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
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- An FTP client is a software which uses the FTP protocol to transfer files to and from a remote computer. FTP is the most widespread transfer protocol used to transfer files from one host to another over the Internet.
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.
In order to start the FTP server on your device, first you need to connect to your device through PowerShell or SSH. Type start C: Windows System32 ftpd.exe You can check that the server is running by typing tlist, which will list all the running processes. If the FTP server is running, you should see ftpd.exe in the list. 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. Open a command prompt and navigate to the folder containing the files that you want to transfer, then press ENTER. For example, type: cd 'C:Documents and SettingsmarshaMy DocumentsCaseStudies' (You need the quotes if you have spaces in your path.) At.
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.
Transmit Ftp Download
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
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 – 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 – 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 – Time to update your strategy for log management? Here's our list of tools with suggestions for every budget.
The instructions describe the process of installing and configuring the FTP server on virtual machines run by the Windows Server 2016 operating system, setting up the work of the firewall and dividing the access area for different users.
What is it?
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an abbreviation of File Transfer Protocol. As the name implies, FTP is used to transfer files between machines on a network. You can use FTP to share files between a local PC and a remote server and to access online software archives.
Our manual will consider the option of installing an FTP server as an IIS web server role, alternatively, you can use other software, for example, FileZilla Server, Titan FTP Server, Home Ftp Server, Ocean FTP Server.
Installing FTP server on Windows server
Open the Windows Server Control Panel and find the Add roles and features.
As the installation type, specify Role-based or feature-based installation.
Select your server from the server pool.
Serveur multimedia windows 10. In the next window, check the IIS web server.
In the window that opens, click Add features.
In the next window Features do not select anything.
Next in the Role services window, check the FTP server.
Install all selected features on the server using the Install button.
Creating an FTP site on a Windows server
Open IIS Manager. Right-click on Sites and select Add FTP Site from the menu.
Enter the site name and path to the directory.
Next, select your IP address in the drop-down list. For encryption, check No SSL.
In the next window, select Basic for authentication. Authorization - Specified roles or groups, enter the name of the group of FTP users (example of creation below). Check the desired read and write permissions and click the Finish button.
Your website will appear in the tree structure of the Windows web server.
Create user group
Creating a Windows group is necessary to determine the users who will have access to the ftp server. Open Computer Management. In the menu on the right, select Groups. Use the right mouse button to create a new group (New Group).
In the window that opens, enter the name of the group, a description if necessary. To add a user, click Add.
Enter a name in the input field, to check it, click Check Names. If Windows users exist, click Ok.
After everything is added, create a group using the Create button.
User isolation
In order for each user to get to his own directory and not have access to other files after connecting to the server, it is necessary to set up isolation. To do this, open your ftp site settings and select FTP User Isolation.
Select the User name directory and click Apply.
Then, using the right mouse button, open the menu of your ftp site and select Add Virtual Directory.
In the Alias field, enter a nickname or name, in the path field enter the path to the user directory, to do this, create a subdirectory in the ftp site directory on your Windows server. Click Ok.
To configure permissions in IIS Manager, expand the hierarchical structure of your ftp server. Using the right mouse button, open the Windows virtual directory menu and select Edit Permission.
Click the Security tab and click the Advanced button.
In the window that opens, click the Disable inheritance button, select the first option in the new window, and then click Apply - Ok.
Return to the Security tab and click the Edit button.
Select the Users group in which all users are located and click the Remove button. This is necessary so that only the owner of the directory has access to it.
Enter the site name and path to the directory.
Next, select your IP address in the drop-down list. For encryption, check No SSL.
In the next window, select Basic for authentication. Authorization - Specified roles or groups, enter the name of the group of FTP users (example of creation below). Check the desired read and write permissions and click the Finish button.
Your website will appear in the tree structure of the Windows web server.
Create user group
Creating a Windows group is necessary to determine the users who will have access to the ftp server. Open Computer Management. In the menu on the right, select Groups. Use the right mouse button to create a new group (New Group).
In the window that opens, enter the name of the group, a description if necessary. To add a user, click Add.
Enter a name in the input field, to check it, click Check Names. If Windows users exist, click Ok.
After everything is added, create a group using the Create button.
User isolation
In order for each user to get to his own directory and not have access to other files after connecting to the server, it is necessary to set up isolation. To do this, open your ftp site settings and select FTP User Isolation.
Select the User name directory and click Apply.
Then, using the right mouse button, open the menu of your ftp site and select Add Virtual Directory.
In the Alias field, enter a nickname or name, in the path field enter the path to the user directory, to do this, create a subdirectory in the ftp site directory on your Windows server. Click Ok.
To configure permissions in IIS Manager, expand the hierarchical structure of your ftp server. Using the right mouse button, open the Windows virtual directory menu and select Edit Permission.
Click the Security tab and click the Advanced button.
In the window that opens, click the Disable inheritance button, select the first option in the new window, and then click Apply - Ok.
Return to the Security tab and click the Edit button.
Select the Users group in which all users are located and click the Remove button. This is necessary so that only the owner of the directory has access to it.
Now add a Windows user who will have full access to the directory. Click the Add button.
Enter the username of the virtual directory in the input field, to check it, click Check Names. If users exist, click Ok.
Ftp File Server
Next you need to add rights for complete control of the directory. Select the created user and check all fields Allow (Permissions).
Next, click Apply - Ok.
Firewall Setup
For an external connection to the ftp server, you must configure the firewall. To do this, open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. In the vertical menu on the left, select Inbound rules, then in the vertical menu on the right New Rule.
In the window that opens, check the Predefined type and select FTP Server from the drop-down list. Click Next.
Tick all the lines and click Next.
In the next step, select Allow the connection and click Finish. For these rules to take effect - restart the server.
Connect to an FTP server
You can connect to an FTP server in several ways, for example, through the standard Windows utility - Explorer, or through the FileZilla program.
Consider connecting through Explorer. In the address bar, enter:
For example,
The login and password input window will open, specify the connection data from the server control panel.
Note: The IIS web server allows you to flexibly configure the connection to the FTP server, for example, to divide the visibility of space for different users, to enable anonymous access and to configure permissions.
As a result, you will see the contents of the FTP server folder:
Note: the built-in ftp server of the IIS web server has many features, such as: user isolation, SSL support, restriction of login attempts to the server, logging with various parameters.
