The best FTP client for Mac to manage hosting files

Work with WordPress site files directly from your Mac with Commander One. Connect via FTP/SFTP to upload themes and plugins, edit configuration files, and transfer files using a fast, intuitive dual-pane interface.
Download Free
4.7 based on 1,103 user reviews
Apple and Intel Optimized for both Apple silicon and Intel
Approved by Christian Ghisler as Total Commander for Mac
Commander One FTP connections and dual-panel file manager

Where Generic FTP Clients Fall Short for WordPress

Most traditional FTP clients often lack features tailored to WordPress development. Here's how these limitations can slow down your workflow.

No dual-pane navigation

No dual-pane navigation

Switching between local folders and your FTP server takes extra time and makes it harder to keep track of your work.
Commander One's dual-pane interface displays local and server files side by side, making it easy to navigate both locations and transfer files.
Limited server-side search

Limited server-side search

Need to find a specific plugin file or code snippet in /wp-content/? With many FTP clients, you have to navigate folders manually to locate what you need.
Commander One lets you search directly on your FTP/SFTP server by filename, file content, or RegEx pattern — without downloading files to your Mac.
Extra steps to extract archives

Extra steps to extract archives

Installing a .zip theme with a standard FTP client often requires several steps: download the archive to your Mac, extract it using another app, and upload the unpacked folder to your server.
Commander One has a built-in archiver that lets you extract ZIP, RAR, and 7z archives directly on your FTP/SFTP server.

Work with WordPress Files Using Commander One

Explore common WordPress file management tasks you can perform on your Mac using FTP/SFTP connections.

Upload Theme

Upload Theme

Drag and drop a new theme into /wp-content/themes/. Extract archives directly on the server.
Edit wp-config.php

Edit wp-config.php

Edit configuration files directly on your server. Update database credentials, debug settings, or security salts without downloading.
Deploy Plugins

Deploy Plugins

Upload multiple plugin folders to /wp-content/plugins/ at once — no WP Admin required.
Back up wp-content

Back up wp-content

Copy the entire wp-content folder to your Mac via SFTP, then zip it locally. No server-side compression is needed, so the backup is simpler and puts less load on the server.
Search Server Files

Search Server Files

Locate files in /wp-content/ on your FTP/SFTP server by filename, file content, or RegEx pattern. Find what you need without downloading anything to your Mac.
Manage .htaccess

Manage .htaccess

Make hidden files visible, open and edit .htaccess, and manage redirects and server rules directly — no cPanel needed.
Fix File Permissions

Fix File Permissions

Adjust file and folder permissions (chmod) directly on your server to troubleshoot WordPress upload errors and access issues.
Migrate a Site

Migrate a Site

Move your entire WordPress installation from one server to another. Connect to both servers in Commander One and transfer files directly between them.

Essential Features for Managing WordPress via FTP/SFTP

Powerful tools to speed up remote file operations and simplify your workflow on Mac.

Dual-Pane Interface

Dual-Pane Interface

Keep your local files and FTP server side by side. Navigate both, compare their contents, and transfer files without switching windows.
Unlimited tabs per panel
SFTP Support

SFTP Support

Kinsta, WP Engine, and SiteGround all require encrypted SFTP. Connect to any of them quickly and securely.
SSH-2 encryption
Built-in Archiver

Built-in Archiver

Create and extract ZIP, 7z, and TAR.GZ archives, and open RAR files right on the FTP server, with no download needed.
ZIP · RAR · 7z · TAR.GZ
Advanced Search on Server

Advanced Search on Server

Search for files in /wp-content/ directly on the FTP/SFTP server. Find files by name, content, or RegEx without downloading them to your Mac.
RegEx · content search · FTP/SFTP
Terminal Emulator

Terminal Emulator

Run local Mac commands in Commander One’s built-in terminal. No need to switch to Terminal.
Ctrl+O · PRO Pack
File Editor

File Editor

Edit PHP, CSS, JS, and config files in any editor. Save, and Commander One uploads the changes automatically.
F4 to open any file

What users say

MacSources
"Commander One is a very capable application that makes file transfer easy between devices and provides opportunities for more advanced file transfers such as cloud-based systems and FTP services."
Robyn
MacSecurity
"You set up a connection, save it, and then work with the remote side in much the same way as you would with an ordinary folder."
David Balaban
TrustPilot
"The SFTP connection is stable and secure, and transferring files is quick and straightforward. Commander One has become an essential part of my daily workflow, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable and convenient FTP/SFTP client."
Rafal Matkowski
Medium
"For those who rely on the cloud or remote servers, Commander One is a marvel. Built-in FTP client, mounting online storage accounts as local drives, from Dropbox to Google Drive and beyond, the app makes file management effortlessly unified."
Cagri Sarigoz

WordPress FTP Questions, Answered

Yes. Commander One lets you search for files directly on your WordPress server via FTP/SFTP. Find files by name, content, or regular expressions without downloading entire folders to your Mac.

Yes, Commander One supports SFTP, which encrypts your file transfers and login credentials over SSH-2. It works with managed WordPress hosts like Kinsta, WP Engine, and SiteGround. To connect, go to Connections → New Connection → SFTP.

Open Commander One and go to Window → Connections Manager (⌘F). Create a new FTP connection and enter your hosting server address, username, password, and port. Click Connect to access your WordPress files. Your remote files will appear in the right panel.

Commander One includes a built-in terminal emulator that works just like the standard Mac Terminal. To run WP-CLI commands on your server, connect via SSH using your server address and either a password or an SSH key, then enter your commands in the active session.