The Best FTP Clients in 2026
We researched FTP clients through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products were ranked on their core file-transfer job, value for money, and verified features such as protocol support, synchronization, automation, and platform coverage.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
WinSCP#1 of 369.3/10A capable free Windows client for multi-protocol transfers, scripting, and SSH workflows.
Free plan
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Runner-up
FileZilla Client#2 of 369.2/10A capable free FTP client for straightforward desktop file transfers.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Cyberduck#3 of 369.1/10A broad, free FTP client for desktop transfers, synchronization, and automation.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 36 tools, best first
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Best forFree Windows FTP with strong SSH tooling
A capable free Windows client for multi-protocol transfers, scripting, and SSH workflows.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit WinSCP -
Best forSimple free FTP across desktop platforms
A capable free FTP client for straightforward desktop file transfers.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit FileZilla -
Best forBroad, free desktop FTP and cloud transfers
A broad, free FTP client for desktop transfers, synchronization, and automation.
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Cyberduck -
Best forWindows teams needing managed transfers
A Windows FTP client for encrypted, scheduled, and automated file transfers.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit WS_FTP -
Best forMac users needing advanced synchronization
A capable macOS FTP client for advanced synchronization, with paid-only access.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Transmit -
Best forWindows professionals needing automation
A Windows-focused FTP client with synchronization, automation and multi-protocol support.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SmartFTP -
Best forWindows users needing FXP and portability
A paid Windows client for managed transfers, FXP, automation, and portable use.
- Portable version
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit FlashFXP -
Best forLinux power users and scripted transfers
A free, scriptable Linux client for automated and resilient file transfers.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit lftp -
Best forLinux users wanting a lightweight FTP client
A capable Linux-only client for multi-protocol transfers without commercial pricing.
- Transfer automation
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit gFTP -
Best forFree multi-platform FTP with automation
A free, automation-ready client with broad protocol and platform coverage.
- Portable version
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit FTP Rush -
Best forWindows users needing scheduled FTP workflows
A Windows-only FTP client with strong transfer automation in its Pro edition.
- Portable version
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Core FTP -
Best forWindows users needing high transfer concurrency
A Windows-only FTP client with broad protocols, automation, synchronization, and high concurrency.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit CuteFTP -
Best forCloud-heavy users needing polished transfers
A polished cross-platform client for server transfers and cloud storage, without a free plan.
- File synchronization
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit FileZilla Pro -
Best forFree cross-platform transfers with scheduling
A free, cross-platform transfer client with scheduling and automation options.
- Portable version
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit CrossFTP -
Best forFree transfers with scheduling and team sharing
A free, cross-platform transfer client with scheduling, queues and team sharing.
- Scheduled transfers
- Transfer automation
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit sFTP Client -
Best forWindows users needing scheduled FTP tasks
A Windows FTP client that combines core transfers with scheduling and automation.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit FTPShell -
Best forFree cross-platform command-line FTP
A capable free FTP toolkit for command-line transfers, automation, and scheduled jobs.
- Scheduled transfers
- Transfer automation
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit NcFTP -
Best forCross-platform users wanting broad file operations
A broad, open-source file client for cross-platform transfers, sync, and automation.
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Faro -
Best forMac users wanting straightforward FTP transfers
A focused Mac FTP client with synchronization and practical transfer tools.
- File synchronization
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Fetch -
Best forWindows users needing encrypted automation
A Windows-focused client for encrypted transfers, synchronization, and scheduled automation.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit TurboFTP -
Best forScheduled Windows FTP operations
A focused Windows client for scheduled, scripted FTP and SFTP operations.
- Portable version
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit FTPGetter -
Best forMac users needing scheduled synchronization
A focused macOS client for scheduled transfers, synchronization and automation.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Yummy FTP Pro -
Best forMac users wanting a dual-pane multi-protocol client
A Mac-focused dual-pane client with broad protocol support and file synchronization.
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit FQB Transfer -
Best forMac users needing background uploads
A focused Mac client with broad protocol support and useful transfer automation.
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Viper FTP -
Best forFree Windows FTP with scheduling
A capable Windows FTP client with a useful free edition and paid automation features.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit FTP Commander -
Best forAndroid FTP and folder synchronization
A free Android client with multi-protocol transfers, synchronization and automation.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit AndFTP -
Best forWindows users needing backups and cloud links
A capable Windows transfer hub with a useful free tier and broad storage support.
- Scheduled transfers
- Transfer automation
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit FTPie -
Best forFree Windows users needing core FTP
A free Windows FTP client with queues, retries, secure credentials and multi-session support.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit BackendsideFTP -
Best forWindows users importing existing site lists
A multi-protocol Windows client with site-list import and transfers between servers.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit ALDrive -
Best forFree Windows FTP with FXP support
A free Windows FTP client for FXP transfers, scripting and custom commands.
