Best FTP and SFTP Clients in 2026
Updated
In short: WinSCP is ranked #1 of 36 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of FileZilla Client and Cyberduck. The best-ranked option with a free plan is FileZilla Client. The lowest first paid tier on this page is FileZilla Pro at €1.08/mo.
FTP and SFTP clients support file transfers between systems, with different options for protocols, platforms, and repeat workflows. Compared on protocol coverage and supported platforms, they can be weighed against the servers and devices you use. Concurrent transfers, file synchronization, scheduled transfers, and transfer automation speak to how you handle routine or recurring work. WinSCP, FileZilla Client, and Cyberduck are among the options shown, alongside lftp and CrossFTP. A portable version, free plan, and paid-from pricing add practical points to consider for your setup and transfer habits.
36 FTP and SFTP clients ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
10 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 1 has open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WinSCPWindows | Three bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | FileZilla ClientWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 8.0 | |
| 3 | CyberduckWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $10/mo | 7.9 | |
| 4 | FTP RushWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 5 | lftpLinux | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 6 | CrossFTPWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.4 | |
| 7 | FTP CommanderWindows · Android | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 8 | Core FTPWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $16.95/mo | 6.5 |
| 9 | AndFTPAndroid | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 10 | FTPieWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 11 | WS_FTP ProfessionalWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $58/mo | 6.3 |
| 12 | gFTPLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.3 |
| 13 | BackendsideFTPWindows | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 14 | TransmitMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $2.08/mo | 6.2 |
| 15 | SmartFTPWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.2 |
| 16 | sFTP ClientWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.2 |
| 17 | FTPShell ClientWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.2 |
| 18 | FlashFXPWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.1 |
| 19 | NcFTPWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.1 |
| 20 | FileZilla ProWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | €1.08/mo | 6.0 |
| 21 | FaroWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.0 |
| 22 | CuteFTPWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.9 |
| 23 | FetchMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $4/mo | 5.6 |
| 24 | FQB TransferMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 25 | TurboFTPWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $4.16/mo | 5.5 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Protocol coverage | Supported platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WinSCP | 9.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV and S3 | Microsoft Windows |
| 2 | FileZilla Client | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | ftp-ftps-sftp | cross-platform |
| 3 | Cyberduck | 7.9 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | $10one-time | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 4 | FTP Rush | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 5 | lftp | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | linux |
| 6 | CrossFTP | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 7 | FTP Commander | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | $49.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
| 8 | Core FTP | 6.5 | No | $16.95/mo | Yes | $24.95one-time | multi-protocol | windows |
| 9 | AndFTP | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | — |
| 10 | FTPie | 6.4 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 11 | WS_FTP Professional | 6.3 | No | $58/mo | No | $58one-time | multi-protocol | windows |
| 12 | gFTP | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | linux |
| 13 | BackendsideFTP | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
| 14 | Transmit | 6.2 | No | $2.08/mo | No | — | multi-protocol | macos |
| 15 | SmartFTP | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 16 | sFTP Client | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 17 | FTPShell Client | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | $59.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
| 18 | FlashFXP | 6.1 | No | — | No | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 19 | NcFTP | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | ftp-only | cross-platform |
| 20 | FileZilla Pro | 6.0 | No | €1.08/mo | No | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 21 | Faro | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | multi-protocol | cross-platform |
| 22 | CuteFTP | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | multi-protocol | windows |
| 23 | Fetch | 5.6 | No | $4/mo | No | $29one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | macos |
| 24 | FQB Transfer | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | macos |
| 25 | TurboFTP | 5.5 | No | $4.16/mo | No | $49.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | windows |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which FTP and SFTP client is ranked first on Freedom251?
WinSCP is ranked #1 of 36 with a score of 9.3. FileZilla Client is second and Cyberduck third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, FileZilla Pro has the lowest first paid tier we found: €1.08/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.