# Alternatives to CrossFTP

CrossFTP is a Java-based FTP/SFTP/FTPS and Amazon S3 client that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, aimed at developers and webmasters who need to manage both traditional FTP servers and S3-compatible cloud storage from one dual-pane interface. It includes folder synchronization, directory comparison, and a server component (CrossFTP Server) for teams that also need to host transfers.

CrossFTP ranks #3 of 11 in FTP clients, with an Alt Score of 90. It is proprietary, freemium from $24.99 and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 9 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/crossftp/
Category: FTP clients

## Where CrossFTP stands out

- **Speed limits & scheduling** — 4 of 10 apps with a verified answer have this

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: CrossFTP is aimed at Windows, Mac, and Linux users who need to transfer and manage files over FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, and cloud storage protocols such as Amazon S3, Glacier, Azure, and Google Storage, ranging from casual users who need a free browser-like client to power users managing many sites who need scheduled synchronization and automation.
- **What you get**: The free foundation edition provides multi-protocol file transfer (FTP/FTPS/SFTP/WebDAV/S3 and other cloud storage), tabs, password encryption, archive handling, and batch transfer. The paid Pro/Enterprise tier adds a multi-threaded transfer engine, directory synchronization and mirroring, scheduling, bandwidth speed limits, remote file editing, client-side encryption, proxy support, and a command-line tool (CrossFTP Commander) included with Enterprise.
- **How it works**: CrossFTP is a Java-based desktop application with a two-pane, browser-like interface for connecting to and transferring files between local storage and one or more remote sites/protocols in a single window. Pro and Enterprise editions are unlocked with a serial number purchased once for perpetual, per-computer use after a 30-day evaluation period.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Starts at**: $24.99 (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-30)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Cyberduck](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/cyberduck.md) | 95 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS |
| 2 | [AeroFTP](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aeroftp.md) | 90 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 3 | [lftp](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/lftp.md) | 85 | GPL-3.0 | Linux |
| 4 | [SmartFTP](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/smartftp.md) | 85 | Proprietary | Windows |
| 5 | [WinSCP](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/winscp.md) | 85 | GPL-3.0 | Windows |
| 6 | [Xftp](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/xftp.md) | 80 | Proprietary | Windows |
| 7 | [FileZilla](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/filezilla.md) | 75 | GPL-2.0-or-later | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 8 | [Core FTP](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/coreftp.md) | 65 | Proprietary | Windows |
| 9 | [Transmit](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/transmit.md) | 65 | Proprietary | macOS |
| 10 | [Commander One](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/commander-one.md) | 50 | Proprietary | macOS |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| FTP clients checklist | CrossFTP | Cyberduck | AeroFTP | lftp | SmartFTP | WinSCP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Donationware | Free | Free | One-time | Free |
| Starts at | $24.99 | Free | Free | Free | $79.99/user/yr | Free |
| License | Proprietary | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary | GPL-3.0 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux | Linux | Windows | Windows |
| Protocols (FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, S3) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| Sync / mirror mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Editing remote files | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Key-based auth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Speed limits & scheduling | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial |
| Open source | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| One-time purchase option | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | ? |
| Directory comparison | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CLI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

## Sources

Sources for CrossFTP. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **License**: Proprietary — <https://www.crossftp.com/license_lite.htm> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: No LICENSE file or open-source repo found; distributed under a commercial EULA. Foundation edition is free to use, Pro/Enterprise requires a paid license.
  - Quote: “Crossworld is licensing you the right to use the CrossFTP Software”
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux — <https://www.crossftp.com/download.htm> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Download CrossFTP/Pro/Enterprise for Windows, Mac, and Linux.”
- **Status**: active — <https://www.crossftp.com/pad_crossftp.xml> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Vendor-published PAD file dates the current release (v2.00.1, matching the version shown on download.htm) to 2026-06-14, about 6 weeks before this research date (2026-07-30). Recent release cadence su
  - Quote: “<Program_Version>2.00.1</Program_Version> ... <Program_Release_Month>06</Program_Release_Month> <Program_Release_Day>14</Program_Release_Day> <Program_Release_Year>2026</Program_Release_Year>”
- **Pricing model**: Freemium — <https://www.crossftp.com/purchase.htm#pro_license> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Foundation CrossFTP is free; Pro/Enterprise is a one-time paid upgrade after a 30-day trial.
  - Quote: “If you would like to continue using CrossFTP Pro/Enterprise after your evaluation, a CrossFTP Pro/Enterprise license must be purchased.”
- **Starts at**: $24.99 — <https://www.crossftp.com/purchase.htm#pro_license> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: One-time, per-computer license fee for CrossFTP Pro. Enterprise tier is $39.99, also one-time.
  - Quote: “CrossFTP Pro Price: 24.99$”
- **Protocols (FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, S3)**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/features.htm#crossftp> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “CrossFTP is a free FTP, FTPS, SFTP, FXP, WebDav, Amazon S3, Amazon Glacier, Microsoft Azure, Google Storage, and OpenStack Swift client for Windows, Mac, and Linux.”
- **Sync / mirror mode**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/features.htm#why> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Sync/mirror is a Pro-tier feature, not in the free foundation edition.
  - Quote: “It is capable of transfer, queue, schedule, synchronize, mirror, job management, with the speed be boosted by turbo multi-threaded engine.”
- **Editing remote files**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/features.htm#pro> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Listed under CrossFTP Pro's 'Edit Anywhere' feature.
  - Quote: “Edit any files in any app, even remote graph files.”
- **Key-based auth**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/manual.htm> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Private Key File - Fill in the location for OpenSSH's private key file.”
- **Speed limits & scheduling**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/features.htm#pro> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Scheduling is also listed as a separate Pro feature: 'Put your transfer/synchronization tasks in plan.' Both are Pro-tier, not in the free edition.
  - Quote: “Speed Limit Nicely grant your bandwidth to other programs.”
- **Open source**: No — <https://www.crossftp.com/license_lite.htm> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: CrossFTP is distributed under a proprietary EULA; no public source repository was found on the vendor's site.
  - Quote: “Crossworld is licensing you the right to use the CrossFTP Software”
- **One-time purchase option**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/purchase.htm#pro_license> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Per-computer, one-time fee: $24.99 Pro / $39.99 Enterprise.
  - Quote: “The term of license is perpetual. It means you can forever use the version of CrossFTP Pro/Enterprise you have bought for.”
- **Directory comparison**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/manual.htm#2_9> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: From manual section 2.9.2 'How to Sync', under 2.9 Synchronization Dialog. The sync preview also 'retrieve[s] all the files patterns from the synchronization directories, compare the patterns, and the
  - Quote: “Describe the way how the comparison should be made for two directories' synchronization.”
- **CLI**: Yes — <https://www.crossftp.com/commander.htm> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: CLI ships as CrossFTP Commander, a component bundled only with the CrossFTP Enterprise license, not the free or Pro tiers: 'CrossFTP Commander is a component of CrossFTP Enterprise. With CrossFTP Ente
  - Quote: “CrossFTP Commander is a command line tool based on CrossFTP engine to handle data transfer, sync and various other operations.”

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/