Get a Maintained FTP, FTPS or SFTP Client from Its Publisher

Download a maintained file-transfer client from its publisher rather than an old software-directory link. Confirm the protocol your hosting service actually provides before entering credentials. SFTP uses SSH; FTPS is FTP protected with TLS; plain FTP does not protect credentials or transferred data in transit.

Publisher sources

• FileZilla Client supports FTP, FTPS and SFTP. Choose Client, not the separate server application, and review the publisher’s download options and installer prompts.
• WinSCP provides Windows file-transfer workflows, including SFTP and FTPS. Use its official installation guidance and verify the actual remote service identity.

These are examples, not a ranked comparison, a universal best choice or a guarantee of account compatibility. Feature, platform and licensing details can change; use the current publisher instructions for your device. The earlier WS_FTP/Tucows suggestion is not a requirement to purchase a client.

Configure the verified service

Obtain the hostname, protocol, port and exact username through the authenticated account or support ticket. For SFTP, verify the server’s SSH host-key fingerprint through an independent trusted channel. For FTPS, require the intended TLS mode and validate the certificate against the supplied hostname. Never bypass a warning or fall back to plain FTP to make a connection succeed.

Use a unique, narrowly scoped account rather than server-root credentials. Protect saved client passwords and exported settings; remove unused access when the task ends. An FTP-only account is not automatically an SSH/SFTP account.

References: FileZilla protocols and WinSCP installation.

Reviewed October 16, 2026. Publisher documentation reviewed; no installer, account login or file-transfer client was executed in this review.