Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FileZilla Server VS ProFTPD

Compare FileZilla Server VS ProFTPD and see what are their differences

FileZilla Server logo FileZilla Server

Download FileZilla Server 0.9.60.2 for Windows

ProFTPD logo ProFTPD

The Official ProFTPD web site. ProFTPD is a high-performance, extremely configurable, and most of all a secure FTP server, featuring Apache-like configuration and blazing performance.
  • FileZilla Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-24
  • ProFTPD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-25

FileZilla Server features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    FileZilla Server is available for Windows and makes it easier to integrate into networks that utilize this operating system.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    FileZilla Server provides a simple and intuitive graphical user interface that makes it easy to configure and manage servers.
  • Open Source
    Being open source allows users to freely use and modify FileZilla Server, contributing to a large community that can help troubleshoot and improve the application.
  • Secure File Transfer Protocol Support
    FileZilla Server supports FTP, FTPS, and SFTP, allowing secure file transfers through strong encryption.
  • Regular Updates
    The software is actively maintained with regular updates, improving performance, and addressing security vulnerabilities.

Possible disadvantages of FileZilla Server

  • Limited to Windows
    FileZilla Server is only available for Windows, which may be a limitation for networks that use other operating systems like Linux or macOS.
  • Resource Intensive
    It may be resource-intensive, particularly under heavy loads, which could impact performance on less powerful hardware.
  • Complexity in Advanced Configuration
    Although the basic setup is straightforward, advanced configurations can be complex, requiring additional expertise.
  • Lack of Professional Support
    As an open-source project, dedicated professional support might not be available, which can be a drawback for businesses that rely on extensive support services.
  • Security Risk of FTP
    While FileZilla supports secure protocols, using FTP (without TLS) is inherently insecure and may pose a security risk if not properly configured to use FTPS or SFTP.

ProFTPD features and specs

  • Flexibility and Configurability
    ProFTPD offers extensive configuration options, allowing administrators to tailor the server to their specific needs. Its modular architecture and a wide range of directives provide fine-grained control over server behavior and access permissions.
  • Strong Security Features
    ProFTPD supports numerous security features, including SSL/TLS encryption for secure file transfers, and configurable authentication mechanisms. It also allows for anonymous and chrooted connections, enhancing server security.
  • Platform Availability
    ProFTPD is available on various Unix-like platforms, making it a versatile choice for different server environments. It’s open-source and frequently updated to patch vulnerabilities and improve functionality.
  • Extensive Community and Documentation
    A broad community and comprehensive documentation provide support and resources for setup, troubleshooting, and optimization, making it easier for administrators to manage the server.

Possible disadvantages of ProFTPD

  • Complex Configuration
    The same configurability that makes ProFTPD powerful can also make it complex to set up correctly, especially for users not familiar with FTP servers or Unix-like systems. Misconfiguration might lead to security vulnerabilities.
  • Resource Intensive
    Compared to some lightweight FTP servers, ProFTPD might use more system resources under heavy load, potentially affecting performance, especially on systems with limited resources.
  • Learning Curve
    New users or those with limited experience in system administration may find ProFTPD's comprehensive configuration and options challenging to grasp initially, requiring time to learn and effectively implement.
  • Potential for Version Disparity
    Being an open-source project, different distributions might package different versions of ProFTPD, leading to potential compatibility and feature disparities across systems if not appropriately managed.

FileZilla Server videos

Filezilla Server On Windows

More videos:

  • Tutorial - FileZilla Server Ultimate Tutorial

ProFTPD videos

How to install and configure ProFTPD on UBUNTU 14.04

More videos:

  • Review - Configure Proftpd And Secure Debian 9.3.0
  • Review - Instalando e configurando servidor ftp com proftpd

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FileZilla Server and ProFTPD)
FTP Client
65 65%
35% 35
File Transfer
64 64%
36% 36
SSH
60 60%
40% 40
Web Servers
65 65%
35% 35

User comments

Share your experience with using FileZilla Server and ProFTPD. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FileZilla Server seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FileZilla Server mentions (8)

  • Default" FileZilla download bundled with adware
    I hate bundled adware as much as the next man here, but we also need to be fair and acknowledge that FileZilla plainly informs the user: "This installer may include bundled offers. Check below for more options." The download page[1] that is referred to be "check below" then gives a list of both installers (without the adware) and ZIP archives, and notably does not list the adware'd installer. [1]:... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Default" FileZilla download bundled with adware
    If you click the "quick download link" on the home page it will lead you to downloading a "sponsored" version of the application, e.g. "FileZilla_3.66.5_win64_sponsored2-setup.exe" for me on Windows. Clicking "show additional download options" takes you to https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?show_all=1 which has links to "clean" versions of the client. Sidenote: It was Windows Defender which pointed out to... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Why isn’t my PS3 reading my FAT32 32GB USB?
    A very common client used for FTP transfers from a computer is FileZilla. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to Update PS4 from 8.50 to 9.0 without installing the already downloaded 9.60
    In order to do this, you need to runIDC version of the exploit (to allow full FTP access). Once you send the payload (assuming you know how to FTP already) ftp to your PS4 with FileZilla or whatever using port 1337. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Manually transfer save files for Persona 5 to and from PS3 & PS4
    Step 1: Make sure you have the PS4 Save Mounter downloaded (and make sure it is 1.8) as well as an FTP program (such as FileZilla or WinSCP). Source: about 3 years ago
View more

ProFTPD mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ProFTPD yet. Tracking of ProFTPD recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FileZilla Server and ProFTPD, you can also consider the following products

vsftpd - Very secure FTP Daemon, a secure, fast FTP server for UNIX systems, including Linux.

Titan FTP Server - Windows FTP Server with SFTP and SSL. Includes events automation, host key support, and strong security.

Baby FTP Server - The simplest FTP server to setup. No authentication required.

Xlight FTP Server - Xlight FTP Server is a high performance and easy to use ftp server software for Windows.

Serv-U FTP Server - FTP server software

Microsoft IIS - Internet Information Services is a web server for Microsoft Windows