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Software 20 alternatives listed Updated 2026-07-02

FileZilla Alternatives

FileZilla is a cross-platform FTP, FTPS and SFTP client. Strong alternatives include WinSCP for Windows automation, Cyberduck for Mac/Windows cloud connections, Transmit and ForkLift for macOS, and rclone or Mountain Duck for advanced cloud and mounted-drive workflows.

Quick picks

Which FileZilla alternative should you choose?

See the full comparison
Best open-source option

WinSCP

Windows SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3 transfers

Best free option

Total Commander

Dual-pane Windows file manager with FTP workflow support

Best for Windows users

Cyberduck

Mac and Windows FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud browser

Best for mobile users

Air Explorer

Multi-cloud file manager, transfer and sync tool

Best lightweight option

CarotDAV

Simple Windows WebDAV, FTP, SFTP and cloud client

Best advanced option

SmartFTP

Commercial Windows FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud transfer client

FileZilla is a long-running open-source file transfer client used for FTP, FTPS and SFTP connections. It is often chosen for website uploads, server file management and basic transfer queues. Alternatives may be useful when you need a cleaner native interface, SCP support, stronger automation, cloud-storage connectors, mounted drives, commercial support, or a file manager that fits a specific operating system better.

What is FileZilla?

FileZilla Client is a free, open-source FTP solution for transferring files between a local computer and remote servers. The client supports FTP, FTP over TLS and SFTP, with common tools such as a site manager, transfer queue, drag-and-drop transfers, bookmarks and directory comparison.

Why compare FileZilla alternatives?

Users often compare FileZilla alternatives for a more native macOS or Windows interface, SCP or WebDAV support, cloud storage support, scripting, folder synchronization, mounted remote drives, dual-pane file management, or commercial licensing and support. Some users also prefer clients with simpler installer choices and fewer distractions.

Pricing and license note

The main FileZilla Client is free and open source under the GNU GPL. FileZilla Pro and some alternatives add paid cloud or enterprise-oriented features.

Safety, privacy, and data notes

Download FTP/SFTP clients only from official sites or trusted app stores, keep them updated, and prefer SFTP or FTPS over plain FTP when credentials or private files are involved.

Last updated: 2026-07-02

Editorial review notes

Source review records support this guide. Features, pricing, platform support, and availability can still change after publication.

Editorially reviewedHuman-reviewed for legitimate software discovery.
Last reviewedJuly 2, 2026
Sources checked21 sources checked
Ranking methodologyAlternatives are organized by practical fit, platform support, licensing signals, official availability, and safety notes. We do not use paid placement or archived votes as review ratings.

FileZilla alternatives comparison

Compare the product information currently available, then confirm current features, plans, and availability with each provider.

Tool Best for License Platforms Pricing note Links
WinSCP Windows SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3 transfers Free, Open Source Windows Free software under the GNU GPL. View guide for WinSCP
FileZilla Secure Legacy FileZilla fork for encrypted stored passwords Free Windows, macOS Pricing and current licensing were not confidently verified from current official material. View guide for FileZilla Secure
Total Commander Dual-pane Windows file manager with FTP workflow support Trial, Free, Commercial Windows, Android Windows version is shareware; mobile versions are described as free by the vendor. Official site for Total Commander
Cyberduck Mac and Windows FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud browser Free, Open Source Windows, macOS Free software; donation keys or app-store purchases can remove donation prompts and support development. Official site for Cyberduck
GNU Midnight Commander Terminal dual-pane file manager for Linux and Unix-like systems Free, Open Source macOS, Linux Free software released under the GNU General Public License. Official site for GNU Midnight Commander
GNOME Files (Nautilus) GNOME desktop file manager with network file browsing Free, Open Source Linux Free and open-source GNOME desktop software. Official site for GNOME Files (Nautilus)
Transmit Native macOS file transfer client for servers and cloud services Trial, Commercial, Paid macOS Official site lists a free trial and a one-time purchase for Transmit 5; verify current price before publishing. Official site for Transmit
FireFTP Discontinued Firefox FTP add-on Free Firefox Historically free; current licensing and usable download status need review. Official site for FireFTP
Multi Commander Free dual-panel Windows file manager Free Windows Official documentation describes Multi Commander as completely free. Official site for Multi Commander
ForkLift macOS dual-pane file manager and FTP/SFTP client Trial, Commercial, Paid macOS Commercial app with a free trial; verify the current license terms and price on the store page. Official site for ForkLift
Air Explorer Multi-cloud file manager, transfer and sync tool Subscription, Freemium, Commercial Windows, macOS, Android Free edition exists; Pro is offered in one-year, two-year and lifetime options for one device. Official site for Air Explorer
CarotDAV Simple Windows WebDAV, FTP, SFTP and cloud client Free Windows Official page describes CarotDAV as free of charge. Official site for CarotDAV

