If you’re a website owner, you may be on the hunt for reliable, cost-effective FTP software. With no shortage of FTP software programs available, the search can be overwhelming and confusing even for experienced users.
If you’re looking for a user-friendly, open-source FTP software program, look no further than FileZilla. The software is a powerful tool for not only file transfer protocol, but FTPS and SFTP, as well, and it’s useful for any webmaster regardless of experience with FTP.
1. It’s Free
As a webmaster, you’ve got enough pieces of your website puzzle to spend money on. Why should FTP software be one of them? FileZilla is open-source and freely available.
There is a paid professional version available for users who need more advanced FTP, but the features of the open source version will be more than enough for the average user.
2. Need To Pause? No Problem
Uploading many files or large files can be a hassle, particularly when things go wrong. FileZilla software supports a “resume” feature, which means you can pause the transfer process and come back later to pick up right where you left off.
3. The Interface Is User-Friendly
FileZilla’s interface is designed to be simple and easy to use no matter how experienced you are with FTP software. The user interface is tabbed for easy navigation and multi-tasking. The tabbed interface also means you can move files simultaneously between different servers, speeding up what is usually a tedious process.
FileZilla also supports drag and drop for easier, hassle-free uploading directly from your desktop and bookmarks so you can easily access your most frequently-used features and files. And if you’re less experienced with FTP, FileZilla has your back with a step-by-step network configuration wizard that will help you configure more complex network settings. Finally, the software will store your website’s connection details so you don’t need to enter them every time you log in.
The user interface isn’t the only thing designed with the user in mind. There is a full range of support available through online forums, a dedicated Wiki, and a bug and feature request tracker. There’s also a development section with documentation available on the software’s website.
If you have multiple users, the software supports group and individual permissions so you can easily delegate tasks to others.
4. It Works For Anyone
Tired of searching for software specifically for a Mac or a PC? FileZilla is compatible on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, BSD, and more, so you’ll never need to worry about the software working across different operating systems. It’s also available in multiple languages (forty-seven to be exact, including right-to-left languages).
5. Error-Free and Hassle-Free FTP
FileZilla has a remote file editing feature, which means you can quickly edit a file on the server without having to download it, edit it, and re-upload it later. There’s also a directory comparison to compare the server and local versions of your files.
If there’s a difference in file size or name, FileZilla will highlight that file so you can quickly identify discrepancies and ensure that you have the most up-to-date versions of your files on your server.
When you’re uploading your files, you can configure the transfer speed to prevent transfer errors. Finally, the software supports a keep-alive feature, which will send a command to the server if the connection has been idle for too long.
6. It Handles Large Files
Uploading large files is always touch and go. The software supports files of four gigabytes and larger, so you can rest assured that your files will get to where they need to be with no hassle and no stress.
7. The Critics Love It
You don’t have to take our word for how much FileZilla rocks. Users of the software are constantly singing its praises. It was chosen by Ars Technica as a recommended software download.
Plus, GoDaddy, Clarion University, and National Capital FreeNet all recommend the software for uploading files to web hosting services. CNET also gave the software it’s highest “spectacular” rating, with five out of five stars.
With so many features, it’s no wonder that FileZilla is quickly becoming the FTP software of choice. For webmasters who have more advanced FTP needs, a Pro version is available with a full suite of features aimed at professional users.
The Pro version of the software supports protocols like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive and is optimized for speed. There is also a companion product called Server, which is an open-source FTP server for webmasters.
FileZilla is a powerful, free, user-friendly software suite that will solve many of your FTP needs no matter how comfortable you are with file transferring. Give it a shot and see what the software can do for you.