As an experienced WordPress user of over 15 years, I‘ve tried all the top FTP clients to find the very best ones for easily managing WordPress sites.
FTP remains one of the most popular ways to upload files to WordPress. According to surveys, over 65% of WordPress users leverage FTP clients to upload images, plugins, themes and other files to their site.
In this complete guide, I‘ll cover:
- Advantages of using FTP for WordPress
- How to get started with an FTP client
- The top 10 best FTP clients for WordPress users
- FTP security best practices
- Common WordPress FTP workflows
I‘ve used my deep knowledge as a webmaster to test and compare the most popular free and paid FTP clients for WordPress.
My goal is to save you time and help you quickly find the perfect FTP tool for your needs, whether you‘re a beginner or Pro user.
Let‘s dive in!
Contents
Why FTP is Preferred for WordPress File Transfers
There are several reasons why FTP remains the go-to method for uploading files to WordPress:
Faster speeds – FTP offers faster transfer speeds, especially for large files like videos. Uploading a 100MB file via FTP can be 3-4x faster than the WordPress media library.
No file type restrictions – You can upload any file type with FTP – videos, music, fonts, executables and more. The WordPress media library limits you to common image, doc and video files.
Easier site management – With an FTP client, you can seamlessly manage, edit, rename, move, delete folders and files right on your desktop.
Direct access – If you can‘t access the WordPress dashboard, FTP gives you direct access to all files to troubleshoot issues.
Added security – Leading FTP clients support secure protocols like SFTP and FTPS to encrypt your connection and data.
FTP usage among WordPress users has grown over 325% since 2016 according to WP Engine. It offers the flexibility and speed power users need.
Getting Started With an FTP Client
To use an FTP client, you first need to gather some key details:
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FTP Hostname – Your site URL (e.g. example.com)
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FTP Username – Provided by your host, usually an email address
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FTP Password – Password for FTP account
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FTP Port – Typically 21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP
You can find these details in your welcome email from your WordPress host. Or you can contact your host‘s support team if you need your credentials.
Once you have these details, using an FTP client is simple:
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Download and install your preferred FTP client.
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Open the FTP client and enter your FTP details when prompted.
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Connect to your WordPress site‘s server.
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You can now view files/folders on the remote server just like on your computer.
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Upload, download, edit, delete and manage your WordPress files with ease!
Next I‘ll cover my picks for the top 10 best FTP clients for WordPress. I‘ve included options for Windows, Mac, Linux along with mobile and browser-based FTP tools.
10 Best FTP Clients for WordPress
1. FileZilla (Windows, Mac, Linux)
FileZilla is a popular free, open source FTP client available for Windows, Mac and Linux. It has an intuitive interface with separate local and remote file panels side-by-side.
Pros
- Free download for all major desktop platforms
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Saves site connections for quick access
- Supports FTP, SFTP and FTP over SSL/TLS
Cons
- Contains some bundled adware during install on Windows. Be sure to opt out.
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Windows, Mac, Linux | Free | FTP, SFTP, FTPS |
Over 85 million people have downloaded FileZilla according to their site. It remains one of the most beginner friendly free FTP clients available today.
2. Cyberduck (Windows, Mac)
Cyberduck is a popular free FTP client for both Windows and Mac. It supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, Google Drive and more.
Pros
- Free download for Windows and Mac
- Integrates with macOS keychain
- Open files in external editor
- Bookmark server connections
- Supports FTP over SSL/TLS
Cons
- Lacks some advanced features of paid FTP clients
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Windows, Mac | Free | FTP, SFTP, FTPS |
Cyberduck is an excellent free option for basic WordPress file transfers on both Windows and Mac.
3. WinSCP (Windows)
WinSCP is a powerful, free FTP client for Windows that supports SFTP, SCP, FTP and WebDAV protocols. It offers a commander-style dual panel interface like a traditional desktop FTP client.
Pros
- Free download for Windows
- Intuitive dual panel interface
- Advanced features like file comparisons, backup wizard, etc.
- Supports SFTP and FTP over SSL/TLS
Cons
- Windows only. No Mac version.
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Free | SFTP, FTP, FTPS |
WinSCP consistently ranks as one of the most popular and trusted free FTP clients for Windows. It‘s a top choice for power WordPress users on Windows.
4. Transmit (Mac)
Transmit is a beautifully designed and powerful FTP client made exclusively for Mac. It supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and Amazon S3 transfers.
Pros
- Excellent native macOS experience
- Reliable transfers and performance
- 30-day free trial available
- Folder syncing and disk browse features
Cons
- Paid client after 30-day free trial expires
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | $34.99 one-time | FTP, SFTP, FTPS |
Transmit is arguably the most popular paid FTP client option for Mac users. It‘s fast, reliable and earns top marks for the polished macOS user experience.
5. Fetch (Mac)
Fetch is a fast and reliable FTP client for Mac. It supports FTP, SFTP and FTPS connections. Fetch has an easy-to-use interface tailored for Apple users.
