{"id":8388,"date":"2025-03-12T05:33:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T13:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cheapsslsecurity.com\/blog\/?p=8388"},"modified":"2025-03-17T04:09:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T12:09:15","slug":"difference-between-ftp-ftps-sftp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cheapsslsecurity.com\/blog\/difference-between-ftp-ftps-sftp\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Difference Between FTP, FTPS, & SFTP?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Understanding the differences between these file-sharing protocols can be the difference between securely transferring files and having your data fall into the wrong hands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Secure file transfer has become increasingly important due to increasingly prevalent cyber threats and the need to comply with data privacy and security laws. But knowing which file-sharing methods to use can be challenging when you\u2019re facing a bowl of alphabet soup: FTP vs FTPS vs SFTP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a clear understanding of the difference between the FTP, FTPS, and SFTP protocols to make informed decisions about which to use. Each of these protocols has distinct characteristics and security features, which makes them suitable for different situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An Overview of the Key Differences Between FTP vs FTPS vs SFTP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a nutshell, SFTP (i.e., the Secure File Transfer Protocol or SSH2 File Transfer Protocol) is the preferred method for secure file transfers. It has mostly replaced older protocols like the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and File Transfer Protocol Secure (FTPS) because of its stronger security features. This shift emphasizes the need to protect data from potential breaches and unauthorized access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/td>File Transfer Protocol (FTP)<\/strong><\/td>File Transfer Protocol Secure (FTPS)<\/strong><\/td>SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
What It Is<\/strong><\/td>Oldest (and least secure) of the three protocols, which transmits files via a plaintext connection<\/td>An enhanced version of FTP that adds a layer of security via TLS encryption and authentication using traditional credentials or digital certificates<\/td>An unrelated file-sharing protocol that uses Secure Shell (SSH 2.0)<\/td><\/tr>
Use Cases<\/strong><\/td>Unsecure file transfers of non-sensitive data in controlled environments<\/td>Secure file transfers leveraging existing FTP infrastructure<\/td>Secure file transfers over insecure networks using SSH<\/td><\/tr>
Security<\/strong><\/td>Insecure \u2014 data sent in plain text<\/td>Secure \u2014 data is sent via a TLS\/SSL encrypted communication tunnel<\/td>Secure \u2014 data encrypted using SSH keys before being transmitted<\/td><\/tr>
Authentication Method<\/strong><\/td>Username and password only<\/td>Username and password combination or the option of a certificate-based authentication<\/td>SSH keys from the server<\/td><\/tr>
Uses Which Port(s)<\/strong><\/td>Port 20 for data transfers, whereas port 21 is used to transmit FTP control commands<\/td>Uses multiple ports: Port 21 for explicit connections (most common); Ports 989 (data transfer) and 990 (control command transmissions) for implicit connections<\/td>Typically uses TCP port 22<\/td><\/tr>
Compatibility<\/strong><\/td>Widely supported by legacy systems, largely deprecated by modern systems due to security concerns.<\/td>Compatible with existing FTP infrastructure, firewall configuration can be complex due to multiple ports.<\/td>Requires an SSH server setup, considered firewall-friendly due to single port.<\/td><\/tr>
Deprecation Status<\/strong><\/td>Widely deprecated by most modern systems and browsers<\/td>Explicit FTPS is still in use, and some say implicit FTPS is deprecated because it was never officially standardized<\/td>Still widely used, although not all clients support it<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Overview<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image caption: A basic illustration that demonstrates the difference between FTP, FTPS, and SFTP when it comes to how the different protocols do or don\u2019t secure data and authenticate connections.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a detailed comparison to help you understand the difference between FTP, FTPS, and SFTP so you can easily decide which one best fits your needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.    File Transfer Protocol (FTP)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overview of FTP: File Transfer Protocol Basics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n