WinSCP

Best for
Windows SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3 transfers
License
Free, Open Source
Platforms
Windows
Pricing note
Free software under the GNU GPL.

Total Commander

Best for
Dual-pane Windows file manager with FTP workflow support
License
Trial, Free, Commercial
Platforms
Windows, Android
Pricing note
Windows version is shareware; mobile versions are described as free by the vendor.

Cyberduck

Best for
Mac and Windows FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud browser
License
Free, Open Source
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Pricing note
Free software; donation keys or app-store purchases can remove donation prompts and support development.

GNU Midnight Commander

Best for
Terminal dual-pane file manager for Linux and Unix-like systems
License
Free, Open Source
Platforms
macOS, Linux
Pricing note
Free software released under the GNU General Public License.

Transmit

Best for
Native macOS file transfer client for servers and cloud services
License
Trial, Commercial, Paid
Platforms
macOS
Pricing note
Official site lists a free trial and a one-time purchase for Transmit 5; verify current price before publishing.

FireFTP

Best for
Discontinued Firefox FTP add-on
License
Free
Platforms
Firefox
Pricing note
Historically free; current licensing and usable download status need review.

Multi Commander

Best for
Free dual-panel Windows file manager
License
Free
Platforms
Windows
Pricing note
Official documentation describes Multi Commander as completely free.

ForkLift

Best for
macOS dual-pane file manager and FTP/SFTP client
License
Trial, Commercial, Paid
Platforms
macOS
Pricing note
Commercial app with a free trial; verify the current license terms and price on the store page.

Air Explorer

Best for
Multi-cloud file manager, transfer and sync tool
License
Subscription, Freemium, Commercial
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Android
Pricing note
Free edition exists; Pro is offered in one-year, two-year and lifetime options for one device.

CarotDAV

Best for
Simple Windows WebDAV, FTP, SFTP and cloud client
License
Free
Platforms
Windows
Pricing note
Official page describes CarotDAV as free of charge.

Free vs paid FileZilla alternatives

Options carrying a Free, Freemium, or Open Source label on this page include WinSCP, FileZilla Secure, Total Commander, Cyberduck, GNU Midnight Commander. Free access, usage limits, API limits, hosting limits, commercial-use terms, and paid features can change, so confirm current details with each provider.

Alternatives to FileZilla

List position 1

Best for: Windows SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3 transfers

WinSCP is a strong Windows alternative to FileZilla for users who want SFTP, FTP, FTPS, SCP, WebDAV and S3 support in a familiar file-manager interface. It is especially relevant for admins and developers who value scripting, synchronization, saved sessions and detailed documentation.

FreeOpen Source Windows

Pricing: Free software under the GNU GPL.

List position 2

Best for: Legacy FileZilla fork for encrypted stored passwords

FileZilla Secure was a modified FileZilla client focused on encrypting stored FTP passwords. It should be treated as an old fork rather than a mainstream current alternative, because FileZilla later added master-password support and the fork needs manual review for maintenance, downloads and security status.

Free WindowsmacOS

Pricing: Pricing and current licensing were not confidently verified from current official material.

List position 3

Total Commander

Best for: Dual-pane Windows file manager with FTP workflow support

Total Commander is a dual-pane file manager for Windows with long-standing support for file operations, archives, synchronization and FTP-oriented workflows. It is less like a dedicated FTP-only client and more like a power-user file manager that can also help with remote file tasks.

