The Best FTP Software
Posted on January 17, 2007 by
Adie 
Tools 
13 Comments
I get asked a lot of questions like “What’s the best software for x.” Recently I’ve had a few people email me about my favorite FTP software. For the few of you who may not know, FTP (file transfer protocol) is how you access your web server in order to manage files. You can read more about FTP at Wikipedia.
A lot of you probably know that you can use your default browser as a FTP program, but doing it this way is extremely slow and painful. FTP programs make the whole process a lot easier. So which FTP program do I use? I use SmartFTP.
SmartFTP is a great program with a ton of features. It can be downloaded for free at their website (trial version). You can also purchase the full version at their website, although I’ve been using the free version for about 5 years and have yet to have a problem. The only thing you have to put up with when using the free version is having a little window popup when you launch it asking you to purchase the full version.
The GUI in SmartFTP is very easy to pickup and can be used by even the newest user. Over the years they’ve added a ton of features that make managing your web files a lot easier. For example, when uploading files you can now upload entire folders rather than selecting all of the files you want to be uploaded. This makes installing CMS software a breeze when you don’t have shell access.
Overall SmartFTP is one of the best (if not the best) free FTP programs available. I suggest everyone look it over. Just for the record, this wasn’t a paid post, and I’m not getting commission for recommending this program. I just think it’s a great piece of software that deserves to be mentioned.
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I like filezilla
http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/
We have used Smart FTP since version 1 and recently upgraded from 1.6 to 2.0 and are really impressed with the new GUI. Smoother and actually, excuse the pun, quite web 2.0
So another vote for smart ftp here too.
I just started using FireFTP, a Mozilla Firefox extension that lets you do everything right from your browser. I’d recommend it to anyone that uses Firefox; it’s extremely handy and easy to use.
I second that recommendation on FireFTP…found it a few days ago and really love it.
I still use GoLive for CSS/page layout management. It works well for FTP too.
About a decade ago, CuteFTP was the thing. But when I discovered SmartFTP, that was it. The drag and drop is positively a necessity now, I don’t know how I got along with it.
I have been using FireFTP which is a plugin for Mozilla Firefox. But like Matt said it tends to be really slow and a little sketchy at times since it is web based.
Hmmm nobody has mentioned FlashFXP….wonderful software. Every feature one could desire in an FTP client…atleast i think so! check it out if you want @ http://www.inicom.net/pages/en.ffxp-features.php
and btw, i like this site!
Nobody’s mentioned Filezilla. It’s opensource, (read free) and rocks. It’s super fast, has all the features I want/need, and doesn’t ask me to buy anything, so I don’t feel bad. You can get it at sourceforge.net
THe first comment mentions Filezilla Jason
I like Smart FTP although eventually I may try out filezilla. SOmetims I use the FTP built into Dreamwaver, but not often, mainly becuase i find it to get annoying
Filezilla w00t
I’ve been using ws_ftp forever. Might have to check out this smart ftp, have heard good things about it.
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