12 Best FTP Clients for Mac and Windows (Free and Paid)

Published Date : Jan 02, 2024
Category : MAC | Top 10 | Windows
12 Best FTP Clients for Mac and Windows in 2024 (Free & Paid)

In this article, we have shared the best FTP client for Macintosh and Windows that you can try for sharing from one server to another easily. The list below has all the information about the software.

Sharing files from one server to another using the conventional method can be time-consuming. The techniques have changed and so has the software. File Transfer Protocol or FTP is the best option for sharing files which will be soon adopted by every user.

Now to help you transfer effectively and to help you in adapting the future technology we have shared the best free FTP clients for Mac and Windows. You can read all the information about the software including offering and price (if paid). So now without wasting time let’s start the list and check the offerings of free FTP clients for Windows and Mac.

Top 12 Best Free FTP Clients for Mac and Windows in 2024

Here are some of the best-handpicked software that you can try for sharing files from one server to another. The list of best FTP clients for Mac and Windows includes the software which has faster performance and positive reviews.

1. Transmit 5

Transmit 5

First up on our list of best free FTP clients for Mac we have Transmit 5. This is one of the most popular software which is developed by Panic Inc. The reason why we have kept this software in the first position is because of its blazing fast speed of transferring files. You can easily share between local and remote servers using this software.

This is great software for Mac PC as it allows you to transmit shortcuts for easy access. This free FTP software for Mac supports FTPS, SFTP, SSH, Amazon, WebDAV, and S3 protocols. Though the interface might look simple and basic, it offers some of the best features. You can easily use tags for organizing files and finding them with ease.

For unlocking tons of hidden potentials the software works with Terminal. For all the power users this is a great feature that might interest you. Most importantly for security purposes, it offers two-factor login to avoid hacking. You get the support of multiple languages excluding English. The list includes Chinese, French, and German.

Pros

  • Supports various crucial protocols
  • It has folder syncing which works on both local and remote servers
  • You can add a shortcut to Finder for easy access
  • The software supports several cloud platforms
  • It lets you add a dashboard widget
  • Multi-language support

Cons

  • Expensive paid plan
  • Installs adware by default

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2. CuteFTP

CuteFTP

CuteFTP is another feature-packed free FTP software for Windows which you can try. Using the software you can easily edit and manage files with great control. However, in the beginning, the software might feel complex but eventually, you will get used to it. It offers various features like OpenPGP encryption, file compression, and support to various FTP, WebDAV, and SFTP extensions.

This free FTP client for Windows offers a color-coded HTML editor with automated syncing and backup for a better user experience. Apart from this, you can easily connect with any FTP site for sharing and maintaining files easily.

The software even has features for creating and editing HTML documents with its inbuilt HTML editor. It does not require any third-party software for this work. For security, the software offers a smart password manager along with one-time password authentication. You can effectively work with full security of your work.

Pros

  • It supports OpenPGP encryption and file compression
  • One time password authentication
  • Automatic syncing and backup
  • For beginners, it has a built-in wizard
  • Color-coded HTML editor

Cons

  • You cannot compare files
  • laaS provider support isn’t offered

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3. Commander One

Commander One

Next up on our list is a free FTP software for Mac named Commander One. with this software you get the support of various protocols like SFTP, FTPS, and WebDAV. For transferring files it offers flexibility as it supports cloud platforms. The best part about the software is that it has a very easy-to-adapt interface. You can easily navigate options easily in no time with its fluid user interface.

With this best free FTP client for Mac, you can perform day-to-day projects easily. You can copy, edit, move and delete files in no time. All the files in the software are organized properly for easy access. Apart from the basic interface, you get the option to customize it according to the requirements.

To help users in finding tasks easily it has a dedicated file manager. Using this feature you can easily filter and sort the task. The software has both free and premium versions. You can choose depending on the requirements as the premium version unlocks all the features whereas in the free version you get limited features only.

Pros

  • You can easily enable or disable hidden files
  • It lets you work effectively with various tabs
  • Unique and intuitive interface
  • Terminal emulator for customization
  • Support list of hotkeys

Cons

  • It fails to rename files
  • You cannot compare files

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4. CloudMounter

CloudMounter

CloudMounter is a great software for managing and keeping your files. The software has a deep integration with Finder to help you control and manage your files effectively. The best part about this free FTP client for Macintosh is that it has simple straightforward methods for adding and transferring files to different servers.

