Best FTP Client for Windows: 9 Top File Transfer Tools

FTP clients allow you to share files between your local system and remote servers. To secure this process and prevent leaks of sensitive information and files, looking for a secure and functional FTP client for Windows is better.

To choose a suitable FTP client, consider factors such as requirements, budget, user-friendly interface, security protocols, and additional features.

Tools like FileZilla and WinSCP are among the most popular FTP clients you can use for free. In the meantime, if you want to make optimal and professional use of clients, you can take the first step with Buy Windows VPS.

A Windows VPS can simplify website/application setup and file transfer. In fact, the power of an FTP client alongside an appropriate Windows server stands out.

Photo by Florian Krumm on Unsplash

 Top 9 FTP Clients for Secure Transfers

The following list contains the best FTP clients for Windows. We compare these tools from various aspects so that you can choose the best file management and sharing tool after buying Windows VPS:

Platform Cloud Storage Integration Protocol Support Ease of Use Cost
FileZilla Windows, Linux(Debian) and macOS ✅ FTP, SFTP, and FTPS High Free
WinSCP Windows ✅ SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3 Moderate Free
Cyberduck Windows and macOS ✅ FTP, SFTP, WebDAV High Free
CuteFTP Windows and macOS ❌ FTP, FTPS, and SFTP Moderate Paid
SmartFTP Windows ✅ FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and WebDAV Moderate Paid
CrossFTP Windows, Linux(Debian) and macOS ✅ FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3 Moderate Free/Paid
FTP Voyager Windows, Linux(Debian) and macOS ❌ FTP, SFTP, and FTPS High Free
Core FTP Windows ❌ FTP, SFTP SSL/TLS, and HTTP/HTTPS Low Free
WS_FTP Windows ✅ FTP, SSL/FTPS, SSH/SFTP and HTTP/S Moderate Paid

1. FileZilla

FileZilla is undoubtedly the most popular FTP client for Windows users. Providing all the features completely free, cross-platform compatibility, and support for various file transfer protocols are the main points that have made it popular.

Key Features

  • Free and open-source
  • User-friendly and simple interface
  • Compatible with a variety of platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac
  • Supports a variety of file transfer protocols, including FTP, FTPS, and SFTP
  • Supports drag-and-drop transfers
  • Directory Comparison and Synchronization
  • Remote File Editing
  • Support for Large Files
  • Remote URL Copy
  • Bookmarking Servers and Directories for quick access
  • Powerful Site Manager and transfer queue

Drawbacks

  • Requires basic familiarity with features
  • Lacks some advanced features

2. WinSCP

WinSCP is another free FTP tool for Windows. It has become an ideal choice for Windows VPS users due to its support for various file transfer protocols and user-friendly interface.

Key Features

  • Open-source and free
  • High security
  • Supports various protocols such as SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3
  • Provides a two-page interface for easy file transfers
  • File synchronization
  • Integrated Text Editor
  • Scripting and Automation

Drawbacks

  • Limited to Windows systems
  • The steep learning curve for beginners

3. Cyberduck

Cyberduck is a free and versatile FTP client that Mac and Windows users can use to transfer and share their files. The tool supports many protocols, making it an ideal and flexible solution.

Key Features

  • Free
  • Supports various file transfer protocols such as FTP, SFTP, WebDAV
  • User-Friendly Interface
  • Cloud Storage Integration (Google Drive, Amazon S3, and Dropbox)
  • Workload categorization Feature
  • Bookmarking Servers and Directories for quick access

Drawbacks

  • Relatively slow speed
  • Performance Issues on Large Transfers
  • Limited Advanced Features for Professional Use
  • Occasional lag and crashes in older versions

4. CuteFTP

CuteFTP is one of the most reliable FTP clients available for Windows and Mac users. It offers all the advanced features that free clients lack but for a fee!

Key Features

  • Supports a variety of file transfer protocols such as FTP, FTPS, and SFTP
  • High security in the file transfer process
  • Compatible with Windows and Mac
  • Global Dashboard for managing multiple transfers and tasks
  • Simple and rich user interface
  • Supports scheduled transfers and scripting
  • Turbo Transfer feature for faster file transfers
  • Automate file transfers
  • Backup and Synchronization
  • Drag-and-Drop module
  • Remote file editing

Drawbacks

  • Paid Only
  • Features may vary between platforms

5. SmartFTP

SmartFTP is one of the best FTP clients that, in addition to transferring files between the local system and the remote server, offers other features such as a built-in text editor with advanced features, visual file comparison, and synchronization.

