7 Best FTP clients for WordPress Users [2024]

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Best WordPress FTP solutions for Mac and Windows

October 15, 2024

When it comes to managing your website’s files, an FTP client is a handy ally for WordPress users. From intuitive interfaces to robust features, they are designed to simplify the file management process, giving every WordPress user more control and flexibility over their web content. In this article, we’ll present the best FTP clients available. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these solutions will help you.

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is designed to transfer files between a local computer and a remote site, in our case based on WordPress. Additionally, FTP can be used to download, upload and manage files or to change the access rights to files or directories posted on the site.

An FTP client is file transfer software that makes it easy to send files from your computer to the server and back, and more. It is a crucial tool for website development, content management, and file sharing. To access files via FTP, users enter credentials, and once connected, they can navigate the server’s directory structure and transfer files by dragging&dropping or using certain commands.

The first thing you should always take into account is security. No matter what anyone tells you, all the fancy graphics in the world and bonus features don’t hold a candle to great security. This means that you will want the software to come with support for SFTP as well, with encrypted end-to-end communications, and also have the ability to encrypt personal data stored on any of your online connections.

The next thing you should have in mind is to make sure that the interface design is user-friendly, easy to use, and does not require any complicated set of actions to perform basic tasks. This is really important because you will have to spend a lot of time in this application if you are managing servers.

The last step is to make sure that all of the other bonus features are on par with what you are looking for. For example, the ability to pause uploads, a built-in text editor, or even encrypt files directly from the app. All of these features should be taken into account before downloading the software.

Last but not least, you should consider the price. If your budget is limited, you might want to go for a free, open-source option that has fewer features but does not break your wallet. While FTP\FTPS\SSH file transfer protocols are supported for free, PRO versions usually provide more functionality, such as the ability to work with WebDAV, Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox and transfer files and archives between remote servers and cloud services. So, if you are someone who enjoys premium apps and wants to get the best possible experience, you might want to take a look at the ones that come with a price tag.

Having a reliable FTP client is essential for managing your websites effectively. Feel free to check out our complete list of the best tools that streamline file management and transfers and give Mac users the ability to take full control of WordPress websites.

Commander One is the best option for every Mac user or developer that wants to have a reliable, fast, and safe connection to FTP servers. The dual-panel functionality makes it extremely easy to access your FTP data and manage it however you want. It’s a great way to access and delete, rename, move, or copy files and folders for complete control over data stored on remote servers.

The Commander One's - Mac FTP client - window is opened

In addition to FTP, Commander One also handles FTPS and SFTP protocols, and also serves as a WebDAV client, allowing users to work with files on servers. Another thing worth noting is software’s support for various archive formats, including RAR, ZIP, 7Z, and JAR.

Besides that, you get support for hotkeys that makes it very easy to perform any action. Furthermore, the Command line bar gives you even more control over files and allows you to write commands without having to launch Terminal.

Pros

Offers support for numerous cloud storage services integration
Reliable search function and excellent folder customization
Dual panel for convenient navigation
Support for multiple connection types
Awesome FTP client for Mac with intuitive UI
Supports different archive formats

Cons

To access most features, you should upgrade to the paid version

Versions: Free and PRO. Commander One PRO is available for downloading from the website and the Mac App Store. The website version of Commander One PRO costs $29.99.

User review:

“Commander One is a high-quality file manager that is designed specifically for Mac systems. The design of the app is intuitive, and the UI is aesthetically pleasing.” — nickccal, Reddit

➡️ Detailed instructions on how to use FTP on Mac.

With this FTP client for Mac, you can transfer files really fast. It has many powerful features, including folder synchronization. Transmit perfectly integrates into the Mac environment, which allows Mac users to learn it quickly and flawlessly use it.

The Transmit Mac FTP client's window is opened

Pros

Great responsiveness
Multiple connection types support offered

Cons

Available for Mac only
The paid plan is expensive compared to competitors
Timeouts occurring occasionally

Versions: Free trial version. Transmit is available through the website for $45 (one-time purchase) and from the Mac App Store for a subscription pricing of $24.99/year.

User review:

“Transmit for remote work (works locally too but remote work is where it shines).” — Angelus230, Reddit

Forklift is another great option that lets you connect to remote servers via FTP, SFTP, Amazon S3, WebDAV, SMB, NIS, AFP. It is a two-pane manager in the style of Finder with support for QuickLook and Spotlight, folder synchronization, archive management, batch renaming, application removal tool, file editor on a remote server, etc.

Forklift comes with a free trial version so that you can test its features and functionality and decide whether it suits your needs. To continue using the full version, you need to purchase a license. With a Forklift license, you get lifetime access and free software updates for 1 or 2 years.

The Forklift app's window is demonstrated

Pros

Excellent dual-panel operation
Versatile option to sync folders
Batch functions for renaming folders

Cons

Only offers a minimal integration for Terminal
No hotkeys supports

Versions: Free trial version, $19.95 for a lifetime license with 1 year of free updates, $34.95 for a lifetime license with 2 years of free updates.

User review:

“Forklift will allow you to transfer files much more efficiently as they often put system to send multiple files at once and other time saving features.” — r/MacOS, Reddit

Now let’s look at the best cross-platform WordPress FTP clients. These versatile tools make it easy to upload, download, and manage your website files, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow.

CloudMounter is one of the alternative FTP manager options for Mac and Windows you can find on the market right now. It comes with lots of functions and ensures a stable and fast connection for multiple uses. Besides being able to connect to FTP servers for fast transfers and secure use, CloudMounter offers useful features like Finder integration so you can easily manage and modify the stored data.