For all those who are looking for a better option to save space, CloudMounster is the best software to try. It offers functionality to map on almost all cloud platforms including Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. This is a great feature for all those who share files from one cloud to another.

It even has a separate section named ‘Shared with Me’ which keeps all the files together which have been shared with you. It helps in finding the files easily in no time without any hassle. Besides this, you can even collaborate with others easily.

Also Read: 10 Best Server Monitoring Software with GUI-Based Configurations

Pros

  • You can easily share files among various cloud platforms easily
  • It has a very simple and clutter-free interface
  • You can easily collaborate with people
  • The software supports various cloud platforms

Cons

  • Doesn’t offer any free version
  • Fails to organize files effectively

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5. Filezilla

Filezilla

Filezilla is another best free FTP client for Windows, Mac, and Linux that you can use. It offers a huge list of features which can interest you in choosing it over others. The software offers a very clean user interface which makes it ideal for every user including beginners. Though it doesn’t offer much features, still you get all the essential ones in it.

This free FTP software for Windows and Mac supports FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS, and SSH FTP. The best part about this software is that it has a fast remote search which helps users in finding important files easily in no time.

Apart from this, you get great security features as well. The software keeps your files secured from hacking with its unique encryption. Overall this is one of the best FTP clients for Windows and Mac which you can try.

Pros

  • It supports various protocols
  • You get an option of remote file search
  • Easy and neat bookmarking of files
  • Share files safely and securely

Cons

  • It additionally installs adware
  • Doesn’t offer a smooth drag and drop interface

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6. CrossFTP

CrossFTP

CrossFTP is a great software and to back that it offers various features and claims to be the fastest among the competitors. The speed of transferring files has helped this software to gain a place on the list of best free FTP software for Mac and Windows. Being the fastest software it does not require much practice for using it. The software offers a very easy-to-use interface that can be adapted by every user easily.

You can easily work the way you want. It offers freedom to the user for every action including editing, copying, and managing. It furthermore offers a download speed control feature which you can use to manage the speed according to the requirements.

The software works smoothly even when you are connected to multiple servers. It even offers password encryption, archives, and local file search. You can easily choose the plan which suits your requirements. It offers a free as well as a paid plan option.

Pros

  • It quickly searches for local files
  • You can easily transfer in batches
  • It supports all the major cloud platforms
  • You get a multi-thread turbo engine with this software

Cons

  • Sometimes users face issues while pausing the downloads

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7. ForkLift

ForkLift

ForkLift is another great free FTP client for macintosh which you can use. This is fully optimized software that offers the best performance from the hardware. The software has a very easy and clutter-free interface which even offers smooth performance.  You get a lot of customization options that can help you in creating the software according to your needs and requirements.

This free FTP software for Mac is also popular for its quick file encryption. It keeps your files secured from hackers and threats. Unlike other software, you get a renaming feature with ForLift. The software can easily rename in batches effectively.

To help you in maintaining the interface and storage organized it has a zip archiving feature that can be used to keep unwanted files away from the important files. You can easily work on multiple servers with this software. Above all, you can even choose to have a dark mode for ease of eyes.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Remote Desktop Software

Pros

  • The software can easily connect to various cloud platforms
  • You can view files without even downloading them
  • It compares local and remote sources
  • Dark mode supported
  • It offers audio and video playback

Cons

  • Sync feature sometimes fails to work accurately

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8. Viper FTP

Viper FTP

Next software on our list of free FTP clients for Windows and Mac is Viper FTP. The software offers some of the best features which makes it a great fit in this list. The best part about this software is that it offers a balance of simple interfaces with power-packed features that can help you in sharing.

You can easily share and transfer files to various servers with this software at a faster and better pace. You can easily transfer files on FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, SFTP, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Google Drive, and YouTube. This versatile software lets you easily work as per needs and ease.

You can easily upload files to multiplier servers easily and can even transfer files in the background without affecting the work. Apart from this, you get loads of other options including editing files on remote servers, creating an HTTP URL for the selected file, and managing local archives easily. Lastly, the software tracks all the activities and keeps a record of them. You can easily check and recall all the work you have done with this software.

