Best SFTP Client Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Filestash is ranked #1 of 28 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of WinSCP and Cyberduck. The best-ranked option with a free plan is WinSCP. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Viper FTP at $1.25/mo.
For transferring files to remote systems, an SFTP client’s authentication, editing, and synchronization features can shape the workflow. Compare SSH key authentication with remote file editing and folder synchronization, then check automation support, supported protocols, and platform coverage. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing round out the criteria if cost affects your setup. Filestash and WinSCP lead the ranked entries, with Cyberduck and FileZilla Client also near the top. Consider whether your work centers on straightforward transfers, keeping folders in sync, or automating recurring tasks, and make sure the listed protocols and platforms match what you use.
28 SFTP client software 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 | Supported protocols | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filestash | 8.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | SFTP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, SMB, S3, NFS, MCP, AS2 | View |
| 2 | WinSCP | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | SSH, SFTP, SCP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, WebDAVS, S3 | View |
| 3 |  Cyberduck | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $10/mo | Yes | 10 one-time | — | View |
| 4 | FileZilla Client | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 5 |  Core FTP | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $16.95/mo | Yes | 24.95 one-time | — | View |
| 6 | CrossFTP | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 7 |  lftp | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 8 | sFTP Client | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 9 | ExpanDrive | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $29/mo | Yes | — | FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, S3 | View |
| 10 |  SmartFTP | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 11 |  Xftp | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | 59 one-time | SFTP (SSH2 only), FTP | View |
| 12 |  Transmit | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $2.08/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 13 | Yummy FTP Pro | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, WebDAVS | View |
| 14 | ForkLift | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $19.95/mo | No | 19.95 one-time | — | View |
| 15 | Fetch | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4/mo | No | 29 one-time | — | View |
| 16 | Commander One | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $29.99/mo | Yes | 29.99 one-time | — | View |
| 17 |  WS_FTP Professional | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $58/mo | No | 58 one-time | — | View |
| 18 | FlashFXP | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 19 |  Rebex Drive | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | SFTP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV | View |
| 20 |  ST Explorer | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | SFTP | View |
| 21 |  Mountain Duck | 5.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | FTP, FTP over TLS, SFTP, WebDAV, SMB, OpenStack Swift, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Microsoft Azure, Backblaze B2 | View |
| 22 |  Monsta FTP | 5.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | FTP, SFTP, SCP | View |
| 23 | CloudMounter | 5.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | FTP, FTPS, FTPES, SFTP, WebDAV | View |
| 24 |  CuteFTP | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 25 |  Viper FTP | 5.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $1.25/mo | No | — | — | 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 SFTP client software is ranked first on Inferse?
Filestash is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 8.6. WinSCP 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, Viper FTP has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.25/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.