ExpanDrive vs FileZilla (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, ExpanDrive grades higher than FileZilla: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
ExpanDrive 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.
ExpanDrive
Mounts cloud storage and servers as drives on Mac, Windows and Linux
FileZilla
Free FTP, FTPS and SFTP client, with a paid Pro tier for cloud storage
Which one is for you
Pick ExpanDrive if
- Fits if you want Google Drive, S3 or SFTP showing as a drive on your own machine
- Works for teams of up to 10 who can live on community support
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need Server Edition, the web console or priority support, as those are Business at $29 a month
- Pricey if you're past 10 users: it's $29 a month for each further 10
- Watch out: annual billing is arranged by emailing sales, not chosen on the page
- Not for you if your storage isn't among the 15 services and has no SFTP, FTP or WebDAV endpoint
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
| 3.0GPAExpanDriveVery good | 2.8GPAFileZillaGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree for personal use and for up to 10 users or devices, with every service included. Business is $29 a month for up to 10 users. | 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 | AThe free plan carries all 15 services, offline caching and Finder or Explorer integration, with community support only. | 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 | BOn-demand streaming, offline pinning, FTP, SFTP and WebDAV and a command line tool. Storage outside the 15 services needs an SFTP, FTP or WebDAV endpoint. | 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 | CEach drive needs account details and a connection set up. No store rating is on record. | 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, Windows and Linux, plus Windows Server and Linux for the server edition. Computers only: no phone or web 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 | cloud storage in Finder or Explorer for free | 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: ExpanDrive and FileZilla. How we grade
Where they differ
- FileZilla is open source, according to its own site.
- ExpanDrive also covers file sync and file sharing.
At a glance
| ExpanDrive | FileZilla | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $29 per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly | 12,99 € for FileZilla Pro (starting at; billing period not shown) |
| Free plan | Free for personal use with all 15 cloud services and protocols, and for teams of up to 10 users or devices, with community support. | 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 | Files.com | FileZilla Project |
| Price read from | expandrive.com | filezillapro.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
ExpanDrive
- The free plan covers up to 10 users or devices; past that the Business plan is $29 a month per 10 more.
- Server Edition, the web console and priority support need the Business plan.
- Annual billing is arranged by emailing sales rather than chosen on the page.
- Supports 15 services and protocols, so storage outside that list needs an SFTP, FTP or WebDAV endpoint.
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
ExpanDrive
- Mount any cloud as a drive
- Lists Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox, Box, Backblaze B2, Wasabi and more as drives alongside local folders.
- Stream on demand
- Files are fetched when opened, with local caching, rather than mirrored in full to the disk.
- Offline access
- Pin the files you need offline and let changes sync back once the connection returns.
- FTP, SFTP and WebDAV
- Generic protocol endpoints are supported alongside the named cloud services, for servers that are not on a major cloud.
- Server Edition
- A headless service for Windows Server and Linux that mounts at boot and can re-share a cloud as SMB on Windows.
- Command line control
- The exfs tool lists, mounts and unmounts drives and installs license keys, so it can be scripted.
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
ExpanDrive
Free$0
All 15 services and protocols, offline caching and Finder or Explorer integration. Up to 10 users or devices.
Business$29
per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly
Adds one Server Edition instance, the web management console, team configuration sharing and priority email support.
EnterpriseCustom
Sold through sales. Adds a response SLA under 30 minutes, SAML SSO, audit logs and role-based access controls.
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.
Ways to pay less
ExpanDrive
- Annual discount
Annual billing saves 10 to 15%
ExpanDrive says annual customers typically save 10 to 15% against the monthly Business rate, arranged through sales.
- Education
Typically 40% off for academics and nonprofits
Verified academic institutions and registered non-profits are typically offered 40% off Business plans, requested by email.
FileZilla
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, ExpanDrive or FileZilla?
As of Nov 13, 2026, ExpanDrive starts at $29 per month for up to 10 users, billed monthly, and FileZilla starts at 12,99 € for FileZilla Pro (starting at; billing period not shown).
Which has a free plan, ExpanDrive or FileZilla?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both ExpanDrive and FileZilla have a free plan.
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.