Review: Top 3 Mac FTP Apps
Being a busy webmaster, I constantly have to manage remote files, backups and all else stored away on remote servers using one of the many FTP programs available on the Mac. Here are the top three:
Fetch, Transmit, and CyberDuck.
Fetch (Fetch SoftWorks; Shareware; $25)
Fetch was one of the first FTP clients created for the Macintosh. Similar to the Finder, Fetch operates using a single pane uploading interface. While this allows for more simplicity and fluidity to be present throughout the interface it’s slightly more difficult to compare local files, and some cases an additional finder window is required. In the current version there is no support for spring-loaded folders or column views.
In addition to the obvious FTP and SFTP connections, Fetch allows for secure connections using the Kerberos service, as well as support for more proxy options than other comparable FTP clients. It also features something coveted by many: automatic file compression on upload, supporting Gzip, Gzip Tar, Stuffit, and Zip formats. If you take advantage of it, this may be Fetch’s killer feature. It also features the ability to edit text files graphics, remotely.
Unlike some other FTP apps, Fetch has no capability to create drop-boxes for uploading to frequented locations. It does have support for AppleScript, so someone with a bit of coding knowledge could build these quite easily.
Fetch is a very powerful, yet simple FTP app. The simplicity might put it at a minor disadvantage in comparison with other similarly priced applications. But should serve well anyone who needs a reliable FTP client.
Rating: 3.9/5
Transmit (Panic; Shareware; $29.95)
Panic’s Transmit is undoubtedly one of the most critically acclaimed FTP clients on the Mac platform. With it’s functional, beautiful interface, and innovative features, her praise is well-deserved. There is nothing drastic about Transmit’s interface and there should be little-to-no learning curve when switching from any other Mac FTP app.
Transmit includes browser-like tabs, which allows for improved organization of a cluttered workflow. It also has the ability to synchronize folder navigation, meaning that the hierarchial navigation can be synchronized throughout both your local, and remote files.
The app’s interface is even further improved for those new to FTP, using layman’s terms, your local files are titled “your files” and remote files nicknamed “their files”. Transmit also has spring-loaded folders.
Transmit includes support for the standard file transfer methods: FTP, SFTP, FTP with use of SSL; and the not-so-standard WebDAV with HTTPS and secure HTTP support.
Remotely editing nearly any remote file in a local application is a breeze, and is especially useful when making small edits. Transmit also offers the ability to synchronize a local folder with a remote one. There is also an included Dashboard widget for quick drag-and-drop uploading.
One of Transmit’s unique features is DockSend. Any file you drag into its dock icon can be copied to a designated location on the remote server. Transmit also features the ability to dynamically calculate folder sizes, which is a great feature if you use it.
Transmit is a full-featured, seamlessly integrated, and beautifully designed FTP app, nearly guaranteed to improve your uploading work-flow. It’s features outnumber and outperform that of competing apps and though it may be a few dollars more, it’s surely worth it.
Rating: 4.5/5
CyberDuck (CyberDuck; Open Source (GPL); Free)
CyberDuck is full-featured, free, and open source. CyberDuck’s interface is standard for anyone who has used a graphical FTP client before. It provides well integrated support for OS X’s drag-and-drop environment and takes advantage of many of OS X’s other core technologies such as Bonjour and the Keychain.
Remote editing is supported, though only for text-editing. Like all the other apps we’ve looked at, CyberDuck includes support for remote synchronization of local files. It also has the ability to resume transfers, full Applescript support, and extensive localization with built-in support for 23 languages.
With its open source architecture, streamlined interface, well implemented features and very few bugs, CyberDuck is a great zero-cost alternative to its non-free competitors with little feature reduction.
Rating: 4.3/5
While any of these applications would be a great choice for someone in need of an FTP client, one stands out from the rest: Transmit. Its complete feature set, seamless integration, and beautifully designed UI warrant this application a winner. While it may cost a bit more, it simply outperforms the rest.
If you need more options before you make a decision, take a look at Fugu and YummyFTP.
If you’re a student, like me, you can request a free full license for Fetch from FetchSoftWorks here: http://www.fetchsoftworks.com/Licensing/edustore.application.html (even if your school is outside the US). Enjoy
Great article!
