File Transfer Programs - Freeware & Commercial Versions

If you don't use FrontPage or Dreamweaver to manage your site, then file transfer programs will be a necessary tool for uploading your webpage files to the Internet. Also, file transfer programs are used for FTP sites where no page is ever viewed, but visitors will stop by to download shared files -- such as graphics, executable files, and mp3's.

For full-time web designers, using file transfer programs can be an everyday activity. While freeware FTP software will always meet the needs of the single-site webmaster, developers who manage multiple web domains or FTP sites will need a program with more powerful capabilities. So we've listed both popular freeware file transfer programs for personal website owners, as well as some commercial software for more professional users.

WS-FTP Pro & LE

WS-FTP is the file transfer program that we use for Adams Site. With WS-FTP, you can manage, upload, and update website files, share critical business data, and transfer files between home and office and to and from customers, clients or vendors. The restricted freeware version of WS-FTP (known as WS-FTP Limited Edition or WS-FTP LE) can be used free of charge by all educational users as well as non-profit and non-commercial end-users. Not surprisingly, the Limited Edition release does lack several features found in the commercial 'Pro' package which costs $39.95.

Perhaps the most important of these limitations are the Windows Explorer FTP shell extension support and full drag 'n' drop functionality. The shell extension support allows you to connect to FTP sites and upload/download files using the Windows Explorer, while the drag 'n' drop functionality makes the tedious process of uploading and downloading files much more efficient.

Free 30-day Evaluation Version; $39.95 for Single-User License; Freeware Version Available
WS-FTP from Ipswitch

CuteFTP

CuteFTP is one of the most widely-used file transfer programs available. Since its introduction, two of it's most unique features have been its robust stop and keep alive commands. The stop command, similar in nature to the stop button found on many website browsers, allows a user to stop any operation in progress while still maintaining the connection to the site. The keep alive command helps to ensure accurate transfer of data without interruptions. These features help make CuteFTP one of the most reliable ways to transfer files between your PC and remote computers.

CuteFTP also features WS-FTP's File Manager approach to listing both remote and local directories side-by-side, comprehensive login listings, selectable file viewers and selectable colors, the ability to download/upload complete directories (trees), and the ability to easily send multiple files at one time.

Free 30-day Evaluation Version; $39.95 for Single-User License
CuteFTP from GlobalSCAPE

FTP Voyager

If you like using Microsoft Windows, you'll like FTP Voyager. Many of Windows Explorer's best features have found their way into the FTP Voyager interface, including multiple file display listings (icon, list, and details views), quick sorting on multiple keys (including name, size, type, and date of last modification), right-mouse context menus, quick drag and drop capabilities (including between FTP Voyager and Explorer), and property details for files. Although it doesn't have the market share that either WS-FTP or CuteFTP have, FTP Voyager is just as capable.

The client also offers many critical file transfer features of its own. These include Folder Short Cuts, inclusive/exclusive file filtering capabilities, automatic conversion of file names on transfer, auto-resume capabilities, an Instant Stop feature, a Quick Connect tool, and quick searching capabilities. The Folder Short Cuts is one of FTP Voyager's most distinctive features. It allows you to create special folders that are easily accessible from the root directory even though the link may actually be a directory that is much deeper than the root directory itself.

Free 30-day Evaluation Version; $39.95 / year for Single-User License
FTP Voyager from Rhino Software