During a recent discussion on how to upload files to WordPress using FTP, one of our users requested recommendations for FTP clients suitable for both Windows and Mac operating systems.
Fortunately, there are numerous free and paid FTP clients available to choose from. In this article, we have carefully selected some of the best FTP clients for WordPress beginners. Our aim is to identify the most dependable, secure, and user-friendly FTP tools for all your WordPress file editing and uploading needs.
What is an FTP Client and Why is it Necessary?
An FTP client is a desktop application that connects your computer to your WordPress hosting account, allowing you to upload files from your computer to your WordPress site using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). With an easy-to-use graphical user interface, you can perform various FTP functions, including copying, uploading, deleting, renaming, and editing files/folders on your WordPress site.
While it is not mandatory to install an FTP client to use WordPress, it can be beneficial in quickly resolving common WordPress errors when you are unable to access the WordPress admin area.
What are the Steps to Utilize an FTP Client?
To connect to your WordPress site, you will require a FTP username and password. This information can be obtained from the email you received when you initially created your blog and registered for a web hosting account. Alternatively, you can retrieve this information from your web hosting cPanel dashboard or by contacting support, who will email it to you.
After obtaining this information, you can proceed to connect to your website. Begin by launching your FTP client and inputting your FTP username, password, host (typically your website address, such as wpbeginner.com), and then clicking on the connect button.
The host typically refers to the URL of your website, such as wpbeginner.com.
If you leave the port field blank, your FTP client will connect using the plain FTP protocol on port 21.
To connect to your server using SFTP, which encrypts information before sending it to your web server and reduces the risk of hackers stealing your FTP password or sniffing on information, you can use port 22.
For more information, you can refer to our guide on how to use FTP to upload files to WordPress.
With that being said, let’s explore some of the best FTP clients available for WordPress users on various platforms.
Top FTP Clients for WordPress Users
Numerous FTP clients, both paid and free, are accessible for various platforms and operating systems, all of which offer user-friendly interfaces and additional features to facilitate the editing of WordPress files.
1. WinSCP
WinSCP is a user-friendly and robust FTP client designed for Windows users. Although the interface may appear cluttered, it is actually straightforward to master.
The left-hand side displays your computer files, while the right-hand side shows your server files. Simply select a file to download, upload, or modify.
WinSCP offers advanced features for experienced users, including support for SFTP, SSH, and traditional FTP. Managing files and assigning default editors is a breeze with WinSCP.
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
2. Cyberduck
CyberDuck is a user-friendly FTP client that caters to both novice and expert users.
It is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems. Unlike other cross-platform applications, CyberDuck seamlessly integrates with the native Mac environment. It also supports Mac-specific features such as storing login credentials in keychain and locating files in Finder.
With CyberDuck, you can easily choose your preferred code editor and open files for editing with just a click.
Platform: Windows, Mac
Price: Free
3. Transmit
Transmit is a highly favored FTP client for Mac, especially among web developers, due to its impressive range of features such as folder syncing, disk feature, and faster speeds.
Transmit seamlessly integrates into the native Mac environment, making it easy for Mac users to learn and use. You can add your Transmit shortcuts to Finder as favorites for quick access.
It supports SSH, SFTP, FTP, and FTPs connections, and also includes a tidy code editor for efficient file edits.
Platform: Mac
Price: Free, with a paid version available for $34.
4. Free FTP
Coffee House’s Free FTP is a well-liked FTP client for Windows users, known for its user-friendliness and ease of use. It supports FTP, SFTP, and FTPS, and seamlessly integrates into your operating system. Additionally, it has a handy history feature that remembers where you saved your files.
For users seeking additional features, Coffee House offers a paid version called Direct FTP. This version includes a code editor, autocompletion, image viewer, and more.
Platform: Windows
Price: Free, Paid version for $39
5. FileZilla
FileZilla is a well-known FTP client that is available for free on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
It is considered to be one of the most user-friendly FTP clients available. However, it has been ranked fifth on our list due to reports from Windows users that adware or spyware may be included in the FileZilla downloads.
While users can opt-out of adware during installation, beginners may miss this option and inadvertently install adware on their computer.
Experienced users can download FileZilla from the official website, while Linux users can find it in their distro’s official repositories.
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Price: Free
6. WS_FTP Professional
WS_FTP Professional is a widely used FTP client for Windows that is available for purchase. It provides top-notch security features such as SSH, 256-bit AES, FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography, and OpenPGP file encryption for transfers.
This software also includes advanced features like file search, drag and drop transfers, faster speeds, and scheduled transfers.
Platform: Windows
Price: Starting at $49.95