# Suggestions for FTP client?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 10, 2015, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315 "2015-04-10T11:45:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/1 "2015-04-10T11:45:28Z")
I used FileZilla for many years. Now it throws weird errors, repeats uploading files infinitely, complains about SSL and other certificates. And doesn’t do the one thing I need it to do.
I have a trial copy of WebDrive installed on my laptop. It’s rather cool - your remote website is just another drive on your compy.
I have tried CoreFTP, SurfFTP and others I can’t remember. I’d really rather the Mozilla folks just fix FileZilla (and also have it encrypt passwords)
---
### Author:  [@JoshuaSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoshuaSD)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/2 "2015-04-10T12:18:16Z")
I have been using Cute FTP for years with no complaints. It handles all my FTP needs for several web servers each with its own UN Password and such.
You did not ask but I use AndFTP on my Android devices (phone & tablet) and that has been a very good for uploading (photos mostly) directly to my server.
---
### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/3 "2015-04-10T12:40:33Z")
The OP is looking for suggestions and opinions so off to IMHO instead of General Questions.
**samclem** , moderator
---
### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/4 "2015-04-10T12:55:48Z")
I’m still using a copy of FTP Explorer which is copyright 1995-1997. Was free at the time but I guess these days it’s a 30-day trial and then $40 but I guess even forty bucks for a product I’ve used for nearly twenty years isn’t so bad.
I have no idea what your specific needs are. I just use FTPX for connecting to various websites for work and avoiding their (always terrible) web interfaces.
---
### Author:  [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/5 "2015-04-10T14:22:15Z")
CuteFTP has served me well for over a decade. It’s simple, never requires updating, and free.
---
### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/6 "2015-04-10T19:09:33Z")
I used to love BulletProof FTP before FileZilla, but now FileZilla works fine. What exactly is wrong with it for you? What’s the “one thing” it can’t do? Is it worth trying to fix these things, or would you rather just find an alternate client?
---
### Author:  [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/7 "2015-04-10T20:27:44Z")
I believe FileZilla can only be downloaded from Sourceforge. Sourceforge downloads = Malware packages. Put a condom on your computer before you try downloading and installing it.
---
### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/8 "2015-04-10T20:30:43Z")
Anybody use ftp commands in the command line interface? “Dos Mode?” It’s kinda fun.
But Cute FTP is free, so why not?
---
### Author:  [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/9 "2015-04-10T20:48:58Z")
> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> But Cute FTP is free, so why not?
Where is it free? Looks like you can download a free 30-day trial from their site but nothing beyond that.
---
### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/10 "2015-04-10T21:12:35Z")
I use the native FTP from the command line. Sometimes I use Putty, if for some reason I am desperate for a GUI.
---
### Author:  [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/11 "2015-04-10T21:28:58Z")
I switched to WinSCP from FileZilla for one specific reason:
It has clickable file paths.
I got tired of repeatedly clicking the Up One Level button.
In WinSCP you can just click the portion of the path you want and go directly there.
---
### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/12 "2015-04-10T21:31:19Z")
I haven’t had any problems with FileZilla, but then again I usually ignore the prompts to download and install the latest update.
WinSCP is also free and has a .NET library you can hook into if you want to add FTP functionality to a Visual Studio application.
We also use WS\_FTP Pro at work on some projects that require pgp encryption, but unfortunately it is not free.
---
### Author:  [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/13 "2015-04-10T22:15:12Z")
Command line gets to be a problem with lots of CD’s and LCD’s to stay in the same directory.
FileZilla has “Synchronized Browsing” as a (super helpful) option. One of the servers I connect to - IIS8 - gives an error in FileZilla, and the hosting site says:
[[QUOTE=DiscountAsp.net](http://QUOTE=DiscountAsp.net)]
The error you will see in your FTP log will be “550 The supplied message is incomplete. The signature was not verified”. This is an issue with the FileZilla client not the IIS 8 server. The workaround is to use another FTP client such as CoreFTP to connect to our IIS 8 server via FTP over SSL.
[/QUOTE]
CoreFTP might as well be command line. I have Dreamweaver, but I don’t trust it when it synchronizes files both ways.
---
### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/14 "2015-04-11T01:42:29Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#):
>
> Command line gets to be a problem with lots of CD’s and LCD’s to stay in the same directory.
>
> FileZilla has “Synchronized Browsing” as a (super helpful) option. One of the servers I connect to - IIS8 - gives an error in FileZilla, and the hosting site says:
>
> CoreFTP might as well be command line. I have Dreamweaver, but I don’t trust it when it synchronizes files both ways.
Apparently Filezilla blames it on IIS 8. Does the Microsoft hotfix do anything?
> **[FIX: "The supplied message is incomplete" error when you use an FTPS client...](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-the-supplied-message-is-incomplete-error-when-you-use-an-ftps-client-to-upload-a-file-in-windows-0da7e32a-509f-c2d5-7a44-2d1d34ef817a)**
>
> Fixes a problem in which you receive a "Supplied message is incomplete" error message when you use an FTPS client that implements TLS 1.2 to upload a file in Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows...
---
### Author:  [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/15 "2015-04-11T02:04:47Z")
I just use the command line FTP in both Windows and Linux.
---
### Author:  [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/16 "2015-04-11T10:28:49Z")
> [@Reply](#):
>
> Apparently Filezilla blames it on IIS 8. Does the Microsoft hotfix do anything?
> [FIX: "The supplied message is incomplete" error when you use an FTPS client to upload a file in Windows - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2888853)
Wow, apparently my host did apply that MS fix. I’ve up’d and dl’d files with no problem (so far). This is terrific.
I can speak well for the trial of WebDrive. It’s cool to have a remote directory be just like any other directory in the network.
Thanks all, may your PUTs, GETs, CD’s & LCD’s go smooth. Even if you use a gooey GUI. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/17 "2015-04-11T14:01:15Z")
This is where I wish Windows came with rsync, like all the \*nix servers. It’s like a Dropbox built into every folder. Glad you found something that works, though!
---
### Author:  [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/18 "2015-04-11T14:57:17Z")
> [@dataguy](#):
>
> I switched to WinSCP from FileZilla for one specific reason:
> It has clickable file paths.
>
> I got tired of repeatedly clicking the Up One Level button.
> In WinSCP you can just click the portion of the path you want and go directly there.
Thanks for this, just switched to WinSCP from FileZilla because of your suggestion and the clickable path feature you mention.
I can also report that WinSCP will import all of your FileZilla connections, which was an unexpected bonus. I wouldn’t have enjoyed recoding the 50+ FTP server settings I have set up.
---
### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/19 "2015-04-11T16:17:39Z")
> [@RobDog](#):
>
> I wouldn’t have enjoyed recoding the 50+ FTP server settings I have set up.
Wow! Haven’t heard of that since the IRC/warez days. What do you use them for?
---
### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315/20 "2015-04-12T01:26:19Z")
The site I do most of my up- and downloading from no longer accepts ftp but requires sftp. I have started using something called CyberDuck recommended by my dept. sysop. I hate it, but it does work. If I understood the documention I could (he says) link a directory on my home computer with my directory at my office, so that updating one updates the other. ftp was still easier.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-ftp-client/717315.md?page=2)