Best Secure File Transfer Software in 2026
Updated
In short: WinSCP is ranked #1 of 27 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of SendSafely and FileZilla Client. The best-ranked option with a free plan is SendSafely. The lowest first paid tier on this page is TransferNow at €0.20/mo.
Secure file transfer software helps move files between people or systems with controls for access and oversight. Compared on admin controls, API access, and audit logs, these options also vary in password protection, recipient verification, and link expiration. Maximum file size can help you assess suitability for the files you send; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. WinSCP, SendSafely, and FileZilla Client are among the options to consider. Weigh the transfer workflow you need against the access safeguards and administrative visibility that matter to you.
27 secure file transfer software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
5 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 | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | SendSafelyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 3 | FileZilla ClientWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | ExaVaultWeb · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | TransferNowAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | €0.20/mo | 6.3 | |
| 6 | MASVWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $0.25/mo | 5.7 |
| 7 | TresoritWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 8 | CrushFTPWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | $70/mo | 5.4 |
| 9 | OnionShareWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 10 | OpenText Managed File TransferWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 11 | Cleo Integration CloudWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | FilemailAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | HightailAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 14 | JSCAPE Managed File TransferWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | Serv-U FTP ServerWeb · Windows · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | $4.58/mo | 5.3 |
| 16 | Files.comWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $199/mo | 5.2 |
| 17 | Progress MOVEit TransferWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | SFTPPlusWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | TitanFileWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $16/mo | 5.2 |
| 20 | Cerberus FTP ServerWeb · Windows · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | Globalscape EFTWeb · Windows · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Kiteworks Managed File TransferWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | Titan MFT ServerWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | Syncplify Server!Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 25 | RaysyncAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | $50/mo | 4.9 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Maximum file size | Link expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WinSCP | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | SendSafely | 6.8 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | custom |
| 3 | FileZilla Client | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | ExaVault | 6.4 | Free plan | $99/mo | Yes | — | — | custom |
| 5 | TransferNow | 6.3 | Free plan | €0.20/mo | Yes | — | 10 GB | — |
| 6 | MASV | 5.7 | No | $0.25/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Tresorit | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | CrushFTP | 5.4 | No | $70/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 9 | OnionShare | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | OpenText Managed File Transfer | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Cleo Integration Cloud | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | Filemail | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | 5 GB | — |
| 13 | Hightail | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | 25 GB | — |
| 14 | JSCAPE Managed File Transfer | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Serv-U FTP Server | 5.3 | No | $4.58/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 16 | Files.com | 5.2 | No | $199/mo | No | — | 5,120 GB | — |
| 17 | Progress MOVEit Transfer | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 18 | SFTPPlus | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 19 | TitanFile | 5.2 | No | $16/mo | No | 16 /user/mo | 10 GB | custom |
| 20 | Cerberus FTP Server | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 21 | Globalscape EFT | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 22 | Kiteworks Managed File Transfer | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Titan MFT Server | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | Syncplify Server! | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 25 | Raysync | 4.9 | No | $50/mo | No | — | — | — |
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 secure file transfer software is ranked first on Freedom251?
WinSCP is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 7.8. SendSafely is second and FileZilla Client third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, TransferNow has the lowest first paid tier we found: €0.20/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.