WinSCP for Mac OS X: Features, Pros, Cons, and Price
WinSCP for Mac OS X Free Download: How to Transfer Files Securely with SSH
WinSCP is a popular and free file transfer software for Windows that allows you to securely copy files between your local computer and a remote server using SSH (Secure Shell) protocol. It supports various features such as drag and drop, resume, synchronization, scripting, and more. But what if you are a Mac user and want to use WinSCP? Is there a WinSCP for Mac OS X version? If not, what are the alternatives? In this article, we will answer these questions and show you how to transfer files securely with SSH on your Mac.
Winscp For Mac Os X Free Download
Table of Contents
What is WinSCP?
Is there a WinSCP for Mac OS X?
What are the alternatives to WinSCP for Mac OS X?
How to use FileZilla to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
How to use Cyberduck to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
How to use Transmit to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
How to use Forklift to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
How to use Crossover to run WinSCP on Mac OS X
Comparison of WinSCP alternatives for Mac OS X
Conclusion
FAQs
What is WinSCP?
WinSCP is a free and open source file transfer software for Windows that allows you to securely copy files between your local computer and a remote server using SSH (Secure Shell) protocol. SSH is a network protocol that encrypts the data exchanged between two parties, ensuring that no one can intercept or modify it. WinSCP supports various features such as:
Drag and drop: You can easily drag and drop files and folders between your local computer and the remote server.
Resume: You can resume interrupted transfers or transfers that failed due to network problems.
Synchronization: You can synchronize the contents of two directories, either manually or automatically.
Scripting: You can automate file transfers using scripts or commands.
And more: You can also edit files remotely, compare files and directories, manage file permissions, create bookmarks, and more.
WinSCP is widely used by web developers, system administrators, and anyone who needs to transfer files securely over the internet. It supports various protocols such as SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), SCP (Secure Copy Protocol), FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS), and WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning). It also integrates with PuTTY, a popular SSH client for Windows.
Is there a WinSCP for Mac OS X?
The short answer is no. WinSCP is not available for Mac OS X. The developers of WinSCP have stated that they have no plans to port WinSCP to other platforms. However, they have suggested several alternatives that offer similar functionality for Mac users. These alternatives are:
FileZilla: A free and open source FTP client that supports SFTP and FTPS protocols.
Cyberduck: A free and open source file transfer software that supports SFTP, SCP, FTPS , WebDAV, and other protocols.
Transmit: A paid file transfer software that supports SFTP, SCP, FTPS, WebDAV, and other protocols.
Forklift: A paid file manager and file transfer software that supports SFTP, SCP, FTPS, WebDAV, and other protocols.
Crossover: A paid software that allows you to run Windows applications on Mac OS X, including WinSCP.
In the following sections, we will explain how to use each of these alternatives to transfer files securely with SSH on your Mac.
How to use FileZilla to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
FileZilla is a free and open source FTP client that supports SFTP and FTPS protocols. It is one of the most popular file transfer software for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows you to easily drag and drop files and folders between your local computer and the remote server. It also supports resume, synchronization, scripting, and more features. Here are the steps to use FileZilla to transfer files with SSH on your Mac:
Download and install FileZilla from https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client.
Launch FileZilla and click on the Site Manager icon in the toolbar.
Click on the New Site button and enter a name for your site.
In the Protocol dropdown menu, select SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol.
In the Host field, enter the hostname or IP address of your remote server.
In the Logon Type dropdown menu, select one of the following options:
Normal: If you want to enter your username and password manually.
Ask for password: If you want FileZilla to prompt you for your password every time you connect.
Interactive: If you want FileZilla to use keyboard-interactive authentication, which may involve multiple prompts for different types of information.
Key file: If you want FileZilla to use public key authentication, which requires you to have a private key file on your local computer and a corresponding public key file on your remote server.
In the User field, enter your username for the remote server.
If you selected Normal or Ask for password as the Logon Type, enter your password in the Password field.
If you selected Key file as the Logon Type, click on the Browse button and locate your private key file on your local computer. You may also need to enter a passphrase if your key file is encrypted.
Click on the Connect button to establish a connection with your remote server.
You should see two panels in FileZilla: The left panel shows your local files and folders, and the right panel shows your remote files and folders. You can drag and drop files and folders between the two panels to transfer them securely with SSH. You can also right-click on any file or folder and select various options such as download, upload, delete, rename, etc.