I am using cyberduck atm, but got really some bad experience. Many times when using Cybeduck it hangs, SBBOD all the time, especially when sync files. And the sync files features is inaccurate, some newer files on local are not uploaded to remote.
I am thinking to buy Transmit
Interarchy, anyone?
Interarchy is far better than all three put together.
I have yet to conceive why Transmit is so critically acclaimed. Sure…compared to the other options on a Mac, except for Interarchy, Transmit is decent…but it is no better than most of the crappy shareware ftp apps for the PC. The interface isn’t “gorgeous”. That is like saying Winzip is “gorgeous”.
So, you totally missed YummyFTP (http://www.yummysoftware.com/). Faster (as claimed) than the others.
Well, you didn’t miss it, but you should have reviewed it like the others.
I agree that Interarchy is a major player in the Mac FTP app arena, and should have been included. Its a terrific application. I do have one problem with it: the scheduled copies don’t always work for me. Overall the app is stable and very reliable, though, and (uniquely) has terrific support for the Amazon S3 service.
I do tend to use Transmit mainly, though (yes I bought licenses for Interarchy *and* Transmit…). Transmit has NEVER failed me in any way and is extremely easy to use.
If you want overpriced ftp software, then Interarchy is for you. It’s overprised to me because I wouldn’t even use half the options in it.
Unless you are in an enterprise environment, it’s overkill.
Yummy FTP should have been included. I actually like it more than Transmit…
Another vote for YummyFTP (http://yummysoftware.com/)... the site looks a little off but the app is by far the best ftp client, and the developer couldn’t be more helpful.
@Kuswanto: This should be fixed in the next Cyberduck release, 2.8 as there are many large bug fixes as well as a new ssh core.
Hey BaroqueW,
got any other pieces of software that offer deep education discounts or for free?
Yummy is better than both Cyberduck and Fetch. It has live editing like Transmit. I think Transmit and Yummy are the top two FTP clients. Theres also one-button ftp, it’s free.
@Michael: what do you mean by “live editing”?
@Jordan: check out the Droplet shortcut support in Fetch 5.2.
Transmit is fantastic, couldn’t agree more. It’s the best FTP client I have ever used
@Jim, normally when you want to edit something on your server, you open up your ftp app, download the file, edit it, save it, reupload it. With live editing, you can right click on a file on your server, click Edit with, say a photo, edit with photoshop, make your changes, click save and it maes the changes to the copy on the server, when you refresh that page or file on your site, it automatically has those changes. Essentially, you are editing live on your server as if you were making a change to a file on your local machine. It’s great, especially for making quick edits/changes.
@Michael: Thanks for the clarification. Fetch has that as well.
Yeah…gotta agree with a few previous posts – Yummy FTP is flat out, no questions asked, better than Fetch and Cyberduck (both of which I used prior to Yummy). I’ve not used Transmit, but my buddy switched from Transmit to Yummy and only regrets not doing it sooner. Generally, I’m cheap and love to support and use open-source packages, but I plunked down the $25 for Yummy, threw Cyberduck in the trash and and haven’t looked back; heck, as an educator, I even got a free license for Fetch – and I was still willing to pay for the Yummy license. Why, you ask? Simply use it for one week and you’ll know exactly why. (BTW, not a friend, acquaintance, or even remotely connected with the developer..just really like the software and felt compelled to give my two cents)
Ah Yummy FTP, the master of sock puppet marketing:
http://wilshipley.com/blog/2005/12/sock-puppet-marketing.html
Transmit and Interarchy are the kings of the Mac FTP world. Whenever Interarchy or Transmit are mentioned in a blog you can almost guarentee a bunch of rave reviews for Yummy FTP will appear in a days time (and Jim Matthews in two days time saying “What about Fetch”). Sure a few mentions of competitors is to be expected but the same bogus comments – all agreeing with each other – keep getting made over and over again. Highly suspicious.
I doubt the validity of any of the comments here promoting Yummy FTP. And I also doubt the validity of comments shamelessly promoting Yummy FTP elsewhere. Clever marketing perhaps but highly unethical. Yummy FTP is certainly not a company I want anything to do with.
Free is always good… but an app that has been around a while and been at the top of the mountain since the start is worth paying a small fee for.