TrialFreeCommercial WindowsAndroid

Pricing: Windows version is shareware; mobile versions are described as free by the vendor.

List position 4

Cyberduck

Best for: Mac and Windows FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud browser

Cyberduck is a libre server and cloud storage browser for macOS and Windows. Compared with FileZilla, it is attractive when users want FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and major cloud storage connections in a simpler bookmark-driven interface rather than a traditional transfer-queue-heavy FTP layout.

FreeOpen Source WindowsmacOS

Pricing: Free software; donation keys or app-store purchases can remove donation prompts and support development.

List position 5

GNU Midnight Commander

Best for: Terminal dual-pane file manager for Linux and Unix-like systems

GNU Midnight Commander is a terminal-based dual-pane file manager. It is relevant for Linux and Unix-like users who prefer keyboard-driven file management on local or remote systems, especially over SSH sessions where a graphical FTP client is inconvenient.

FreeOpen Source macOSLinux

Pricing: Free software released under the GNU General Public License.

List position 6

GNOME Files (Nautilus)

Best for: GNOME desktop file manager with network file browsing

GNOME Files, historically known as Nautilus, is the default file manager for the GNOME desktop. It is not a direct FileZilla replacement for heavy FTP queues, but it can suit Linux users who want integrated local and network file browsing inside the desktop environment.

FreeOpen Source Linux

Pricing: Free and open-source GNOME desktop software.

List position 7

Transmit

Best for: Native macOS file transfer client for servers and cloud services

Transmit is a polished macOS file transfer client from Panic. It fits users who want a native Mac interface for FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, S3 and supported cloud services, and who are comfortable paying for a commercial app instead of using a free cross-platform client.

TrialCommercialPaid macOS

Pricing: Official site lists a free trial and a one-time purchase for Transmit 5; verify current price before publishing.

List position 8

FireFTP

Best for: Discontinued Firefox FTP add-on

FireFTP was a Firefox add-on for FTP transfers, but it should not be presented as a normal current FileZilla alternative. The developer states that support and development ended after Firefox removed support for the legacy add-on model, so this item is mainly historical.

Free Firefox

Pricing: Historically free; current licensing and usable download status need review.

List position 9

Multi Commander

Best for: Free dual-panel Windows file manager

Multi Commander is a free dual-panel file manager for Windows. It is relevant for FileZilla users who mainly want a stronger local file manager with tabs, two panels and productivity tools, rather than a dedicated FTP/SFTP client as the center of the workflow.

Free Windows

Pricing: Official documentation describes Multi Commander as completely free.

List position 10

ForkLift

Best for: macOS dual-pane file manager and FTP/SFTP client

ForkLift is a macOS dual-pane file manager and file transfer client. It is a good comparison point for Mac users who want local file management, remote SFTP/FTP connections and a more Finder-like native experience than FileZilla provides.

TrialCommercialPaid macOS

Pricing: Commercial app with a free trial; verify the current license terms and price on the store page.

List position 11

Air Explorer

Best for: Multi-cloud file manager, transfer and sync tool

Air Explorer is a multi-cloud file manager for Windows and Mac, with Android also available. It is more cloud-focused than FileZilla, helping users transfer, sync, back up and encrypt files across services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and S3-compatible storage.

SubscriptionFreemiumCommercial WindowsmacOSAndroid

Pricing: Free edition exists; Pro is offered in one-year, two-year and lifetime options for one device.

List position 12

CarotDAV

Best for: Simple Windows WebDAV, FTP, SFTP and cloud client

CarotDAV is a lightweight Windows client for WebDAV, FTP, FTPS, SFTP and several online storage services. It can be useful for users who want a simple Explorer-like remote file client, but its maintenance status and service compatibility should be reviewed before highlighting it strongly.

Free Windows

Pricing: Official page describes CarotDAV as free of charge.