Key Features 

  • High security Supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and WebDAV protocols 
  • Modern user interface with customization 
  • Ability to connect to cloud services such as Google Drive and OneDrive 
  • Automate the file transfer process 
  • Backup and synchronization of remote and local files 
  • Ability to open multiple tabs simultaneously to manage connections 
  • Drag & Drag Feature 
  • Ability to schedule file transfers 
  • Support for large files 

Drawbacks 

  • Paid (With Free Trial) 
  • Limited to Windows 
  • Crashes during large file transfers

6. CrossFTP

CrossFTP is another free/paid client designed for file transfers and backup management. The free version of this client handles transfers well, but you need to purchase a license to use the more features available in the CrossFTP Pro and CrossFTP Enterprise versions.

Key Features

  • High security
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Support for FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3 protocols
  • Ability to connect to cloud services such as Google Drive and OneDrive
  • Manage multiple connections simultaneously in one window
  • Compress, extract, and view archives
  • Monitoring FTP Server Performance with Alerts
  • Support for Bonjour discovery protocol

Drawbacks

  • Paid Features in Pro Version
  • Outdated Interface
  • Limited features in the free version

7. FTP Voyager

FTP Voyager is a well-known client that enables Windows users to transfer files between their computer and a target server at no cost. Features such as scheduling and transferring multiple files simultaneously are among the advanced features FTP Voyager offers for free.

Key Features

  • Free and open-source
  • User-friendly and simple interface
  • Supports FTP, SFTP, and FTPS protocols
  • Drag & Drag Feature
  • Transfer multiple files simultaneously
  • Connect to multiple servers simultaneously
  • Create and extract archives
  • Supports HTTP and FTP proxies
  • Apply filters and rewrite rules
  • Resume transfers in case of disconnection

Drawbacks

  • Limited Cloud Integration
  • High resource consumption

8. Core FTP

Core FTP is a free file transfer tool for Windows users to browse and transfer files with complete security. Encrypted connections and communications allow Windows VPS users to maintain and update their sites safely.

Key Features

  • Support for FTP, SFTP SSL/TLS, and HTTP/HTTPS protocols
  • User-friendly interface
  • Drag & Drag Feature
  • FTP URL parsing
  • command line transfers
  • Transfer files from site to site
  • Edit and view files
  • Firewall support
  • Transfer bandwidth control
  • File masking (wildcards)
  • Start/stop/resume of transfers
  • Site to Site file transfers
  • Support for international domains

Drawbacks

  • Advanced features available in the Pro version are paid
  • Limited to Windows
  • No Cloud Integration
  • Limited Free Version

9. WS_FTP Professional

The last client we want to review is WS_FTP Professional. This tool is a good option for commercial use due to its high security and reliability. 

However, its high cost compared to other tools has made it to the bottom of this list. Of course, it is worth investing in businesses that need speed, security, and advanced performance.

Key Features

  • Supports FTP, SSL/FTPS, SSH/SFTP and HTTP/S Protocols
  • High security
  • Encrypts connections and data with SSH, 256-bit AES, and OpenPGP encryption
  • Drag & Drag Feature
  • Ability to schedule transfers
  • Ability to connect to multiple servers simultaneously
  • Transfers multiple files simultaneously
  • Email notification
  • Server-to-Server transfers
  • Automatic site backup
  • Virtual synchronization to all devices, drives, and servers
  • Schedules post-transfer actions
  • Ability to integrate with Google, Copernic, and Windows desktop search engines
  • Simple search filtering options include file type, size, and date

Drawbacks

  • High cost

How to Choose the Perfect FTP Client: Key Factors to Consider

To make the right choice, you should first identify your needs and consider the budget you can allocate to an FTP client.

Then, you should review the list of the best tools we have introduced and consider the following factors in this review:

  • Protocol Support (FTP, SFTP, FTPS, etc.)
  • Platform Compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.)
  • Cloud Storage Integration
  • Security Features
  • File Transfer Speed ​​and Reliability
  • Ease of Use
  • Cost (Free vs. Paid)

This way, you can choose the best option for you.

In short:

– If you are looking for a free, popular tool that has proven itself in every way, consider FileZilla.

– If you are looking for a free and easy-to-use tool that supports multiple protocols and generally meets your simple needs, WinSCP or FTP Voyager are good options.

– If you need high security and easy access to cloud storage simultaneously, Cyberduck is the best option.

– If you need to manage multiple connections simultaneously while still having access to a stable and highly customizable tool, CrossFTP or SmartFTP would be a good choice.

– If you care a lot about the security and performance of your enterprise work and the cost is not a concern, choose CuteFTP or WS_FTP Professional.

Conclusion

FTP clients act as an interface between the local system and the remote server to facilitate file transfer between them. The clients introduced here perform well in this regard. However, you need to identify your needs and factors and make a suitable choice based on them so that you do not encounter any problems interacting with the Windows VPS.