Cerberus FTP Server vs Files.com (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Files.com grades higher than Cerberus FTP Server: 2.0 against 1.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Files.com grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Cerberus FTP Server
Windows file transfer server for FTP, FTPS, SFTP and HTTPS
Files.com
Cloud SFTP, managed file transfer and automation platform
Which one is for you
Pick Cerberus FTP Server if
- Fits if you run an on-premises transfer server on Windows
- Works for teams that prefer one flat license over per-user pricing
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you just need basic FTP, at $1,599 a year on Professional
- Not for you if you run Linux or Mac servers, as the server is Windows only
- Too light for sharing links on Professional, because the browser client, SSO and automation are Enterprise
- Watch out: Enterprise Plus has no published price, and the page also shows $1,999 and $4,374 beside the lower figures
Pick Files.com if
- Fits if your job is moving files between partners over SFTP
- Works for an IT team that needs automations and an audit trail
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you just want storage: $199 a month is the starting point
- Tight if you need SSO or a custom domain, as those start on Power at $499
- Watch out: extra users cost $12 each and storage $100 per TB a month
- Watch out: usage is metered, with 1 or 2 TB of monthly storage and transfer included before overage
How we grade them
| 1.4GPACerberus FTP ServerWeak | 2.0GPAFiles.comFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D$1,599 a year works out near $133 a month, far above the category's dearest-tenth line of $29.99. Unlimited users is the reason it is flat, and that is all the listing offers for it. | D$199 a month is well above the category's $16.50 dearest-tenth line, though this is a managed file transfer platform, not personal storage. |
| Free plan and trial | C25-day free trial and no card is needed. Nothing stays free. | C7 days free with no credit card, and no free plan after it. |
| Features | CSeveral transfer protocols, cloud storage backends, automation and audit logs. The browser client, ad hoc sharing, SAML SSO and automation need Enterprise, so the entry tier is plain. | CSFTP, FTP, automation and a web interface, but SSO, a custom domain and the on-premise agent need Power, and the SLA and HIPAA BAA need Enterprise. |
| Ease of use | DYou install and configure a server, with users, certificates and storage to set up. No store rating is on record. | CNo store rating on record, with connections, users and automations to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | DThe server runs on Windows only, with a browser client on Enterprise. No Linux or Mac server. | BWeb only, with an API and 2 integrations listed. |
| Best for | a Windows file transfer server for FTP and SFTP | IT teams moving files over SFTP with automation |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cerberus FTP Server and Files.com. How we grade
Price against what you get
Cerberus FTP Server starts at $133.25 a month when paid by the year and scores 1.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Files.com starts at $174.92 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3.
Files.com scores higher, and starts $41.67 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other file storage and sync services on the chart, 64 score higher than Cerberus FTP Server for less, and 31 score higher than Files.com for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Cerberus FTP Server is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Cerberus FTP Server also covers reports.
At a glance
| Cerberus FTP Server | Files.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $1,599 per year, billed annually | $199 per month, or $2,099 per year |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 25-day free trial, no credit card required | 7-day free trial, no credit card required |
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Cerberus, a Redwood Software product | Files.com |
| Price read from | cerberusftp.com | files.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cerberus FTP Server
- The server application is built for Windows; there is no Linux or Mac server.
- The browser client, ad hoc sharing, SSO and automation need Enterprise or above.
- Enterprise Plus has no published price and is bought through a quote.
- A non-production license for testing or disaster recovery is 50% off on Professional and Enterprise.
Files.com
- Entry pricing starts at $199 a month, which is above typical consumer cloud storage plans.
- Extra users, connections and storage cost extra, such as $12 per full user and $100 per TB a month.
- SSO, a custom domain and the on-premise agent need Power; the SLA and HIPAA BAA need Enterprise.
- Usage is metered: 1 TB or 2 TB of monthly storage plus transfer is included before overage.
Key features
Cerberus FTP Server
- Many transfer protocols
- Serves FTP, FTPS, SFTP, SCP and HTTP/S, and the vendor lists FIPS 140-3 validated cryptography for SSL and SSH.
- No per-user charge
- Every edition allows unlimited user accounts and connections; users come from a built-in manager, Active Directory or LDAP.
- Cloud storage backends
- Virtual directories can point at Amazon S3 or Azure Blob Storage instead of a local disk.
- Automation and retention
- Enterprise adds event-driven transfers and a Folder Monitor that deletes files by age.
- Audit logs
- Logs track client, file and administrator activity; Enterprise adds searchable audit reports by user and date.
Files.com
- SFTP, FTP and WebDAV
- Hosted inbound and outbound endpoints for SFTP, FTP and WebDAV, with an API, CLI and SDKs for scripting.
- Automations and sync flows
- No-code flows move files on a schedule or on a trigger such as an inbound file, email or webhook.
- Share links and inboxes
- Share files with access-controlled links, or collect files from others through inboxes by email or web.
- Web, mobile and desktop apps
- Includes collaborative document editing and preview, plus a desktop drive for file-server replacement.
- Access and security controls
- Role-based access, 2FA, IP allowlisting and password policies on every plan; SSO from Power and SIEM integration at Enterprise.
- Regions and compliance
- Starter stores in one region and Power in one or two. Enterprise uses up to eight, with a HIPAA BAA, DORA addendum and SLA.
Plans
Cerberus FTP Server
Professional$1,599
per year, billed annually
FTP, SFTP and FTPS, unlimited users and connections, 9-5 email and phone support. The page also shows $1,999.
Enterprise$3,499
per year, billed annually
Adds a browser client, ad hoc sharing links, file retention rules, SAML SSO and event automation. The page also shows $4,374.
Enterprise PlusCustom
Quote only. Adds 24/7 severity 1 support, one non-production license and rogue-transfer detection.
Files.com
Starter$199
per month, or $2,099 per year
10 full users, 50 system users, 2 outbound connections and 1 TB of monthly storage plus transfer.
Power$499
per month, or $5,269 per year
20 full users, 100 system users, 5 outbound connections, 2 TB, SSO, on-premise agent, AS2 and GPG.
EnterpriseCustom
Quoted from $10k a year: SLA, HIPAA BAA, multi-region storage and full onboarding.
Ways to pay less
Cerberus FTP Server
- Other savings
Half-price non-production license
Professional and Enterprise customers can add a disaster-recovery, test or development license at a 50% discount at checkout.
Files.com
- Annual discount
12% off with annual billing
The pricing page says annual billing saves 12%, and two- and three-year terms carry volume pricing.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cerberus FTP Server or Files.com?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cerberus FTP Server is cheaper to start with: $133.25 a month when paid by the year, against $174.92 a month when paid by the year for Files.com. Cerberus FTP Server starts at $1,599 per year, billed annually, and Files.com starts at $199 per month, or $2,099 per year.
Which has a free plan, Cerberus FTP Server or Files.com?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Cerberus FTP Server nor Files.com has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Cerberus FTP Server and Files.com run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Cerberus FTP Server lists a Windows app. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.