Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · FTP Clients

FileZilla Client vs SmartFTP

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score FileZilla Client #2 in FTP Clients 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit FileZilla
SmartFTP #6 in FTP Clients 8.6/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 4 features Visit SmartFTP

FileZilla Client leads on 1 check, SmartFTP on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreFileZilla Client · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly FileZilla Client
  • Free trialonly SmartFTP
  • Most featuresSmartFTP · 3 of 4

FileZilla Client scores higher on our rubric for ftp clients: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

FileZilla Client offers free plan; SmartFTP doesn't. On protocol coverage, SmartFTP gives you Multi-protocol where FileZilla Client offers Ftp-ftps-sftp. On supported platforms, FileZilla Client gives you Cross-platform where SmartFTP offers Windows.

FileZilla Client is the better fit for simple free FTP across desktop platforms. SmartFTP is the better fit for windows professionals needing automation.

  • FileZilla Client fits best

    Simple free FTP across desktop platforms

  • SmartFTP fits best

    Windows professionals needing automation

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.

Side by side

Feature FileZilla Client 9.2/10 Visit ↗ SmartFTP 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.6
Ranking #2 in FTP Clients #6 in FTP Clients
Best for Simple free FTP across desktop platforms Windows professionals needing automation
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows
Support Community, Docs Docs
Features FileZilla Client 0/4 · SmartFTP 3/4
File synchronization Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Scheduled transfers Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Transfer automation Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Portable version Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Protocol coverage Ftp-ftps-sftp Multi-protocol
Supported platforms Cross-platform Windows
Concurrent transfers Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports FTP, FTPS, and SFTP across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Includes queues, resume support, search, editing, and directory tools
  • Open-source desktop client with multiple server connections
  • Supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud-storage connections
  • Combines synchronization, queues, integrity checks and resume support
  • Enterprise adds scheduled transfers and command-line automation
Cons
  • Integrations and automation features are limited
  • Focused on desktop file-transfer workflows
  • Advanced ecosystem features are outside its core scope
  • Windows is the only listed platform
  • There is no permanent free plan
  • Scheduled transfers are limited to the Enterprise edition
Our verdict

FileZilla Client is a free, open-source desktop file-transfer client for individuals and organizations managing files between local computers and remote servers. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and supports FTP, FTPS, and SFTP. The…

Read the review →

SmartFTP is a Windows desktop client for moving files between local computers and servers. It supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud-storage connections, with features for website maintenance, managed file transfers, backups and…

Read the review →
  1. FileZilla ClientFTP Clients 9.2Free plan
  2. SmartFTPFTP Clients 8.630-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • FileZilla Client — where it wins

    • Supports FTP, FTPS, and SFTP across Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Includes queues, resume support, search, editing, and directory tools
    • Open-source desktop client with multiple server connections

    Where it doesn't

    • Integrations and automation features are limited
    • Focused on desktop file-transfer workflows
    • Advanced ecosystem features are outside its core scope
  • SmartFTP — where it wins

    • Supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud-storage connections
    • Combines synchronization, queues, integrity checks and resume support
    • Enterprise adds scheduled transfers and command-line automation

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows is the only listed platform
    • There is no permanent free plan
    • Scheduled transfers are limited to the Enterprise edition

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update