Furthermore, on top of FTP, this app can handle FTPS and SFTP protocols with the same excellent results. No matter if you do it in a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows, or on Mac, you can always rely on the same top performance. Last but definitely not least, CloudMounter adds another layer of security on your FTP connection through the built-in encryption feature. Thanks to this, you can always rest assured that the data is safe even in the unlikely event of a breach.

The Connections window of the Cloudmounter software is opened

Pros

Drive mounting and Finder integration handled perfectly
Top security features
Seamless User Interface for easy operation

Cons

Some features only available in the premium version

Versions: free, $29.99 for one-year subscription, $74.99 for a lifetime purchase.

User review:

“Cloud Mounter allows you to mount various cloud services and access them through Finder. It’s offered both as sub or one time purchase” — Blackstar1886, Reddit

It is another popular software for Mac and Windows. The app has a user – friendly interface, supports FTP/ FTPS, SFTP connections and offers a variety of other settings and features. However, it is worth mentioning that along with FileZilla adware software is usually installed. Nevertheless, the great advantages of this app are the presence of a quick connection button with FTP as well as filters to facilitate the searches.

FileZilla application is shown

Pros

Supports FTP, SFTP, and FTPS multiple connections
Advanced filtering features
Synced directory browsing

Cons

A convoluted interface that can be harder to handle by casual users

Versions: free, €24.99/3 years for FileZilla Pro for macOS, $24,99/3 years for FileZilla Pro for Windows/Linux.

User review:

“For big transfers, like entire webhosts or systems I switch to FZ, whenever the transfer is complete I switch back to WinSCP to do my actual work like editing files.” — loganmacoy, Reddit

Cyberduck is one more FTP program users would definitely love. It is open source, meaning users are able to write, maintain, improve, and distribute the software. Cyberduck can be downloaded from the official website for free, and you can optionally make a donation to the developers as well. For added convenience, it is also available for purchase on both the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store, giving users flexible access to its features.

The app works with servers that support connection via FTP, SFTP, S3, Backblaze B2, Azure or WebDAV. Any data is moved in the usual way of drag and drop. Besides, it can be easily integrated into a text editor.

The Cyberduck app's FTP connection menu is selected

Pros

Streamlined and efficient UI
Lots options for connections
Offers access to network server history

Cons

Only delivers a single-panel view

Versions: Free, but you can become a contributor by making a minimum payment of $10. Cyberduck is also distributed through the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store and can be purchased for $29.99.

User review:

“I’ve been trying Cyberduck, and it seems clean and nice. And opening files for remote edit is easier. But it’s not dual pane, so it’s more cumbersome to use when you have multiple FTP servers associated with multiple local folders.” — douglerner, Reddit

➡️ Check the Cyberduck alternative for Mac

Finally, we provide you with a list of FTP clients designed specifically for Windows. All the solutions reviewed below are feature-rich and will help you easily manage site via FTP and optimize your WordPress experience.

SmartFTP is one more powerful program for transferring files between a local computer and a server on the Internet via FTP. It is compact, safe and highly reliable. SmartFTP can be rather efficient when publishing and maintaining websites, uploading and downloading images, documents, etc., sharing files between friends and colleagues, creating backup copies of local or remote files.

The SmartFTP application is launched

Pros

Wide protocol support: FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, etc.
Ability to schedule transfers
Comes with Integrated Editor
Automatic reconnection and resumption of interrupted transfers

Cons

Expensive; the price of full-featured software starts from $99.95

Versions: Free trial, $99.95 for a Professional Edition, $149.95 for an Ultimate Edition, $379.95 for an Enterprise Edition

User review:

“SmartFTP allows me to use 30 segments for my downloads so that I can reach my max home speed for downloading.”
— ieatsushi, Reddit

Although it’s only an FTP client for Windows, WinSCP comes with some unique features such as the ability to edit text directly on the server through its integrated text editor, an interface similar to Windows File Explorer, and is even available in most popular languages.

WinSCP is absolutely free and even supports synchronization with other protocols such as FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV, or S3.

The WinSCP utility and its two-panels interface is demonstrated

Pros

Supports a large array of protocols
Ability to edit texts directly on the server

Cons

Updated infrequently

Versions: Free

User review:

“I’ve used it for years. Seems safe and Malware Bytes doesn’t say anything when it’s installed and run.”
— loorana22, Reddit

To easily perform all the necessary operations when creating a website, it is definitely better to use an FTP client. To find the right one for Mac, Windows, or cross-platform, try a few from our list.

Hot features	Commander One	Transmit	ForkLift	CloudMounter	FileZilla	Cyberduck	SmartFTP	WinSCP
Friendly User Interface
Support for Drag-and-Drop Functionality
Keyboard Shortcuts
Encryption Support
Rename and modify files on the server in real time
Folders Sync
Operations Queuing
Support for SFTP Connections
WebDAV Support					In PRO version
Cloud Connections Support					In PRO version
Auto-reconnect in Case Connection is Lost
Multiple Languages
Price	$29.99	$45	$29.95	$44.99	Free / PRO $20	Free/$10	$99.95	Free

Undoubtedly, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) technology is still in widespread use today. This technology was first released 51 years ago, but the industry is still using and improving this technology year after year and developers are still choosing FTP to connect to various files hosted online.

Google Trends chart

Widely adopted throughout the world, FTP continues to maintain its dominance. Using FTP clients is one of the best and most effective ways to access your server, and fortunately, these tools are becoming more sophisticated and user-friendly.

Related queries in the Google Trends

The FTP protocol remains relevant and popular in 2024 and will continue to be used in the future. It has all the features needed for a smooth interaction with WordPress sites and other CMS systems, and offers the security required by casual users. In this article, we’ve presented the best WordPress FTP solutions for Mac and Windows users, detailing the features of each option. We hope our recommendations will help you narrow down the list of FTP clients and make the right choice.