The 5 Best FTP Programs Overview

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) has been an essential standard for file transfer in computer networks since the mid-1980s, allowing you to upload a website to web space via FTP. The key factor for comfortable use is the type of software used, as there are significant differences in performance and usability. Operating requires more than just an FTP program, as the connection is always between an FTP server and a client. There are numerous free solutions available for both aspects, each with its own pros and cons.

We have selected the top 5 FTP programs (FTP servers and FTP clients):

The Best FTP Servers

Here is an overview of the best FTP servers:

A secure, simple server for Linux: vsftpd

The name of this FTP software is an abbreviation for Very Secure FTP Daemon. Developed in 2000, the FTP program aimed to simplify the configuration of FTP, which was particularly challenging for beginners, and to provide a server that meets extremely high security requirements after installation without additional adjustments. Its features include:

• Focus on high security without additional configuration
• Low resource consumption
• Simple and convenient configuration
• Easy installation from package management in Linux distributions
• Ideal solution for simple VPS hosting and Dedicated Servers without additional control panels

Flexible and popular FTP Server for Linux: ProFTPD

ProFTPD - unlike the very lightweight, primarily security-oriented FTP software vsftpd - offers a variety of settings and is aimed at demanding environments, such as those with numerous users with finely graded hierarchies. For this reason, the FTP program ProFTPD is the preferred solution for open-source and proprietary web interfaces and control panels such as Plesk or OpenMediaVault. Developed under the GPL open-source license, the FTP software offers, among other things:

• High flexibility in usage and settings
• Configuration similar to the Apache2 web server
• Support for local .ftpaccess files in directories
• Setting up multiple virtual FTP servers possible
• Modular structure with extensions e.g. for encryption and databases
• Multiple hierarchies for complex, graded rights distribution
• Excellent integration and documentation for Linux distributions
• Various graphical tools available for convenient setup

The Best FTP Clients

Here is an overview of the best FTP clients:

The most popular FTP client: FileZilla

The FTP program FileZilla has been developed as open-source FTP software since 2001 and is considered the de facto standard for a comfortable FTP client with a graphical interface. The project aims for easy, intuitive operation combined with high functionality and is regarded as the best and most user-friendly FTP program for beginners, while also offering all the features needed for professional FTP work. Unlike other FTP software, the developer provides versions for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, thus supporting all common operating systems. A downside is that new versions under Microsoft Windows install external software if the user does not explicitly opt out of this during installation (as of 2020/21). This annoyance can also be avoided by using a portable version that is launched directly from a storage drive. Features of FileZilla include:

• Clear, graphical, and intuitive user interface (GUI)
• Support for FTP, SFTP, and FTPS
• Low resource consumption
• High functionality
• Management of multiple FTP for quick access
• Integrated text editor for local file editing
• Available for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
• Upload multiple files and entire folders with a single click

Flexible Alternative for FileZilla on Windows: WinSCP

WinSCP stands for Windows Secure Copy and is based on parts of the open-source code from FileZilla and the popular Windows SSH client PuTTY. It offers unusually extensive functionality with many features that a simple FTP program lacks. The capabilities and options of WinSCP include:

• Simple FTP as well as encryption via FTPS and SFTP
• Semi-automated and fully automated directory synchronization
• Support for Secure Copy (SCP) via SSH
• Compatibility with WebDAV and Amazon S3
• Use of IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
• Integrated text editor for local file editing

User-Friendly FTP Program for Mac OS X: Transmit

Transmit is more than just a simple FTP program for Mac OS X: It integrates nearly a dozen of the most popular cloud services including Google Drive, Microsoft Azure, and Dropbox into an extremely clear and user-friendly interface, while also offering a fully featured FTP software. Noteworthy are the numerous features that are not offered by any other FTP program - such as synchronizing VPS hosting, web hosting, and Dedicated Servers with local and network-stored backups. It has only one significant drawback: being commercial software, this FTP program is paid.

Photo: James Osborne on Pixabay