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 · Managed File Transfer Software

Fortra GoAnywhere MFT vs IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Fortra GoAnywhere MFT #2 in Managed File Transfer Software 9.0/10 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Fortra
IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer #4 in Managed File Transfer Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit IBM

Fortra GoAnywhere MFT leads on 0 checks, IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer on 0, and 4 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 scoreFortra GoAnywhere MFT · 9.0/10
  • Free trialonly Fortra GoAnywhere MFT

Fortra GoAnywhere MFT scores higher on our rubric for managed file transfer software: 9.0 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

On protocol support, Fortra GoAnywhere MFT gives you Enterprise where IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer offers Broad.

Fortra GoAnywhere MFT is the better fit for enterprise MFT with rich workflows. IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer is the better fit for large-scale IBM enterprise environments.

  • Fortra GoAnywhere MFT fits best

    Enterprise MFT with rich workflows

  • IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer fits best

    Large-scale IBM enterprise environments

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 Fortra GoAnywhere MFT 9.0/10 Visit ↗ IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.9
Ranking #2 in Managed File Transfer Software #4 in Managed File Transfer Software
Best for Enterprise MFT with rich workflows Large-scale IBM enterprise environments
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request · 30-day trial —
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web
Built for Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Fortra GoAnywhere MFT 3/3 · IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer 3/3
Workflow automation ✓ ✓
Audit trail ✓ ✓
API access ✓ ✓
Specs
Protocol support Enterprise Broad
Deployment options Hybrid Hybrid
Managed connectors Not checked yet Not checked yet
Maximum file size Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Multi-step automation with scheduling and transfer monitoring
  • Supports enterprise protocols, EDI translation, and cloud connectors
  • Centralized audit reporting with active-active clustering
  • Broad inbound and outbound protocol support with checkpoint restart
  • Central monitoring, audit trails, reporting and automatic restart
  • REST APIs, partner onboarding workflows and hybrid deployment options
Cons
  • Quote-based pricing requires a sales conversation
  • Feature breadth may exceed the needs of smaller teams
  • No free plan for ongoing use
  • Pricing requires a contact-sales process
  • Container deployment is built around Kubernetes
  • Its enterprise scope may exceed simple file-transfer needs
Our verdict

Fortra GoAnywhere MFT is an enterprise managed file transfer solution for organizations exchanging data with employees, customers, vendors, trading partners, and internal systems. It centralizes administration through a browser-based…

Read the review →

IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer is a managed file transfer platform for moving files within organizations and across trading-partner networks. It combines multiprotocol inbound and outbound transfers, point-to-point delivery, centralized…

Read the review →
  1. Fortra GoAnywhere MFTManaged File Transfer Software 9.0Pricing on request · 30-day trial
  2. IBM Sterling Secure File TransferManaged File Transfer Software 8.9Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Fortra GoAnywhere MFT — where it wins

    • Multi-step automation with scheduling and transfer monitoring
    • Supports enterprise protocols, EDI translation, and cloud connectors
    • Centralized audit reporting with active-active clustering

    Where it doesn't

    • Quote-based pricing requires a sales conversation
    • Feature breadth may exceed the needs of smaller teams
    • No free plan for ongoing use

  • IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer — where it wins

    • Broad inbound and outbound protocol support with checkpoint restart
    • Central monitoring, audit trails, reporting and automatic restart
    • REST APIs, partner onboarding workflows and hybrid deployment options

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a contact-sales process
    • Container deployment is built around Kubernetes
    • Its enterprise scope may exceed simple file-transfer needs
  • Fortra GoAnywhere MFT9.0/10 · Pricing on request · 30-day trial

    A broad enterprise MFT suite for automated, governed, multi-system data exchange.

    Visit FortraFull verdict →
  • IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer8.9/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad, API-ready MFT platform for complex IBM enterprise transfer environments.

    Visit IBMFull verdict →

More comparisons

All managed file transfer software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update