List position 13

SmartFTP

Best for: Commercial Windows FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud transfer client

SmartFTP is a commercial Windows client for FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, cloud storage and SSH-related workflows. It is relevant for users who want a paid Windows transfer client with editions, support materials and advanced protocol coverage, but pricing should be verified before publication.

TrialCommercialPaid Windows

Pricing: Official price list changes over time and varies by edition; verify the current edition before publishing.

List position 14

FTP Rush

Best for: Free cross-platform FTP, SFTP and cloud transfer client

FTP Rush is a free file transfer client covering FTP, SFTP and cloud storage workflows across desktop and mobile platforms. It is a useful replacement candidate when users want tabbed connections, drag-and-drop transfers and server-to-server transfers beyond classic FTP-only work.

Free WindowsmacOSiOSiPadOSAndroid

Pricing: Official site describes FTP Rush as free file transfer software.

List position 15

FTPbox

Best for: Open-source FTP/SFTP sync to a self-owned server

FTPbox is an open-source tool designed to synchronize files with a user-owned server over FTP, SFTP or FTPS. It is more of a Dropbox-like sync concept than a full FileZilla-style transfer client, and the project appears old enough that maintenance should be checked before publishing prominently.

Free Windows

Pricing: GitHub repository lists GPLv3 licensing; current packaging status needs review.

List position 16

Double Commander

Best for: Cross-platform open-source dual-pane file manager with remote protocols

Double Commander is a free, open-source dual-pane file manager inspired by Total Commander. It supports FTP, FTPS, FTPES, SCP and SFTP workflows, making it a practical addition for users who want cross-platform file management plus remote transfer support.

FreeOpen Source WindowsmacOSLinux

Pricing: Free and open source under the GNU GPL.

List position 17

Mountain Duck

Best for: Mount FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and cloud storage as local drives

Mountain Duck mounts server and cloud storage as a disk in Finder on macOS or File Explorer on Windows. It is not a traditional queue-based FTP client, but it is highly relevant for users who prefer working with remote files through the operating system file manager.

TrialCommercialPaid WindowsmacOS

Pricing: Commercial app with a trial and registration key; verify current price before publishing.

List position 18

Rclone

Best for: Command-line cloud sync, transfer, migration and mount tool

rclone is a command-line tool for managing, syncing, mounting and migrating files across cloud storage providers and transfer protocols. It is best for technical users who prefer scripts, automation and reproducible transfer jobs over a graphical FTP interface.

FreeOpen Source WindowsmacOSLinux

Pricing: Free and open-source software.

List position 19

Commander One

Best for: macOS dual-pane file manager with FTP/SFTP and cloud support

Commander One is a macOS dual-pane file manager with FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, cloud-drive and archive features. It is a useful Mac-focused alternative for users who want local file management and remote connections in one Finder-style productivity app.

FreemiumCommercialPaid macOS

Pricing: Free mode is available; advanced FTP and cloud features are tied to the Pro version.

List position 20

CloudMounter

Best for: Mount cloud, FTP and SFTP storage as local drives

CloudMounter lets users mount cloud storage and FTP/SFTP servers as local drives on macOS and Windows. It is relevant for people who want remote storage integrated into Finder or File Explorer rather than a separate FTP-client workflow.

SubscriptionTrialFreemium WindowsmacOS

Pricing: Free/trial and paid subscription options exist; verify current plans on the vendor page.

FileZilla alternatives FAQ

What is the best FileZilla alternative?

The best option depends on your workflow, platform, budget, and required features. Options currently listed include WinSCP, FileZilla Secure, Total Commander.

Are there free FileZilla alternatives?

Yes. Free, freemium, or open-source options in this list include WinSCP, FileZilla Secure, Total Commander, Cyberduck, GNU Midnight Commander.

Which platforms are covered?

The alternatives in this list include options for Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Linux, depending on each product.

How are alternatives ranked?

When reliable community signals are not available, the list should be read as a comparison set rather than a definitive ranking. Compare platform support, licensing, product details, and official provider information.

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Alternative.tips Editorial Team

Software alternatives editor

Alternative.tips guides are reviewed by the site editorial team using official product pages, documentation, trusted app stores, and correction reports.