Cyberduck vs FileZilla (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cyberduck grades higher than FileZilla: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cyberduck grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Cyberduck
Server and cloud storage browser for Mac and Windows
FileZilla
Free FTP, FTPS and SFTP client, with a paid Pro tier for cloud storage
Which one is for you
Pick Cyberduck if
- Fits if you move files to FTP, SFTP or S3 on a Mac or Windows PC
- Works for people who want one free client for several cloud drives
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want remote storage to show up as a disk in Finder or Explorer, because that is Mountain Duck, sold separately
- Not for you if you run Linux, iOS or Android, as the site lists none
- Watch out: free copies show a donation prompt after install and after updates until you register a key
- Watch out: the Mac App Store version is $23.99 and replaces the donation
Pick FileZilla if
- Fits if you only need a free graphical FTP or SFTP client for uploading site files
- Works for people who already have a server login and want a queue that resumes after a drop
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to reach Amazon S3, Google Drive or OneDrive, which needs FileZilla Pro
- Not for you if you need a phone or web version, as it runs only on computers
- Watch out: Pro prices are in euros as 'starting at', with no billing period shown, and the FAQ calls it a subscription
- Watch out: the Pro command-line tool is Windows only, and FileZilla Server is a separate product
How we grade them
| 3.0GPACyberduckVery good | 2.8GPAFileZillaGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe direct download is free and a donation of $10 or more removes the prompt, which is under 60% of what this category's cheaper quarter charges. The Mac App Store copy is $23.99. | AThe client is free and open source with no price. Pro starts at 12,99 € but is only for cloud storage, and the page shows no billing period. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree to download and use with no cap listed. The cost is a donation prompt after installing or updating, until you register a key. | AThe free client does the whole FTP, FTPS and SFTP job with no cap on it. A 7-day trial applies only to Pro bought through the Microsoft Store or App Store. |
| Features | BFTP, SFTP, WebDAV, SMB, S3, Backblaze, Azure and the main cloud drives, with connection profiles and Cryptomator vaults. Mounting remote storage as a disk is the separate Mountain Duck. | CQueue, resume, Site Manager and master password. The gap is on the listing itself: cloud storage connections and settings sync are Pro only, and the Pro command-line tool is Windows only. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You add each server or account yourself, though the vendor publishes profiles that cut the typing. | CNo store rating is on record. You still have to enter server addresses and logins for every site before you can move a file. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Windows desktop apps and a command-line version. The site lists no Linux, iPhone or Android app. | CWindows, Mac and Linux, but nothing for phones or the web. Pro connects to cloud services, which the free client does not. |
| Best for | moving files to servers and cloud storage on Mac or Windows | free FTP and SFTP transfers on Windows, Mac and Linux |
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: Cyberduck and FileZilla. How we grade
Where they differ
- FileZilla is open source, according to its own site.
- Cyberduck also covers file sharing.
At a glance
| Cyberduck | FileZilla | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free; $10 minimum donation for a registration key | 12,99 € for FileZilla Pro (starting at; billing period not shown) |
| Free plan | The direct download is free; it shows a donation prompt after installing or updating. | The free client handles FTP, FTPS and SFTP; cloud storage needs FileZilla Pro. |
| Free trial | None listed | 7-day trial when bought through the Microsoft Store or App Store |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | iterate GmbH | FileZilla Project |
| Price read from | cyberduck.io | filezillapro.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cyberduck
- Free copies show a donation prompt after install and after updates until a key is registered.
- Mac and Windows only; the site lists no Linux, iOS or Android app.
- Mounting remote storage as a local disk is a separate product, Mountain Duck.
FileZilla
- Pro prices are shown in euros as "starting at" with no billing period; confirm at checkout.
- Cloud storage connections are in FileZilla Pro only, not the free client.
- The Pro command-line tool is Windows only, and FileZilla Server is a separate product.
- The vendor's own project pages block automated reads, so the free-client facts come from its wiki.
Key features
Cyberduck
- Many storage types
- Connects to FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and SMB servers, plus Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Azure, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and OneDrive.
- Connection profiles
- The vendor publishes connection profiles for popular hosting and storage providers so setup needs fewer manual settings.
- SFTP key support
- SFTP supports public key and two-factor authentication, and it can read settings from an existing OpenSSH configuration.
- Cryptomator vaults
- Creates client-side encrypted vaults that are interoperable with Cryptomator, for use on any server or cloud storage.
- Share links and versions
- For services such as Nextcloud and ownCloud, creates share links and lets you view and revert earlier file versions.
- Command-line companion
- A command-line version and the separate Mountain Duck app, which mounts remote storage as a disk, are listed on the site.
FileZilla
- FTP, FTPS and SFTP
- The free client connects to traditional servers and NAS devices over these three protocols.
- Cloud storage in Pro
- Pro reaches Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Backblaze B2, Azure and WebDAV, among others.
- Transfer queue
- Queue files for transfer, then stop and resume at will; transfer speed can be adjusted.
- Site Manager
- Organize sites and bookmarks; Pro can also synchronize Site Manager data across installations.
- Master password
- Stored passwords can be protected with a master password.
Plans
Cyberduck
Direct download$0
Free to download and use. A donation prompt appears after installing or updating.
Contributor$10
minimum donation, paid once
A donation of at least $10 gets a personal registration key that turns off the donation prompt.
Mac App Store$23.99
one-time purchase
The store version for Mac, sold in place of a donation. Requires macOS 10.13 or later.
FileZilla
FileZilla Client$0
Free and open source for Windows, Linux and macOS; FTP, FTPS and SFTP only.
Pro, single device12,99 €
starting at; billing period not shown
Adds cloud services; one device, sold per operating system. The FAQ calls it a subscription.
Pro + CLI24,99 €
starting at; billing period not shown
Pro for one Windows device plus the command-line tool for automation.
Pro, multiple devices29,99 €
starting at; billing period not shown
For one user on up to 3 devices across Windows, macOS and Linux.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cyberduck or FileZilla?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cyberduck starts at Free; $10 minimum donation for a registration key, and FileZilla starts at 12,99 € for FileZilla Pro (starting at; billing period not shown).
Which has a free plan, Cyberduck or FileZilla?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cyberduck and FileZilla have a free plan.
Which platforms do Cyberduck and FileZilla run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only FileZilla lists a Linux app. Both list macOS and Windows apps. 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.