How to use Cyberduck to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
Cyberduck is a free and open source file transfer software that supports SFTP, SCP, FTPS , WebDAV, and other protocols. It has a sleek and intuitive interface that allows you to browse and manage your remote files and folders with ease. It also supports resume, synchronization, editing, encryption, and more features. Here are the steps to use Cyberduck to transfer files with SSH on your Mac:
Download and install Cyberduck from https://cyberduck.io/download/.
Launch Cyberduck and click on the Open Connection button in the toolbar.
In the Protocol dropdown menu, select SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol).
In the Server field, enter the hostname or IP address of your remote server.
In the Username field, enter your username for the remote server.
If you want to use password authentication, enter your password in the Password field. If you want to use public key authentication, click on the SSH Private Key button and locate your private key file on your local computer. You may also need to enter a passphrase if your key file is encrypted.
Click on the Connect button to establish a connection with your remote server.
You should see a browser window in Cyberduck that shows your remote files and folders. You can double-click on any file or folder to open it or download it. You can also drag and drop files and folders between Cyberduck and Finder to transfer them securely with SSH. You can also right-click on any file or folder and select various options such as upload, delete, rename, copy URL, etc.
How to use Transmit to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
Transmit is a paid file transfer software that supports SFTP, SCP, FTPS, WebDAV, and other protocols. It is one of the most powerful and feature-rich file transfer software for Mac OS X. It has a beautiful and customizable interface that allows you to access and manage your remote files and folders with ease. It also supports resume, synchronization, editing, encryption, compression, search, and more features. Here are the steps to use Transmit to transfer files with SSH on your Mac:
Download and install Transmit from https://panic.com/transmit/. You can use it for free for 7 days before you need to purchase a license.
Launch Transmit and click on the New Connection button in the toolbar.
In the Protocol dropdown menu, select SFTP.
In the Server field, enter the hostname or IP address of your remote server.
In the User Name field, enter your username for the remote server.
If you want to use password authentication, enter your password in the Password field. If you want to use public key authentication, click on the Choose button next to SSH Key and locate your private key file on your local computer. You may also need to enter a passphrase if your key file is encrypted.
Click on the Connect button to establish a connection with your remote server.
You should see two panels in Transmit: The left panel shows your local files and folders, and the right panel shows your remote files and folders. You can drag and drop files and folders between the two panels to transfer them securely with SSH. You can also right-click on any file or folder and select various options such as download, upload, delete, rename, sync, etc.
How to use Forklift to transfer files with SSH on Mac OS X
Forklift is a paid file manager and file transfer software that supports SFTP , SCP, FTPS, WebDAV, and other protocols. It has a sleek and elegant interface that allows you to browse and manage your remote files and folders with ease. It also supports resume, synchronization, editing, encryption, compression, search, and more features. Here are the steps to use Forklift to transfer files with SSH on your Mac:
Download and install Forklift from https://binarynights.com/. You can use it for free for 15 days before you need to purchase a license.
Launch Forklift and click on the Connect button in the toolbar.
In the Protocol dropdown menu, select SFTP.
In the Server field, enter the hostname or IP address of your remote server.
In the Username field, enter your username for the remote server.
If you want to use password authentication, enter your password in the Password field. If you want to use public key authentication, click on the Choose button next to SSH Key and locate your private key file on your local computer. You may also need to enter a passphrase if your key file is encrypted.
Click on the Connect button to establish a connection with your remote server.
You should see a browser window in Forklift that shows your remote files and folders. You can double-click on any file or folder to open it or download it. You can also drag and drop files and folders between Forklift and Finder to transfer them securely with SSH. You can also right-click on any file or folder and select various options such as upload, delete, rename, sync, etc.
How to use Crossover to run WinSCP on Mac OS X
Crossover is a paid software that allows you to run Windows applications on Mac OS X, including WinSCP. It is based on Wine, a free and open source software that enables Linux and Mac users to run Windows programs without installing Windows. Crossover has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows you to install and launch Windows applications with ease. It also supports various features such as integration with Mac OS X, automatic updates, compatibility database, etc. Here are the steps to use Crossover to run WinSCP on your Mac:
Download and install Crossover from https://www.codeweavers.com/products/crossover-mac. You can use it for free for 14 days before you need to purchase a license.
Launch Crossover and click on the Install a Windows Application button in the toolbar.
In the Search Bar, type WinSCP and select it from the list of results.
Click on the Continue button and follow the instructions to download and install WinSCP.
Once WinSCP is installed, you should see it in the Crossover window under Applications.
Double-click on WinSCP to launch it. You should see the familiar WinSCP interface that you would see on Windows.
