If you’re looking for a SFTP client to use for your organization’s file transfers, it might be tempting to go with one that’s free—and bonus points if it’s open source. Often enough, these SFTP clients meet the minimum requirements for most network administrators, they’re easy to install (without taking up much space on your hard drive), and they don’t affect the company’s bottom line.
Attractive, right? It can be, until you look closer.
Free SFTP clients frequently lack the features that make an IT team’s life simple. They require custom scripts to run file transfers, as well as other tools or applications that are needed to make the execution of file transfers a well-rounded process. If something breaks or needs an update, the fixes may not come quickly, and there’s no dedicated support team to help you troubleshoot. This could be fine if you have the time and skills to code a fix... But what if you don’t? Failed file transfers and looming deadlines are a nightmare to deal with, even on good days.
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WinSCP Free SFTP Client
In the search for a proper SFTP client, many network admins stumble across WinSCP SFTP, a free SFTP client for Microsoft Windows. This tool is open source and very minimalistic, a decent option for anyone who needs to meet the bare minimum for file transfers.
However, WinSCP SFTP also requires programmer time to make custom scripts, knowledge of running commands, manual auditing, and use of separate tools (like PuTTYgen) to complete certain business requirements. Additional features and functionality are limited, if they’re available at all.
And what about staying up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity threats? If total security of your data is a concern, don’t entrust the safety of sensitive information to a free product. Open source SFTP clients are rarely able to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to security compliance and regulations.
GoAnywhere MFT SFTP Client
GoAnywhere MFT contains an SFTP client that supports the use of SFTP to secure, automate, and audit file transfers. It also helps guarantee the delivery of SFTP transfers with options to auto-retry connections, auto-resume interrupted file transfers, and perform integrity checks of successful file transfers.
There’s no programmer time or scripting knowledge necessary for GoAnywhere’s SFTP client, and the learning curve is minimal. Customers are provided with a trustworthy support team, a wide variety of helpful documentation and templates, walkthrough videos, extensive webinar recordings, and a self-explanatory product interface that anyone can use, making it easy to implement the client in a short amount of time.
While GoAnywhere MFT isn’t free (we do offer a free FTP client, however), it certainly packs a punch, chock-full of options and features, versatile functionality, frequent updates and enhancements, Advanced Workflows with over 100 usable tasks and resources, and add-on modules that allow you to secure your emails, forms, and folders.
How does GoAnywhere stack up against WinSCP?
Take a look at our SFTP client comparison sheet today, and discover which solution is right for you.
