Cyberduck vs Transmit (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Cyberduck grades higher than Transmit: 3.0 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cyberduck grades higher on value for money, the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
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
Transmit
Mac file transfer app for servers and 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 Transmit if
- Fits if you manage files on web servers or S3 buckets from a Mac
- Works for freelancers who want a one-time purchase
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Tight if you want free, since the trial lasts 7 days
- Watch out: it needs macOS 13.0 or later
- Watch out: the free upgrade from Transmit 4 applies only to purchases made after about June 1, 2017
How we grade them
| 3.0GPACyberduckVery good | 2.2GPATransmitFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | B$45 once, under two years of what this category's middle subscription costs. |
| 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. | CThe download is the full app for 7 days, and the listing doesn't say a card is needed. There is no free plan. |
| 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. | BDual panes, many server types, folder sync, Panic Sync, batch rename and keys. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You add each server or account yourself, though the vendor publishes profiles that cut the typing. | CNo rating on record. You add each server or cloud account yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Windows desktop apps and a command-line version. The site lists no Linux, iPhone or Android app. | DMac only, on macOS 13.0 or later. No Windows, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | moving files to servers and cloud storage on Mac or Windows | moving files to servers and S3 on a Mac |
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 Transmit. How we grade
Where they differ
- Transmit can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| Cyberduck | Transmit | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free; $10 minimum donation for a registration key | $45 one-time |
| Free plan | The direct download is free; it shows a donation prompt after installing or updating. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | The download is the full app and works for 7 days. |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | iterate GmbH | Panic Inc. |
| Price read from | cyberduck.io | panic.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 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.
Transmit
- Runs on macOS 13.0 or later only; there is no Windows or Linux version.
- The free download stops working after 7 days without a purchased unlock code.
- A free upgrade from Transmit 4 applies only to purchases made after about June 1, 2017.
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.
Transmit
- Dual-pane browsing
- Shows local and remote files side by side so you can drag items between them.
- Many server types
- Handles FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and Amazon S3, plus Backblaze B2, Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, Azure and Rackspace Cloud Files.
- File Sync
- Mirrors folders in one click, including local-to-local and remote-to-remote sync, with selectable files.
- Panic Sync
- Syncs your saved servers between your Macs so server addresses do not need retyping.
- Batch rename and tags
- Includes batch rename, a Get Info sidebar, a Places bar and file tags.
- Secure keys
- Generates and manages keys in the app, with 2-factor login and YubiKey support listed.
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.
Transmit
Transmit 5$45
one-time purchase, per copy plus tax
Keep the app permanently with an unlock code. Quantity discounts apply to volume licenses.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cyberduck or Transmit?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Cyberduck starts at Free; $10 minimum donation for a registration key, and Transmit starts at $45 one-time.
Which has a free plan, Cyberduck or Transmit?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Cyberduck has a free plan. Transmit does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Cyberduck and Transmit run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Cyberduck lists a Windows app. Both list a macOS 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.