fast speed. Moreover, Transmit has all of the features that you would expect in a professional FTP Client.
Free Ftp Server Mac
It comes with a 7-day trial offer which is good to get a feel for its capabilities and functionalities before you go out and purchase the $34 license.
Transmit supports SSH, SFTP, and FXP protocol. It also offers advanced file skipping options. It offers support for Amazon CloudFront.
Altogether, Transmit works as a reliable and ultra-fast premium FTP Client for Mac whose main focus is on performance and deliverability.
Price: Paid
6. Classic FTP (Windows and Mac)
If you are looking for a free, stable, and easy to use FTP software, then Classic FTP is worth consideration for sure. It’s a feature-rich FTP solution that can be used on Windows as well as Mac machines for managing and transferring files over an FTP SSL connection.
Classic FTP supports secure FTP protocol for file transfers. It offers an intuitive and easy to use interface. It is compatible with all major FTP servers. It also supports drag and drop functionality.
Price: Free
7. FireFTP (All Platforms)
FireFTP is a cross-platform FTP Client available as an extension for the popular Mozilla Firefox browser. You need to download the free extension, restart Firefox, and then have FTP access directly from your internet browser. FireFTP supports FTP, SFTP, SSL, and TLS protocol; It offers intuitive drag and drop, filtering, and file search.
It is fast and easy to use. It quickly uploads/downloads files onto your remote server. Its interface is a lot like Windows XP application. It works seamlessly in your Firefox browser.
Price: Free
8. Stuffit Deluxe (Windows and Mac)
Free Ftp Software For Mac Os Xp
Stuffit Deluxe is a premium FTP Client for Windows and Mac. Using Stuffit, you can compress files and videos, and transfer them to services like Dropbox, One Drive, or Google Drive.
It’s your one-stop file transfer solution offering support for FTP, email, cloud storage integration, and more. With its archive functionality, you can search for all major zip file formats without expanding them.
Price: Premium/Paid
9. Core FTP (Windows)
Core FTP is another free FTP Client Software for Windows. It provides a fast, easy, and reliable way for updating and maintaining your website via FTP. You get features such as SSL, SFTP, TLS, FTPS, site to site transfers, browser integration, drag and drop support, file viewing & editing, filters, command line transfers, and much, much more. Plus, there are no pop-up ads, advertising, or spyware, and you are not asked to register.
Price: Free
10. SmartFTP (Windows)
SmartFTP is a professional and powerful FTP Client for Windows-based PCs. It supports protocols such as FTP, FTPS, SFTP, Google Drive, Amazon S3, One Drive, and WebDAV. Besides uploading/downloading files to the site, SmartFTP can also be used for tasks such as backup.
It supports an Integrated Editor and Visual Compare feature. It’s truly a smart FTP Client with top quality features.
Price: Paid
We hope that the presentation 10 Best FTP Clients for Windows and Mac proves immensely useful to you. If you liked this post of FTP Clients, do share it with your friends and colleagues. We welcome your comments and suggestions.