Best FTP and SFTP Clients in 2026
Updated
In short: WinSCP is ranked #1 of 36 as of 3 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.
Moving files across servers calls for a client that matches your protocols, platforms, and transfer routine. Compare protocol coverage and supported platforms first, then consider concurrent transfers, synchronization, and scheduled transfers. Transfer automation can matter for repeat jobs; portable versions, free plans, and paid starting prices add practical tradeoffs. WinSCP leads these entries, followed by Cyberduck and FileZilla Client, with FTP Rush also among the first options. Use the listed criteria to weigh what fits your setup, whether you need a simple exchange or recurring transfers. The ranking provides an ordering to compare, while the right mix depends on the protocols and workflow you need to support.
36 FTP and SFTP clients ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Protocol coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WinSCP | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV and S3 | View |
| 2 | FileZilla Client | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | ftp-ftps-sftp | View |
| 3 |  Cyberduck | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $10/mo | Yes | $10one-time | multi-protocol | View |
| 4 |  Core FTP | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $16.95/mo | Yes | $24.95one-time | multi-protocol | View |
| 5 |  lftp | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 6 |  gFTP | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 7 | FTP Rush | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 8 |  FTPShell Client | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | $59.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | View |
| 9 |  WS_FTP Professional | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $58/mo | No | $58one-time | multi-protocol | View |
| 10 | CrossFTP | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 11 |  Transmit | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $2.08/mo | No | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 12 |  SmartFTP | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 13 | FlashFXP | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 14 | sFTP Client | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 15 |  NcFTP | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | ftp-only | View |
| 16 |  Serv-U FTP Server | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4.58/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 17 |  FTP Commander | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | $49.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | View |
| 18 |  CuteFTP | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 19 | FileZilla Pro | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €1.08/mo | No | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 20 |  FQB Transfer | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 21 |  AndFTP | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 22 | FTPie | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 23 |  Faro | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | multi-protocol | View |
| 24 | Fetch | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4/mo | No | $29one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | View |
| 25 |  TurboFTP | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4.16/mo | No | $49.95one-time | ftp-ftps-sftp | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which FTP and SFTP client is ranked first on Inferse?
WinSCP is ranked #1 of 36 with a score of 8.3. FileZilla Client is second and Cyberduck third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 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 on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.