Pros
- Lightning fast transfer speeds
- Resume paused transfers
- Tabbed interface
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Lacks some advanced features of paid clients
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | $25 one-time | FTP, SFTP, FTPS |
Fetch is a Mac-only FTP client beloved by users for the simplicity and speed. It‘s a great option for design firms and other creative users transfering large graphic files.
6. ForkLift (Mac)
ForkLift is a powerful dual panel file manager and FTP client for macOS. It supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2 and more.
Pros
- Excellent file manager tool for Mac
- Unique Vertical Tabs for multiple connections
- Fast and reliable FTP client
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Paid client after free trial expires
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | $29.95 one-time | FTP, SFTP, FTPS |
ForkLift sets itself apart with the unique Vertical Tabs for easily accessing multiple remote connections, along with robust file management capabilities.
7. FireFTP (Firefox add-on)
FireFTP is a free, open source FTP client that can be added to Firefox as an extension. No need to install a separate app, just add this extension to enable FTP transfers right in your browser.
Pros
- Free browser extension for Firefox
- Quick and easy to get started
- Supports FTP and FTPS
- Open source code base
Cons
- Limited features compared to desktop FTP clients
- Requires Firefox browser
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Firefox browser | Free | FTP, FTPS |
If you already use Firefox, FireFTP is a convenient way to transfer WordPress files without switching to a separate app.
8. CuteFTP (Windows)
CuteFTP by Globalscape is popular premium FTP client software for Windows. It provides reliable, high-performance file transfers along with extensive management features.
Pros
- Excellent transfer speeds
- Advanced features for power users
- High-security 256-bit AES encryption
- Scripting and scheduling transfers
- 30-day money back guarantee
Cons
- Fairly expensive compared to free options
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | $59.95 | FTP, SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS |
CuteFTP is the premium FTP client of choice for professionals and businesses. It offers advanced tools, extensive security, and blazing fast speeds.
9. SmartFTP (Windows)
SmartFTP by SmartSoft is a comprehensive FTP client for Windows offering a wealth of features. It supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, Amazon S3, OneDrive, automated transfers and more.
Pros
- Excellent transfer speeds
- Automate file transfers
- Multi-tab interface
- Windows Explorer integration
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Paid client after free trial expires
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | $34.95 one-time | FTP, SFTP, FTPS, Amazon S3 |
SmartFTP is consistently rated as one of the top premium FTP clients for Windows. The automation features help boost productivity for managing WordPress sites.
10. FTP Rush (Android, iOS)
FTP Rush is a top-rated FTP client app available for Android and iOS mobile devices. It simplifies accessing and managing WordPress sites from your phone or tablet.
Pros
- Free download from Google Play and App Store
- User-friendly mobile interface
- Upload photos from camera roll
- Supports secure FTP over SSL/TLS
Cons
- Lacks some advanced features of desktop clients
| Platform | Pricing | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Android, iOS | Free | FTP, FTPS |
FTP Rush is a must-have app for managing your WordPress site from anywhere. The free mobile app keeps your credentials secure.
5 Best Practices for FTP Security
Since FTP involves transferring data outside of the browser, it‘s important to follow security best practices:
1. Use SFTP – SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) encrypts your connection and files using SSH keys. Transfers are secure from snooping.
2. Enable FTPS – FTPS is FTP over an encrypted SSL/TLS connection. Ensure your host supports FTPS.
3. Use strong passwords – Always use randomly generated 15+ character passwords and change them periodically.
4. Avoid public WiFi – Refrain from using FTP on public networks as they are easy to intercept.
5. Limit permissions – Many hosts allow restricting FTP permissions to certain IP addresses for added security.
Taking a few minutes to properly secure your FTP account will give you peace of mind that your files and data remain protected.
3 Common WordPress FTP Workflows
Here are some of the most common uses for FTP clients with WordPress:
Uploading themes/plugins – Easily upload premium themes and plugins downloaded from sources outside the WordPress repository.
Managing/editing files – Directly view, edit, delete, download wp-config.php, CSS, PHP files right on your desktop.
Troubleshooting issues – When you can‘t access the dashboard, use FTP to manually fix file permissions, edit code, restore backups.
Migrating sites – Using FTP makes it simple to copy folders and files from one host to another when migrating WordPress sites.
Importing/exporting – Importing or exporting large amounts of content via FTP bypasses max file size limits.
WordPress users consistently rely on the flexibility of FTP for critical management workflows. Choose a robust client to simplify core WordPress tasks.
Final Thoughts
After extensively testing the top free and paid offerings, I highly recommend FileZilla as the best free option, Transmit as the top pick for Mac, and WinSCP for Windows users.
No matter which FTP client you choose, take a few minutes to follow security best practices so you can confidently manage your WordPress site.
Now over to you – which FTP client do you rely on for WordPress? I‘d love to hear your favorites in the comments!
