WinSCP is a file transfer application using Secure FTP, which is available for Windows Clients. But there are several alternatives to WinSCP, which are available for Mac and Linux. Numerous software follows the same functionality of WinSCP and can be used for secure file transfer from a local computer to a remote one.
If you have a question, ‘ What is the equivalent of WinSCP for Mac?‘ Then you’re at the right place.
This article answers your question and provides you with a list of alternatives to WinSCP, which can help you choose the right software for your Mac. WinSCP is not available to download on Mac, which is why alternatives to WinSCP are used.
What is WinSCP?
WinSCP is a popular file transfer client for Windows, developed by Martin Prikryl. It is a free and open-source SFTP client, FTP client, WebDAV client, S3 client, Amazon S3, and secure copy protocol client for Microsoft Windows.
The WinSCP allows the windows client to the secure copy protocol and effortless transfer of files across the network using the secure shell encrypted protocol.
WinSCP has replaced the other FTP programs on windows, where SSH is needed to connect to the server. The primary function of WinSCP is fast file transfer between a local and a remote server. It provides limited remote command execution and scripting capabilities.
WinSCP is written in C++ and was released back in 2000. It is one of the best SSH File Transfer Protocols, Secure Copy, and File Transfer Protocols for Microsoft Windows clients as it supports several features that come with Windows OS, such as dragging and dropping files.
Is there a Mac version of WinSCP?
WinSCP is not available for Mac, but the developers offer several alternatives for Mac with similar functionality. One of the best Alternatives to WinSCP is FileZilla, a robust FTP client and compatible with both Windows and Mac, as it is free and open source.
Other than FileZilla, the other alternatives include Cyberduck, another open-source WinSCP alternative for Mac that also is compatible with Windows, and muCommander, a free and open-source alternative Forklift, Transmit.
Forklift and Transmit are the paid alternatives of WinSCP and are commercial Mac-only software.
Alternatives or Equivalent to WinSCP for Mac
One of the ways to securely copy files and directories without explicitly starting an FTP session or downloading additional software is using the SCP command in the terminal.
The SCP command is known for its simplicity, security, and pre-installed availability. Since the Mac OS is based on a Unix derivative called FreeBSD.
SCP means secure copy and uses SSH to transfer data, so authentication is required. Usually, a password or passphrase is used as anyone snooping on the network cannot view them.
The SCP command allows the secure transfer of files between the local host and the remote host or between two remote hosts.
The other way is to use or purchase a system software, especially if you love and prefer a graphical user interface over the terminal. Many system software is available for the secure transferring of a file, which follows the same functionality as WinSCP and works as the equivalent of WinSCP for Mac. They are as follows:
1. FileZilla
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux | Cost: Free
FileZilla is a powerful FTP client, reliable cross-platform FTP, FTPS, and SFTP client designed with user-friendly features and an intuitive graphical user interface.
FileZilla is relatively easy to download, and it doesn’t take long to understand the inner workings of the entire system. Though the interface of FileZilla is outdated, it works just fine.
It supports many features like FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS) and SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), cross-platform, Network configuration wizard, and remote file editing. FileZilla comes with comprehensive documentation that answers all questions regarding the usage of FTP clients.
Filezilla is an affordable option and is cross-platform, and can run on Windows, Linux, and, most importantly, Mac. As it is free and open-source, Filezilla serves as the best equivalent of WinSCP for Mac.
2. Cyberduck
Platform: Mac, Windows | Cost: Free
Cyberduck is an FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV client that even grows up as a cloud storage browser for Windows and Mac OS X computers with support for Amazon S3, OpenStack Swift, Backblaze B2, Microsoft Azure & OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. It uses S3 and open-stack APIs and is compatible with most third-party storage services.
Cyberduck allows the user to change any binary or text file as the program seamlessly integrates with any external editor.
It supports the drag-and-drop features and allows uploading, downloading, or copying content between servers and synchronizing local and remote directories.
3. Transmit by Panic
Platform: Mac | Cost: $24.99 a year
Transmit 5 is commercial Mac-only software, the gold file transfer standard, enabling MacOS users to upload, download, and manage files on tons of servers with an easy, user-friendly, and powerful user-interfacer.
Transmit five connections to 11 new cloud services, like Backblaze B2, Box, DreamObjects, Dropbox, Microsoft Azure, Google Drive, and Rackspace Cloud Files.
Along with the latest cloud services, it also handles the classics — FTP, S3, WebDAV, and SFTP — better than any. T5 is famous for its clean interface, dual-pane, and File Sync, which allows the user to mirror remote and local or local and local files in one click.
4. Fetch
Platform: Mac | Cost: 10–99 users- $24 per user; 100–999 users- $18 per user; 1,000 or more users- $12 per user
Fetch is one of the most popular file transfer protocols for compatibility with thousands of Internet service providers. It is a Macintosh FTP client that supports FTP and SFTP, FTPS, and more.
The user interface of Fetch is simple, reliable, and can be used easily.
It is a full-featured file transfer client for the Apple Macintosh. Fetch is known to ensure password and data-stream security and allows point-and-click and drag-and-drop file transfers to and from any machine with an FTP server over a TCP/IP network.
Fetch can also be utilized to view overall progress and time remaining while transferring more than one file.
5. ExpanDrive
Platform: Mac and Windows | Cost: $49.95 per license
ExpanDrive is a network file system client for Mac OS and Windows and acts just like a USB drive plugged into your Mac or PC. It is an FTP platform for file transfer that allows mapping local drives to the user’s ExaVault account via FTP/SFTP.
When the user’s ExaVault account is mounted with ExpanDrive, the application can read, write, and manage remote files on the server as if they were stored locally.
ExpanDrive enables users to open, edit, and save files on remote computers from their favorite programs. Every single application on the user’s computer is connected transparently to remote data when using ExpanDrive.
6. Interarchy
Platform: Mac | Cost: $64.00
Interarchy is an advanced FTP client for macOS supporting FTP, SFTP, SCP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3. Mac programmer Peter N Lewis initially created it in 1993 for the Macintosh Systems.
It supports many advanced features for transferring, syncing, and managing files over the internet, such as the plug-in architecture for compressing files, running scripts, and restarting servers.
Interarchy allows the user to transfer and manage data in the cloud. It ties nicely with both Amazon and Rackspace’s cloud file hosting services and comes with a Net Disks feature that allows the user to interact and work with remote files if they are local.
Interarchy is an equivalent of WinSCP for Mac and is the quickest file transfer client on the Mac, transferring over 80MB/sec on a gigabit network.
7. ForkLift 3
Platform: Mac | Cost: Single-user License $29.95
ForkLift 3 is a Mac-only file manager with the most advanced file transfer client for macOS that connects to Rackspace CloudFiles, SMB, AFP, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, and Google Drive.
It is a dual-pane file manager that allows you to easily manage your files across networks, compare multiple file locations, and move them back and forth.
ForLift will enable you to connect to multiple servers at a time and even copy between them with a feature drag and drop. ForkLift only works for Mac users and has a free trial.
But, for a single license, you are required to make a payment of $29.95 for a single license. For a family license, a sum of $49.95 has to be paid, and you can use it on three computers for $49.95.
Now that we’re nearing the end of this article, you must have found the needed alternative to WinSCP for your Mac. These were some of the equivalent options to WinSCP for Mac. WinSCP isn’t officially available to download for Mac.
Still, some of these file-sharing applications are a worthy replacement for WinSCP as most follow the same functionality and utility. You can select any of this system software for secure file sharing for your Mac OS.
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