FTP vs SFTP vs FTPS: What’s the Difference?

NameSilo Staff

5/7/2026

FTP, SFTP, and FTPS are file transfer protocols used to upload and manage files on servers, but they differ significantly in security. FTP transfers data without encryption and is considered insecure for modern website management. FTPS adds SSL/TLS encryption to traditional FTP connections, while SFTP uses the SSH protocol to create a fully encrypted connection. Today, SFTP is generally considered the safest and most widely recommended option for secure website file transfers.

Why File Transfer Protocols Still Matter

Even with cloud hosting platforms and drag-and-drop website builders becoming more common, file transfer protocols still play an important role in website management.

Website owners regularly use these protocols to upload website files, manage WordPress installations, transfer backups, troubleshoot hosting issues, and migrate websites between hosting providers.

For beginners, however, terms like FTP, FTPS, and SFTP can become confusing quickly.

Many users assume they all work the same way. In reality, the security differences between them are significant.

What Is FTP?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol.

It was originally developed as a standard way to transfer files between computers and servers.

FTP allows users to:

connect to a server

upload files

download files

manage directories remotely

The major problem is that traditional FTP does not encrypt data.

That means usernames, passwords, and transferred files can potentially be intercepted during transmission.

Because of this, plain FTP is now considered outdated and insecure for most public internet use.

What Is FTPS?

FTPS stands for File Transfer Protocol Secure. It improves traditional FTP by adding SSL/TLS encryption, similar to how HTTPS secures websites.

This helps protect login credentials, transferred files, and communication sessions.

FTPS is significantly safer than plain FTP, but it still inherits some complexity from older FTP architecture.

For example, FTPS often requires multiple communication ports, firewall adjustments, and certificate validation.

This can sometimes create configuration problems in restrictive hosting or corporate network environments.

What Is SFTP?

SFTP stands for SSH File Transfer Protocol and despite the similar name, SFTP is completely different from FTP internally.

SFTP operates through the SSH protocol, which creates a fully encrypted communication channel between the user and server.

Unlike FTP, SFTP encrypts the entire session, protects login credentials, and secures transferred files automatically.

SFTP also uses a single secure connection instead of multiple communication channels.

This makes SFTP easier to configure, easier to secure, and more firewall-friendly.

FTP vs SFTP vs FTPS: The Main Differences

Although all three protocols transfer files, they handle security differently.

FTP

FTP does not encrypt data, meaning credentials are sent in plain text. While it is fast and still supported in some environments, most hosting providers now discourage its use because of security risks.

FTPS

FTPS improves FTP security by adding SSL/TLS encryption. It is safer than traditional FTP, but it also requires certificate handling and can be more complex to configure.

SFTP

SFTP uses SSH encryption to secure the entire connection. Because it relies on a single communication channel, it is generally easier to secure and is widely considered the safest modern option.

For most modern websites, SFTP is usually the best choice.

Why Beginners Often Get Confused

Many hosting dashboards still label secure file access simply as:

FTP accounts

FTP credentials

FTP access

In reality, the hosting environment may support FTP, FTPS, and SFTP simultaneously depending on server configuration.

depending on server configuration.

This sometimes leads users to accidentally connect using insecure FTP when safer options are available.

Common Real-World Scenarios

Uploading a WordPress Website

A beginner installs FileZilla and enters hosting credentials.

If they use plain FTP, credentials travel without encryption and attackers on the same network could potentially intercept access.

Using SFTP avoids this issue.

Shared Hosting Environments

Many shared hosting providers support multiple protocols for compatibility.

However, most providers now recommend SFTP whenever available because it provides stronger security with simpler connectivity.

Corporate Firewall Restrictions

Some corporate networks block FTP or FTPS because they use multiple communication channels.

SFTP often works more reliably because it uses a single encrypted SSH connection.

How to Tell Which Protocol You Are Using

Most file transfer applications display the connection type during setup.

For example, applications like FileZilla often separate FTP, FTP over TLS, and SFTP as different connection methods.

If your software only says “FTP,” that does not automatically mean the connection is encrypted.

Always verify whether secure encryption is enabled.

Can FTP Affect Website Security?

Indirectly, yes. Using insecure FTP can lead to stolen credentials, hacked websites, malware injections, phishing infections, and unauthorized server access.

Once a website becomes compromised, it may lose search visibility, trigger browser warnings, experience blacklisting issues, and suffer trust and reputation damage.

This is one reason secure file transfer practices are now considered part of overall website security.

Which Protocol Should You Use?

For most users today:

Use SFTP if available

SFTP provides strong encryption, modern security standards, simpler connectivity, and broad hosting compatibility.

Use FTPS if SFTP is unavailable

FTPS still provides strong encryption and remains widely supported.

Avoid plain FTP whenever possible

Traditional FTP should generally only be used in legacy or isolated environments where encryption is not required.

Common Connection Problems

Authentication Failed

This is usually caused by incorrect credentials, wrong port numbers, or disabled SSH access.

Connection Timed Out

This may happen because of blocked ports, firewall restrictions, or incorrect passive mode settings.

Certificate Warnings in FTPS

FTPS may display SSL certificate warnings if certificates are expired or self-signed.

SFTP Refused Connection

This often means SSH access is disabled or restricted by the hosting provider.

Final Thoughts

FTP, FTPS, and SFTP all allow file transfers between devices and servers, but their security models differ dramatically. Traditional FTP lacks encryption and is increasingly considered unsafe for public internet use. FTPS improves security using SSL/TLS encryption, while SFTP provides fully encrypted communication through the SSH protocol.

For most modern websites and hosting environments, SFTP is now the preferred option because it combines strong security with simpler connectivity and broader compatibility.

Understanding these differences helps website owners make safer decisions when managing files, configuring hosting, and protecting their online infrastructure.

NameSilo provides secure hosting environments, domain management tools, and website infrastructure solutions designed to help users manage their websites safely. Whether you are uploading files through FTPS, managing DNS settings, or securing your hosting environment, NameSilo gives you the tools needed to maintain a reliable and secure online presence.

NameSilo StaffThe NameSilo staff of writers worked together on this post. It was a combination of efforts from our passionate writers that produce content to educate and provide insights for all our readers.