- Transfer automation
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Staff-FTP -
Best forEnterprise unattended transfer automation
A Windows FTP client built for scripted, scheduled, unattended transfers.
- Scheduled transfers
- File synchronization
- Transfer automation
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Robo-FTP -
Best forMapping FTP as a Windows drive
A focused free utility for making FTP shares available through Windows drive letters.
- Transfer automation
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit FTPUSE -
Best forMac users needing basic SFTP and FTP
A focused Mac transfer client with useful previews, editing, and resume support.
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit SFTP Commander -
Best foriPhone and iPad FTP file management
A focused iOS FTP client with broad transfer, editing, preview, and streaming tools.
- File synchronization
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit FTPManager Pro -
Best forSmall teams needing a self-hosted FTP server
A paid FTP/FTPS server for teams that need controlled file exchange on their own systems.
5.5/10★★★☆☆Visit SolarWinds -
Best forWindows developers editing remote files
A focused Windows editor for developers who need remote file access alongside coding tools.
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit EditPlus
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Protocol coverage | Supported platforms | File synchronization | Scheduled transfers | Transfer automation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WinSCP | Yes | Free | 9.3 | |||||
| 2 | FileZilla Client | Yes | Free | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Cross-platform | 9.2 | |||
| 3 | Cyberduck | Yes | $10 one-time | Multi-protocol | Cross-platform | Yes | No | Yes | 9.1 |
| 4 | WS_FTP Professional | No | $58/user one-time | Multi-protocol | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 5 | Transmit | No | $24.99/user/yr | Multi-protocol | Macos | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | SmartFTP | No | Multi-protocol | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | FlashFXP | No | Multi-protocol | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 8 | lftp | Yes | Free | Multi-protocol | Linux | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 9 | gFTP | Yes | Free | Multi-protocol | Linux | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 10 | FTP Rush | Yes | Free | Multi-protocol | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 11 | Core FTP | Yes | $16.95/user one-time | Multi-protocol | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 12 | CuteFTP | No | Multi-protocol | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 13 | FileZilla Pro | No | €12.99/device/yr | Multi-protocol | Cross-platform | Yes | No | No | 7.8 |
| 14 | CrossFTP | Yes | Multi-protocol | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 15 | sFTP Client | Yes | Multi-protocol | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | ||
| 16 | FTPShell Client | Yes | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |
| 17 | NcFTP | Yes | Free | Ftp-only | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 18 | Faro | Free | Multi-protocol | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | ||
| 19 | Fetch | No | $18/user one-time | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Macos | Yes | No | 7.2 | |
| 20 | TurboFTP | No | $49.95/yr | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.1 |
| 21 | FTPGetter | No | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.0 | |
| 22 | Yummy FTP Pro | No | 6.9 | ||||||
| 23 | FQB Transfer | Yes | Multi-protocol | Macos | Yes | Yes | 6.8 | ||
| 24 | Viper FTP | No | $15/yr | Multi-protocol | Macos | Yes | Yes | 6.7 | |
| 25 | FTP Commander | Yes | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 26 | AndFTP | Yes | Multi-protocol | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.5 | ||
| 27 | FTPie | Yes | Multi-protocol | Windows | No | Yes | Yes | 6.4 | |
| 28 | BackendsideFTP | Yes | Free | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Windows | 6.3 | |||
| 29 | ALDrive | Yes | Multi-protocol | Windows | 6.2 | ||||
| 30 | Staff-FTP | Yes | Free | Multi-protocol | Windows | Yes | 6.1 | ||
| 31 | Robo-FTP | No | Multi-protocol | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.0 | |
| 32 | FTPUSE | Yes | Free | Ftp-only | Windows | Yes | 5.9 | ||
| 33 | SFTP Commander | No | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Macos | No | No | No | 5.7 | |
| 34 | FTPManager Pro | No | Ftp-ftps-sftp | Yes | 5.6 | ||||
| 35 | Serv-U FTP Server | No | $55/device/mo | 5.5 | |||||
| 36 | EditPlus | No | $9/user one-time | Windows | 5.4 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- WinSCP vs FileZilla Client
- WinSCP vs Cyberduck
- WinSCP vs WS_FTP Professional
- WinSCP vs Transmit
- WinSCP vs SmartFTP
- WinSCP vs FlashFXP
- WinSCP vs lftp
- FileZilla Client vs Cyberduck
- FileZilla Client vs WS_FTP Professional
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How we rank FTP clients
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update