Transmit is the best – BY FAR. If you can’t afford it, or don’t have enough need for all it has to offer, then CyberDuck is a distant, but VERY worthy second.
Everything else is just… well, just there.
http://flowapp.com/
Flow looks very promising. I can’t wait for it to come out!
[...] that experienced with this stuff. However, I’ve noticed that it is not noticeably slower than Transmit, Cyberduck, or Yummy [...]
[...] In fact, the developer indicates that Yummy FTP is not only faster than other FTP applications like Fetch, Transmit or Interarchy, but it also uses far less CPU cycles. Indeed, they’re 4 times faster [...]
[...] them. It also takes full advantage of Apple’s Bonjour, and supports full drag and drop. Our Review | [...]
@ Adam Wolnough
Is there any logic behind your comment? Agreed, Yummy FTP doesn’t have a fraction of the userbase compared to Transmit. But what does that prove?
The reason why there are a lot of more Transmit users out there, and why the same app has gained heaps if credit and reputation, is simply due to the fact that 1.) it has been out since forever, and 2.) it’s been spent a whole lot more marketing dough on, and possibly 3.) has had the opportunity to enjoy a lot more media hype in times when ftp clients were few and ftp’ing was an exotic kind of practice.
Judging from your comment, it’s hard to believe that you even tried Yummy FTP yourself. You’re making an assumption that the sheer number of users equals ‘the’ measure for defining quality… Thusly, I take it you’re prefering the ‘better’ PC platform, which has a gazillion more users than Mac, yes?
@ Adam Wolnough (again)
Officially retracting my comment, as I think I misunderstood what you said completely (must have mixed things up somehow, could happen anyone). Although I still don’t understand why a few people raving about a competitor app would mean what you suspect.
I for one is in no way affiliated with the creators of Yummy FTP.
[...] last year, we compared several well-known Mac FTP clients. Though we established that Transmit was King, CyberDuck always stood out as a cheap, no-frills [...]
Transmit is good, except you can’t see verbatim what is happening by default, I had to dig around in the view menu to show the “transcript” drawer panel which shows log messages and transfers. There is no queue area. The site manager is called favorites and it doesn’t allow you to save the site settings if use the front login screen.
I don’t like Fetch or Cyberduck because they are single-paned, showing only server files, hence you must open a finder window and multiple windows cluttering the screen. I prefer a multi-paned interface all in one window.
Check out Filezilla, I think it’s worthy of this “top” list, because to me it has all the desired features, it’s intuitive, and it’s free.
@Adam Wolnough
Well I not only use Yummy FTP, like Yummy FTP, but I’m also a real person, which you can see by looking at my blog post and googling me:
http://simonwoodside.com/weblog/2008/12/1/yummy_ftp_for_mac_os/
Oddly enough the page you reference doesn’t mention Yummy at all. Seems like you are conducting a FUD campaign against Yummy… Odd that googling you comes up with … NOTHING AT ALL. Fishy.
Anyway, as others say, check out Yummy before you buy. I haven’t tried the latest Transmit but in the past I found it annoying.
What about Captain FTP for Mac?
I heard that it is very good, is it true?
I will refrain from recommending cyperduck as it has too many bugs. Having gone from working with PCs and the absurdly easy WSFTP for years. So I tried Cyperduck. That is a gonner. So I will try yummy before I move to transmit. ‘
It makes me wonder why it seems so difficult to create decent simple utilities for the Mac??!!
Any recommendations? I will check back
PS
Forgot to mention, core FTP, how I wish that was available for the Mac
I am currently using Forklift. You have to pay for it but it’s pretty good with a slick interface.
“difficult to create decent simple utilities for the Mac”? I guess it’s a question of point of view, that’s a similar thought that made me leave the Windows world and failed to make me fall for Linux…
Well, I tried Cyberduck (as it was the FTP client) which has been loaded onto my Hosting Service. It didn’t work for me. Unable to Connect. Issues with passwords etc.. (I’ll go back to FETCH.)
Fetch I began using (22 years ago) at the ANU. It’s still around. It still works. I used it extensively over the last 3 years (maintaining websites) and it worked flawlessly.
At the end of the day, if what you use works, then USE IT. What appeals to one, doesn’t necessarily appeal to another. That’s life.