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Transmit alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Transmit: mac only, and requires a recent macOS. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Transmit, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Cyberduck currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Cyberduck logoCyberduckOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows3 of 366.5
2FileZilla logoFileZillaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3WinSCP logoWinSCPOpen sourceYesWindows3 of 359.6
4rclone logorcloneOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +13 of 348.9
  1. Cyberduck logo

    1. CyberduckTop pick

    Best for: Developers and designers who move files between many servers and cloud storage services

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Transmit

    Free open-source client with comparable protocol and cloud coverage.

    Pros

    • Covers FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, S3 and major cloud drives in one app
    • Cryptomator client-side encryption built in
    • Free and open-source

    Cons

    • No Linux GUI version
    • Donation prompt unless you buy a key
    • Mounting as a drive needs the separate paid Mountain Duck
    Visit Cyberduck Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Cyberduck a good Transmit alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols and services
    FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, S3, B2, Azure, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberduck.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Client-side encryption
    Cryptomator vaults
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberduck.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. FileZilla logo

    2. FileZilla

    Best for: Web developers and hosting customers who need a free, familiar FTP or SFTP client

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Transmit

    Free cross-platform FTP and SFTP client.

    Pros

    • Free and open-source on all major desktops
    • Supports FTP, FTPS and SFTP with resumable transfers
    • Site Manager, queue and directory comparison

    Cons

    • Dated interface
    • Default Windows installer has bundled third-party offers
    • Cloud storage protocols need the paid Pro edition
    Visit FileZilla Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is FileZilla a good Transmit alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Protocols
    FTP, FTPS, SFTP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.filezilla-project.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows 8.1+, Linux, BSD, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.filezilla-project.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Large files
    Resume and transfer over 4 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.filezilla-project.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Portable use
    Zip version can run from USB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.filezilla-project.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. WinSCP logo

    3. WinSCP

    Best for: Windows admins and developers who move files to Linux servers and want to script it

    Open sourceWindows

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Transmit

    Free Windows client with scripting, if you also work on PCs.

    Pros

    • SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3 in one free client
    • Scripting, command line and .NET library for automation
    • Portable version and folder sync

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Interface is utilitarian
    • No consumer cloud drives like Google Drive or Dropbox
    Visit WinSCP Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is WinSCP a good Transmit alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL v3 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    SFTP, SCP, S3, FTP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Automation
    Scripting and task automation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
  4. rclone logo

    4. rclone

    Best for: Power users moving or syncing data between cloud providers

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted

    48.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from Transmit

    Command-line sync for many cloud providers, useful for automation.

    Pros

    • Supports 70+ storage providers
    • Mount any cloud as a local drive
    • Optional client-side encryption layer

    Cons

    • Command line first, with a learning curve
    • Not a storage service itself
    • Mounts can be slow without careful caching settings
    Visit rclone Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is rclone a good Transmit alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Supported providers
    Over 70
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rclone.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Interface
    Command line
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rclone.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Commands
    rsync, cp, mv, mount and more equivalents
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rclone.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Transmit alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Cyberduck logo

Best Transmit alternative for most people

Cyberduck

Free open-source client with comparable protocol and cloud coverage.

FileZilla logo

Best Transmit alternative for a free option

FileZilla

Free cross-platform FTP and SFTP client.

WinSCP logo

Best Transmit alternative for open source

WinSCP

Free Windows client with scripting, if you also work on PCs.

rclone logo

Best Transmit alternative for self-hosting

rclone

Command-line sync for many cloud providers, useful for automation.

Cyberduck logo

Best Transmit alternative for Mac

Cyberduck

Free open-source client with comparable protocol and cloud coverage.

Cyberduck logo

Best Transmit alternative for Windows

Cyberduck

Free open-source client with comparable protocol and cloud coverage.

FileZilla logo

Best Transmit alternative for Linux

FileZilla

Free cross-platform FTP and SFTP client.

Transmit alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Transmit?

Cyberduck ranks first right now. Free open-source client with comparable protocol and cloud coverage. FileZilla and WinSCP follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Transmit?

Yes. Cyberduck (open source), FileZilla (open source), WinSCP (open source) and rclone (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Transmit?

Yes: Cyberduck, FileZilla, WinSCP and rclone. rclone can also be self-hosted.

Which Transmit alternatives work on Linux?

FileZilla and rclone run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Transmit?

The complaints we hear most: mac only; requires a recent macOS; paid, while free tools cover the basics.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Transmit, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.