Remote File Servers Supported by Commander One

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Updated on:April 1, 2026

Remote file servers let you access, move, and manage files over a network instead of relying on your Mac’s storage. This simplifies your workflow when working with multiple systems or teams.

Commander One improves usability by letting you access a few supported remote file servers as if they were local drives on your Mac. You can manage FTP (including FTPS and FTPES), SFTP, and WebDAV protocols in a single platform and interface.

Below, we compare the remote servers that Commander One supports.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

FTP server

FTP is one of the oldest ways of transferring files between your computer and a remote server. File transfer protocol uses separate command and data channels to exchange files and allows you to upload, download, and organize data on a remote host. An FTP server works like a network-based alternative to USB drives.

Pros

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Supported by most servers and hosting providers (you may have to complete installation/configuration)
  • Fast for transferring large batches of files

Cons

  • Plaintext storage of usernames and passwords poses a security risk due to a lack of encryption (FTPS and FTPES offer secure alternatives)
  • Can run into issues with firewalls due to multiple ports.

The Commander One benefits:

Commander One works as a full FTP client on macOS, with a dual-pane interface for managing local and remote data side by side. You can drag and drop files between panels. You can also connect to multiple cloud services, use advanced search, and work with archives. Plus, Commander One supports FTPS and FTPES, if the server is configured to allow these protocols, adding the SSL/TLS encryption layer that standard FTP lacks.

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)

SFTP server

SFTP is a more secure alternative to FTP. Instead of adding encryption later (like FTPS), it builds security directly into the protocol using Secure Shell (SSH). That means all of your data, commands, and login credentials are encrypted during remote transfers. You can also use key-based authentication, which makes it even harder for unauthorized users to gain access.

Developers, admins, and anyone with sensitive data use SFTP for security.

Pros

  • Fully encrypted file transfers
  • Secure login with SSH keys
  • Makes it easier to combine or sort files by timestamp after download using custom tools

Cons

  • Encryption can be resource-intensive for both server and client
  • A single SSH connection can limit the speed for large files.

The Commander One benefits:

Commander One supports client-side encryption, which adds another layer of protection when transferring or storing files via an SFTP server. You can transfer files easily with drag-and-drop and work with other protocols in the same interface. This keeps your workflow consistent and lets you manage file transfers without leaving your file manager.

WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning)

WebDAV server

WebDAV lets you manage files on a web server through HTTP. It’s mainly for collaborative work as it lets multiple users access and edit files remotely.

Pros

  • Uses HTTPS for secure data transfer
  • Works smoothly through firewalls and proxies using standard HTTP/HTTPS (ports 80/443)
  • Good for collaboration and remote file editing
  • More efficient at handling multiple small requests with HTTP/2 than FTP

Cons

  • Slower than FTP or SFTP for large file transfers due to HTTP overhead
  • Can sometimes have stability or reconnection issues after reboot.

The Commander One benefits:

Once you’re connected with a WebDAV server on Commander One, you can open, edit, and organize files just like you would in Finder, but with more flexibility. You can mount multiple WebDAV servers as local disks and manage them in one unified workspace. macOS users find this app more practical than Finder.

What should you choose?

Most macOS users go with FTP when they want something quick and simple for non-sensitive data. They choose SFTP if security is their top priority, and those who need smooth web-based collaboration use WebDAV.

The good news is you don’t have to pick just one.

Commander One lets you connect to and manage multiple servers simultaneously, which eliminates the need for multiple specialized apps. Moving files between FTP (incl. FTP with TLS/SSL, FTP with Implicit SSL), SFTP, WebDAV, and cloud services is as easy as dragging files between folders on your Mac. You can also manage archives without extraction, queue operations, and search across local and remote storage.

On top of that, this app includes a built-in Terminal emulator and a process viewer for system monitoring. You also get full support for Android, iOS, and MTP devices.

Conclusion

Remote file servers are essential for modern workflows, especially for working across devices or teams. But switching between different protocols and tools can sometimes be frustrating. 

Commander One brings FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV into one interface, so you can use them as local drives. Whether you want speed, security, or ease of collaboration, this app gives you flexibility for file management on macOS without overcomplicating things.

Frequently Asked Questions

Commander One offers access to major cloud services, including Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Box, MEGA, and Backblaze B2. You can also connect to FTP, FTPS, FTPES, SFTP, and WebDAV servers.

Commander One treats archives like folders, so you can browse, open, edit, and extract files without any extra steps. It supports multiple archive formats, encryption, and content search to save you time and storage space.

Yes, Commander One includes a Mac Terminal emulator for running commands directly. This paid feature is available in the website version (not the App Store version) and can be accessed using hotkeys.