You can now use WinSCP as you would normally do on Windows. You can connect to your remote server using SSH, drag and drop files and folders between your local computer and the remote server, resume, synchronize, script, and more.
Comparison of WinSCP alternatives for Mac OS X
To help you choose the best alternative to WinSCP for Mac OS X, we have prepared a comparison table that summarizes the main features, pros, cons, and prices of each software. You can use this table as a reference to decide which software suits your needs best.
Software
Features
Pros
Cons
Price
FileZilla
SFTP, FTPS, drag and drop, resume, synchronization, scripting, etc.
Free and open source; simple and user-friendly interface; widely used and supported; cross-platform
Limited protocol support; no encryption or compression; no editing or search; may contain adware
Free
Cyberduck
SFTP , SCP, FTPS, WebDAV, and other protocols; drag and drop, resume, synchronization, editing, encryption, etc.
Free and open source; sleek and intuitive interface; supports various protocols and features; integrates with Finder and Spotlight
No scripting or compression; no search or sync options; may have bugs or crashes
Free
Transmit
SFTP, SCP, FTPS, WebDAV, and other protocols; drag and drop, resume, synchronization, editing, encryption, compression, search, etc.
Powerful and feature-rich; beautiful and customizable interface; supports various protocols and features; integrates with Finder and Spotlight
Paid and expensive; no scripting or sync options; may have bugs or crashes
$45
Forklift
SFTP, SCP, FTPS, WebDAV, and other protocols; drag and drop, resume, synchronization, editing, encryption, compression, search, etc.
Sleek and elegant interface; supports various protocols and features; integrates with Finder and Spotlight
Paid and expensive; no scripting or sync options; may have bugs or crashes
$29.95
Crossover
Runs WinSCP on Mac OS X using Wine technology.
Allows you to use WinSCP on Mac OS X without installing Windows; simple and user-friendly interface; supports various features of WinSCP
Paid and expensive; may have compatibility or performance issues; requires extra disk space and memory
$39.95/year
Conclusion
WinSCP is a popular and free file transfer software for Windows that allows you to securely copy files between your local computer and a remote server using SSH protocol. However, WinSCP is not available for Mac OS X. If you are a Mac user and want to use WinSCP, you have several alternatives that offer similar functionality. These alternatives are FileZilla, Cyberduck, Transmit, Forklift, and Crossover. Each of these software has its own features, pros, cons, and prices. You can use the comparison table above to decide which software suits your needs best. We hope this article has helped you learn how to transfer files securely with SSH on your Mac.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about WinSCP for Mac OS X:
What is the best alternative to WinSCP for Mac OS X?
There is no definitive answer to this question as different users may have different preferences and requirements. However, based on our comparison table above, we can say that Transmit is the most powerful and feature-rich alternative to WinSCP for Mac OS X. It supports various protocols and features that WinSCP does not support. However, it is also the most expensive alternative. If you are looking for a free alternative to WinSCP for Mac OS X , you can try FileZilla or Cyberduck. They are both free and open source and support SFTP and FTPS protocols. However, they have limited protocol support and no encryption or compression features.
How secure is SSH file transfer?
SSH file transfer is very secure as it uses encryption to protect the data exchanged between your local computer and the remote server. No one can intercept or modify your data without knowing your password or having access to your private key file. SSH file transfer also uses authentication to verify the identity of the remote server and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. However, SSH file transfer is not foolproof and you should still follow some best practices to ensure your security, such as:
Use strong passwords or public key authentication instead of weak passwords or password authentication.
Use trusted and reputable file transfer software and avoid downloading or installing software from unknown sources.
Keep your file transfer software and operating system updated and patched to fix any security vulnerabilities.
Use antivirus and firewall software to protect your local computer from malware and hackers.
Use secure networks and avoid using public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks to transfer files with SSH.
How fast is SSH file transfer?
The speed of SSH file transfer depends on various factors such as the bandwidth of your network, the size and number of files you are transferring, the protocol and features you are using, the encryption and compression settings, the load and performance of your local computer and the remote server, etc. Generally speaking, SSH file transfer is slower than FTP file transfer as it uses encryption and authentication that add some overhead to the data transmission. However, SSH file transfer is more secure than FTP file transfer as it protects your data from eavesdropping and tampering. You can try to optimize the speed of SSH file transfer by using some tips such as:
Use SFTP instead of SCP as it has better performance and reliability.
Use compression if your files are large or text-based, but avoid compression if your files are already compressed or binary-based.
Use parallel transfers if your file transfer software supports it, but avoid overloading your network