WinSCP
WinSCP is a free, open-source SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, and SCP client for Windows. It provides a familiar Windows Explorer-style interface for transferring files to and from remote servers, with support for scripting, synchronisation, and integration with PuTTY. It is one of the most popular Windows file transfer tools, particularly in enterprise environments where SFTP is the standard.
Key Features
- Multi-protocol — SFTP (SSH), FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, S3, and SCP support
- Windows Explorer interface — Native Windows UI with Explorer-style and Commander-style layouts
- Site Manager — Organise connection profiles with authentication details
- Scripting and automation — Command-line interface and batch scripting for automated transfers
- Directory synchronisation — Compare and synchronise local and remote directories
- Integration with PuTTY — Reuses PuTTY session configurations and SSH keys
- Remote file editing — Edit files on remote servers using local editors
- FIPS mode — FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography for regulated environments
Why Use It
WinSCP is the industry standard for Windows file transfer. The Explorer-style interface is immediately familiar to Windows users, the PuTTY integration is seamless for SSH key management, and the scripting capabilities make it easy to automate regular file transfers.
Use Cases
- Server file management — Transfer files between Windows and Linux/Unix servers
- Automated deployments — Script regular file uploads and synchronisation
- Enterprise compliance — FIPS-compliant file transfers for regulated industries
- Web development — Upload and manage website files on web servers
Platform
Windows only
Licence
GNU General Public License v2.0