Couchdrop vs IBM Sterling File Gateway

Couchdrop7.0Visit IBM Sterling File Gateway5.0Visit

Higher score Couchdrop #6 in SFTP Server Software 7.0/10 From $50/mo · 14-day trial ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Couchdrop

vs

IBM Sterling File Gateway #30 in SFTP Server Software 5.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit IBM

• Couchdrop fits best

  Cloud-hosted SFTP with many integrations

• IBM Sterling File Gateway fits best

  IBM-centered partner file exchange

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Side by side

Feature	Couchdrop 7.0/10 Visit ↗	IBM Sterling File Gateway 5.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.0	5.0
Ranking	#6 in SFTP Server Software	#30 in SFTP Server Software
Best for	Cloud-hosted SFTP with many integrations	IBM-centered partner file exchange
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$50/mo	Not published
Free plan	—	Not published
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Browser extension	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web, Linux
Support	Email, Live chat, Tickets, Docs · 24/7	Docs
Compliance	SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA	SSO/SAML
Integrations	50+ integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Couchdrop 4/4 · IBM Sterling File Gateway 4/4
Folder access controls	✓	✓
SSO support	✓	✓
Audit logging	✓	✓
Automation API	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Cloud	Hybrid
Included users	1 users	Not published
Our review
Pros	Folder isolation, permissions, SSO, SCIM, and audit logging Connects with major cloud storage, business, and automation platforms APIs, webhooks, scheduled workflows, and multiple transfer protocols	Supports SFTP and multiple file-transfer protocols Adds partner onboarding, routing, permissions, and monitoring Offers REST APIs, containers, and high-availability architecture
Cons	No free plan; the listed starting price is $50 per month Essentials, Business, and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales Premium support is an add-on rather than a standard inclusion	Pricing requires a sales conversation Its broad scope may exceed basic SFTP-only needs The strongest integration depth is within IBM Sterling
Our verdict	Couchdrop is a cloud-based SFTP, FTP/FTPS, and managed file-transfer platform for organizations exchanging files with customers, partners, storage systems, and business applications. It is designed for small teams through enterprises that… Read the review →	IBM Sterling File Gateway is an enterprise managed file transfer gateway for organizations exchanging files with business partners. It combines SFTP with multi-protocol exchange, partner onboarding, mailbox-based access, permissions,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Couchdrop — where it wins

  • Folder isolation, permissions, SSO, SCIM, and audit logging
  • Connects with major cloud storage, business, and automation platforms
  • APIs, webhooks, scheduled workflows, and multiple transfer protocols

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; the listed starting price is $50 per month
  • Essentials, Business, and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
  • Premium support is an add-on rather than a standard inclusion

• IBM Sterling File Gateway — where it wins

  • Supports SFTP and multiple file-transfer protocols
  • Adds partner onboarding, routing, permissions, and monitoring
  • Offers REST APIs, containers, and high-availability architecture

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires a sales conversation
  • Its broad scope may exceed basic SFTP-only needs
  • The strongest integration depth is within IBM Sterling

• Couchdrop7.0/10 · From $50/mo · 14-day trial

  A cloud SFTP service with broad integrations, controls, and workflow automation.

  Visit CouchdropFull verdict →
• IBM Sterling File Gateway5.0/10 · Pricing on request

  An enterprise gateway for partner file exchange, especially in IBM Sterling environments.

  Visit IBMFull verdict →