There are plenty of FTP clients available. Choosing the right one is a difficult task. The FTP clients are crucial for a WordPress user or blogger. In many situations, we depend on the FTP clients to transfer files to and from the web disk. The plugin installation using the FTP client is such an example. So, we prepared a list of the best FTP client to choose from. You can use any one of these FTP clients to access your files and manage them based on your needs.
What is an FTP client?
An FTP client is a software application that allows users to access and manage files on a remote server from their local machine. Using an FTP client you will be able to read files, upload new ones, delete the existing ones, change them, manage their permissions, create and move folders, and many more.
While connecting to a server using FTP, you will be asked to provide a hostname (typically the IP address of the server), username, and the password of the user. You can also provide the specific port you want to connect to (given below). Once this information is provided and verified, you will be provided with the structure of your server which you can browse.
FTP Ports List
These are the default ports for each FTP protocol –
| Protocol | Port Number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FTP | 21 | Default port for FTP control/command |
| FTPS | 990 | Default port for FTP over TLS/SSL (implicit FTPS) |
| FTPS | 21 | Default port for FTP over TLS/SSL (explicit FTPS) |
| SFTP | 22 | SSH File Transfer Protocol (not FTP-based) |
| FTP-DATA | 20 | Default port for FTP data transfer |
Best FTP Clients
The selection of the FTP client is based on your requirements and needs. However, to make your decision-making process easier, we have handpicked some for you. These are the best FTP clients according to us –
1. WinSCP
WinSCP is an excellent FTP client that supports a lot of features. The Dashboard contains too many options to manage all your needs. It also supports the SFTP, SSH access for advanced users. With the help of an integrated text editor, you could directly edit the files on your web server without downloading it. Unlike many other FTP clients out there, WinSCP comes with a user-friendly graphical interface that is suitable for even beginners.
Features of WinSCP
- A great graphical user interface
- Integrated text editor
- Translations
- Scripting and task automation
- Command-line interface
2. FireFTP
FireFTP is also a good tool to give a try. It integrates with the Mozilla Firefox browser to provide a better experience on the FTP. The ease to use and the simple mechanisms are the plus points of this basic FTP tool. If you are going to need a pretty basic FTP client without any fancy features but works like a charm in providing all the necessary features that you are expecting to, FireFTP is the one for you.
Features of FireFTP
- Fast FTP transfers
- Pretty good interface
- No bloatwares or functions
- Easy to use and operate
- Very lightweight
Firefox has officially removed FireFTP from their browser and the developer has stopped providing support for the software after 13 years of operation.
3. FileZilla
Filezilla is one of the most popular FTP clients which is chosen by millions of people all over the world. Some of the FileZilla downloads are affected by some spyware which a little lower the popularity of it. But the ease to use and simple interface makes it still a popular one. The interface is pretty good and comes with tons of options to manage your sites and FTP connections. You could establish SSL, SFTP, FTP connections with your websites and pre-add them to the list for easy and quick FTP access.
Features of FileZilla
- Fast data transfer
- Good interface
- Keep-alive
- Tons of customization options
- Remote file editing
4. Transmit (Mac)
Transmit FTP client is available for the Mac to fulfill the FTP needs of the users. The faster transfer rate, folder syncing, disk feature are some of the best features of the Transmit. If you are using Mac and want to access your servers from the Mac itself, Transmit is a good option to go for. The interface is pretty good and has tons of options to make the software your way and transfer files easily.
Features of Transmit
- Fast data transfer
- User friendly interface
- Batch rename
- FTP keys
- Terminal support
5. gFTP (Linux)
gFTP is a Linux based good open-source FTP client that also comes with all the essential features. The Linux integrity of the FTP client makes it create a better bonding between the FTP client and your Linux hosted web server. If you do not want to go for the Linux command line to access, edit, and manage the files on your web server, you could use gFTP on your Linux machines. A pretty awesome FTP client to use whenever you want to manage files on your servers.
Features of gFTP
- Basic features
- Lightweight
- Fast data transfer
- Secure connections
- Different languages
FAQs
Yes, as long as you follow the standard practices and don’t reveal your credentials to others, it is safe to use an FTP client for accessing your WordPress server. Prefer SFTP to FTP though.
You can directly edit files from an FTP client with the default program associated with that certain kind of file. All you have to do is right-click on the file you want to edit > choose View/Edit option > and edit the file from the window that opens up > once you are done with the edits, save it. The FTP client will ask you whether you want to upload and replace the file. Click Yes.