Pros

  • You can easily transfer files to various platforms easily
  • The software lets you upload files on multiple folders with ease
  • It keeps a track of all the work and transfers done
  • You can easily manage all the local archives

Cons

  • Users have faced crashing issues when starting a new connection

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9. FireFTP

FireFTP

 

FireFTP is the best free FTP client for Windows. To back our statement we have looked at the offering and we were impressed with the set of features and user interface. The software has a very clean user interface that will feel like the usual software. You can easily adapt to the software interface even if you are a beginner.

The software doesn’t require any installation as it runs on the Firefox browser as an add-on. Using the software you can easily navigate to the option you want easily in no time. The best part is that it performs at a very fast speed. You can work effectively and efficiently without even having an issue.

It moreover supports various protocols and offers a simple drag and drop gesture. You can even compress files with its in-built tool. That’s not all. It offers proxy support, secure file sharing, and reliable synchronization-like features too. You can use this software in 20 different languages easily.

Pros

  • The software has a simple drag and drop functionality
  • You can easily compress files with this software
  • Anyone can easily work with its easy interface
  • Multi-language support
  • It lets you upload and download files without any hassle

Cons

  • It doesn’t offer any tools for folder syncing
  • Only compatible with Firefox browser

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10. Cyberduck

Cyberduck

The next software on our list is Cyberduck. This is one of the highest-rated free FTP software for Mac. The software offers every tool which you would need in working with FTP software. You can easily share files with this software to any server. For proficiency, it offers features like remote file editing and managing file-like features.

It is compatible with various protocols like FTP, WebDAV, SFTP, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, OneDrive, Microsoft Azure, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OpenStack Swift. Apart from this you even get the support of several external code editors.

Besides this, it has file locating features that help in finding files easily. You can even save your important credentials with the keychain feature. All in all, this is the best free FTP client for Mac which you should definitely try.

Also Read: 15 Best Free Cloud Storage Services

Pros

  • The software is designed to work with various external code editors
  • It supports a wide range of protocols and services
  • You can effectively edit files remotely with Cyberduck
  • It has client-side encryption for better security

Cons

  • Sometimes the software feels sluggish
  • The UI doesn’t impress much

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11. WS_FTP Professional

WS_FTP Professional

WS_FTP Professional is a great software for sharing and downloading files. The software keeps your files and data safe with its encryption techniques. Though this is not a free FTP client for Windows as you have to subscribe to the software by paying $49.95.

The subscription is worth purchasing because it offers all the features which you would need in FTP software. The best feature which makes it better than the other competitors is its speed. As compared to other FTP clients this software performs very swiftly.

All the files shared with WS_FTP Professional are safe as it uses enterprise-grade security measures to protect them. Apart from this the software even has a drag and drop functionality which makes it easy to operate. All these features are worth the price.

Pros

  • The software has 256-bit AES, OpenPGP, and FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography encryption
  • Simple drag and drop functionality
  • It supports IIS and Apache web servers
  • You can archive files and organize the folders

Cons

  • No visual display for data transfer
  • Priced higher than the competitors

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12. WinSCP

WinSCP

WinSCP is one of the most sorted FTP clients for Windows. The software is very simple and open-source which helps in downloading and uploading files easily. Apart from the usual work you can edit files too with this free FTP software for Windows. The software is available for free and you have to pay no extra charges to use any feature.

Apart from offering all the advanced features, the software is great for every user. Unlike most FTP software, it offers a graphical representation of the transfers. It showcases separately all the transfers whether it is on a computer or on the server.

Pros

  • The software supports advanced protocols
  • You can easily switch between languages easily
  • All the files can be secured with a master password
  • Does not install any other software

Cons

  • No hotkeys support
  • You cannot toggle between two interfaces

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Also Read: 10 Best File Sharing Software for PC – Online & Offline Transfer Files


Concluding the List of Best FTP Clients for Mac & Windows OS

Now after reading the article you must have got the idea of how easily you can share files with the free FTP software for Windows and Mac operating systems. The only thing which is left is choosing the software that suits your working style. In case of confusion, you can compare the pros and cons of your favorite software and then decide easily. We hope that you will find the right software for sharing. If you still have any confusion you can drop your queries in the comment section and we will try our best to resolve them.

Tanmay Sharma
Tanmay is a technical writer from the field of mass communication. He aims to communicate the best of the technology to the readers through his write ups. If not writing you can find him with his camera capturing nature and exploring the unexplored world.

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