FTP clients for Mac help manage files on remote servers, but popularity has waned with the advent of cloud storage. Despite this, FTP remains useful for personal file servers and site management. Top clients include Commander One, CloudMounter, FileZilla, Cyberduck, and Viper FTP, each offering unique features like dual-pane interfaces, cloud integration, and encryption. Pros and cons vary, with some clients limited in free versions. For a comprehensive guide, stay tuned for our detailed tutorial in the next forum post.
Hey folks! Looking to manage or download files from a file server on your Mac? FTP clients are for you! While there aren’t many free FTP options for macOS, sometimes the premium ones are worth it. Let’s dive in! 
Are FTP Clients Still Popular? 
With cloud storage getting easier, FTP apps aren’t as popular as they used to be. Just check out the chart below — interest was slightly higher from 2018 to 2020. But hey, FTP and its cousins are still kicking for personal file servers and other stuff.
Popular FTP Clients in 2023
Commander One 
Commander One is your best bet for a free FTP client on Mac. It’s a dual-pane file manager loaded with features: file sorting, searching, mounting devices, managing processes—you name it! While the basic FTP feature is free, you’ll need the PRO version for most bells and whistles.
Once you’re connected to an FTP server, you can view, edit, remove, and transfer files just like on your hard drive. There’s also an optional encryption feature for added security.
Commander One is optimized for speedy file management with hotkeys, tabs, and an operation queue. Besides FTP, you can connect to Amazon S3, Dropbox, and Google Drive—so all your remote files are in one spot!
Top Features 
- Dual-pane interface
- Built-in file viewer
- Supports multiple cloud services
- Compression and extraction tools
- Customizable appearance
- Advanced search
- Hotkey mapping
- Built-in terminal
- On-server file editing
- On-server archive management
Pros:
- Convenient dual-pane interface
- Supports numerous protocols
- Cloud storage integration
- Root access
- Regular updates
Cons:
- Limited free version
- Restricted Apple Store version
Download:
CloudMounter 
CloudMounter is another cool tool, mainly used for mounting cloud disks. It works with popular services like Google Drive, Amazon buckets, Dropbox, Mega, and OneDrive. Plus, it’s a solid FTP client supporting SFTP and FTPS.
When you mount a disk or server through CloudMounter, it shows up in Finder, and you can manage files there. There’s even a mode that lets you work with server files while offline or experiencing connection issues.
The interface is super friendly and offers file encryption with a locally-stored key.
Top Features 
- Cloud storage mounting
- Supports various cloud services
- Data encryption
- Integration with Finder
Pros:
- Easy access to cloud storage
- Broad cloud service support
- Regular updates
Cons:
- Limited free version
Download:
FileZilla 
FileZilla is a widely-used open-source FTP client available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It’s free and packed with features, although its cluttered UI can be a bit of a downer. You can customize just about everything regarding your FTP connection, including speed limits and a keep-alive service.
FileZilla’s built-in file manager isn’t the best for everyday use but shines for directory comparisons, making backups and searches easier. You can search files based on conditions like filename parts or other metadata.
Top Features 
- Supports FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS), and SFTP
- Cross-platform
- Tabbed user interface
- Bookmarks
- Configurable transfer speed limits
- Remote file search
- File synchronization
Pros:
- Open source and free
- Customizable settings
- Effective for directory comparisons
Cons:
- Cluttered interface
- Learning curve
Download: FileZilla
Cyberduck 
So, who’s using Cyberduck for macOS? It’s free and lets you add and manage connections easily. One downer is you have to use the in-app interface to access servers and disks, can’t open them in Finder.
This app is packed with features within a simple UI. You can do a lot with your files, like syncing and auto-deleting.
Top Features
- FTP/SFTP/FTPS/WebDAV Support
- Cloud Integration
- Easy-to-Use Interface
- Supports drag-and-drop functionality
- Folder syncing
Pros:
- Supports Various Protocols
- User-Friendly Interface
- File Synchronization
- Free to Use
Cons:
- Forced to use the in-app file browser - can’t use your native file explorer.
- No Dual Pane - only a single view.
- No file transfer scheduling - no automation here either.
Download: Cyberduck
Viper FTP 
Anyone tried Viper FTP? It’s a paid Mac FTP client and looks like a dual-pane file browser, which is super handy for managing remote files.
You can’t access remote files directly from Finder, but the dual-pane layout makes up for it with features like batch uploading and synchronized browsing. Also great is the advanced search and file comparison options.
Top Features
- Local zip, tar, tgz, gz archive management.
- Local and remote file management.
- Folder comparison
- Batch uploads
- Scan for any working FTP servers in your LAN with Bonjour.
- Quickly preview images, video, audio, and documents.
- File operation scheduling
Pros:
- Local file encryption/decryptions - keep your files safe.
- Multi-Protocol Support - very versatile.
- User-friendly Interface
- Batch Transfers
- Bookmarking - saves time.
Cons:
- No automatic syncing - you have to sync manually.
- Limited Cloud Support - not much cloud integration.
Download: Viper FTP
Potential FTP Uses 
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is awesome for transferring files between servers and clients. Even though it’s kinda old and can be vulnerable, secure versions like SFTP are widely used.
Here are some ways to use FTP:
Remote media storage: Store your music, movies, and other media on a separate server. Some media players can stream via FTP without downloads.
Remote access to your website’s files: Handy for fixing website issues, like WordPress errors or responding to hacks, by directly accessing server files.
Hope this helps! Lemme know if you have any questions or suggestions.