As such, you’re more likely to use one of two related protocols, FTPS or SFTP. That was a bad idea in the 80s and it’s a much worse idea today given how sophisticated cybercrime has become. While clients mentioned in this article are often called FTP clients, FTP is actually outdated, mainly because it sends data in plain text.

Once the connection is established, the client can upload files to the server, download files from it and perform various other operations like deleting and moving files around. The server listens for connection requests while the client initiates the connection. In FTP communications, there are two endpoints: an FTP server and a client computer. The key to understanding what FTP is lies in the initials, which stand for “file transport protocol.” It’s a commonly used communication protocol, or set of rules computers use to communicate with each other over a TC/ICP network (like the internet). First, let’s talk about file transfer protocols in general and take a look at how we made our selections. While our favorite overall service is the popular - and free - Cyberduck, for those with a little money to spend, CloudBerry Explorer Pro offers an even greater range of features and a more satisfying user experience, overall. In addition to moving files, the best clients also sport a range of features from directory comparisons to file encryption. Traditionally known as FTP clients, some software options today have long moved beyond that early protocol to support not only FTPS and SFTP, but WebDAV and API connections to cloud services like Amazon S3, Google Cloud and Rackspace Cloud Files. Below, we detail our picks for uploading and downloading files in bulk between local computers and cloud servers. If you’re searching for the best file-transfer clients on the market today, you’ve landed in the right place. MP4 Repair: How to Fix Corrupted Video Files in 2019.Best Choice Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery.How to Create a Strong Password in 2022: Secure Password Generator & 6 Tips for Strong Passwords.How to Securely Store Passwords in 2022: Best Secure Password Storage.

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