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AWS Transfer for SFTP VS WinSCP

Compare AWS Transfer for SFTP VS WinSCP and see what are their differences

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AWS Transfer for SFTP logo AWS Transfer for SFTP

AWS Transfer for SFTP (AWS SFTP), is a fully managed service hosted in AWS that enables transfer of files over the Secure Shell (SSH) File Transfer Protocol directly in and out of Amazon S3.

WinSCP logo WinSCP

WinSCP is an open source free SFTP client and FTP client for Windows.
  • AWS Transfer for SFTP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-02-08
  • WinSCP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-12

AWS Transfer for SFTP features and specs

  • Scalability
    AWS Transfer for SFTP automatically scales to accommodate the traffic without the need for manual intervention, ensuring consistent performance regardless of demand spikes.
  • Fully Managed
    Being a fully managed service, AWS Transfer for SFTP reduces the operational overhead by handling routine tasks such as server maintenance, backups, and patching.
  • Security
    Supports multiple layers of security, including VPC integration, AWS IAM policies, and encryption for data at rest and in transit, ensuring that data transfer is secure.
  • Integration with AWS Services
    Natively integrates with other AWS services, allowing for seamless workflows with services like S3, CloudWatch, and Lambda.
  • Compliance
    Helps meet compliance requirements as it adheres to various standards and certifications like HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO.
  • Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
    Offers cost-effective usage-based pricing, allowing businesses to pay only for the resources they use.
  • Ease of Migration
    Simplifies the migration process with minimal disruption to existing systems, supporting both file-based and external server migration.
  • Availability
    Ensures high availability and fault tolerance by distributing workloads across multiple regions.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Transfer for SFTP

  • Cost
    Despite its pay-as-you-go pricing model, the costs can add up for high-volume usage, making it expensive for some use cases.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    While it’s user-friendly for experienced AWS users, beginners may find the initial setup and configuration challenging due to the myriad of options and settings.
  • Limited Protocol Support
    Supports only SFTP, FTPS, and FTP; lacks support for other file transfer protocols, potentially restricting its usage scenarios.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Using AWS Transfer for SFTP ties you to the AWS ecosystem, which may make it difficult to switch to a different provider in the future without considerable effort.
  • Latency
    Some users may experience latency issues, particularly if they are geographically far from the AWS regions hosting their services.

WinSCP features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    WinSCP offers an intuitive graphical interface that makes it easy for users of all skill levels to navigate and perform file transfers.
  • Supports Multiple Protocols
    WinSCP supports a variety of protocols including SFTP, FTP, FTPS, SCP, and WebDAV, making it versatile for different use cases.
  • Free and Open-Source
    WinSCP is free to use and open-source under the GNU General Public License, which enables transparency and community-driven development.
  • Integration with Windows
    The software integrates well with the Windows operating system, offering features like drag-and-drop file transfer, and context menu integration.
  • Automation Capabilities
    With support for scripting and task automation, WinSCP allows for automated file transfers and operations, increasing productivity.
  • Portable Version Available
    A portable version of WinSCP is available, allowing users to use the software without installation, useful for on-the-go scenarios.

Possible disadvantages of WinSCP

  • Limited to Windows
    WinSCP is a Windows-only application, which limits its usability for users on other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Complexity for Advanced Tasks
    While the basic interface is user-friendly, performing advanced tasks can be complex and may require a learning curve.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users have reported occasional crashes or stability issues, especially when dealing with large file transfers.
  • No Built-in Scheduler
    Unlike some other FTP clients, WinSCP does not come with a built-in scheduler for automated transfers, requiring external solutions or scripting.
  • Limited Support for Cloud Storage Services
    WinSCP has limited native support for modern cloud storage services, which may be a drawback for users who rely on those platforms.
  • Command Line Interface Can Be Intimidating
    While powerful, the command line interface can be intimidating for users who are not familiar with terminal commands.

Analysis of AWS Transfer for SFTP

Overall verdict

  • AWS Transfer for SFTP is a good option for businesses looking to modernize their file transfer workloads without needing to build and maintain their own transfer infrastructure. It is reliable, secure, and integrates well with other AWS services, offering scalability and ease of use.

Why this product is good

  • AWS Transfer for SFTP is a managed service that makes it easy to transfer files directly into and out of Amazon S3 using the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). It eliminates the need for server infrastructure management, which can reduce overhead and increase scalability. The service seamlessly integrates with existing authentication systems, supports native file and folder permissions for secure access, and offers encryption for data in transit and at rest, ensuring secure and reliable file transfer.

Recommended for

  • Businesses that need to transfer files securely to and from Amazon S3.
  • Organizations looking to replace legacy SFTP servers with a cloud-based solution.
  • Companies that require compliance with data security standards and regulations.
  • Teams seeking seamless integration with existing AWS environments and services.

Analysis of WinSCP

Overall verdict

  • Overall, WinSCP is a highly regarded file transfer application for Windows, offering strong security features, easy-to-use interface, and extensive customization options, making it a top choice for users needing reliable file transfers.

Why this product is good

  • WinSCP is considered a good software due to its robust set of features that cater to both beginners and advanced users. It allows for secure file transfer via protocols like SFTP, SCP, and FTP. The graphical user interface is user-friendly and similar in style to Windows Explorer, making it intuitive to navigate. Additionally, it supports scripting and task automation for more advanced use cases. WinSCP is widely praised for its reliability, security features, and versatility in handling different file transfer needs.

Recommended for

    WinSCP is recommended for IT professionals, web developers, and system administrators who need a reliable and secure tool for transferring files. It's also suitable for individual users who prefer a free, open-source solution for their file transfer needs.

AWS Transfer for SFTP videos

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AWS Transfer for SFTP to S3 | Fully Managed SFTP Service | How to set up SFTP to upload files to S3

WinSCP videos

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WinSCP review

More videos:

  • Review - WinSCP 5.1 - review by SoftPlanet
  • Review - Review hosting - webhostingpad - SFTP WinSCP FTP Client

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AWS Transfer for SFTP and WinSCP)

AWS Transfer for SFTP

WinSCP

File Sharing
100 100%
File Sharing
0% 0
FTP Client
0 0%
FTP Client
100% 100
Cloud Storage
100 100%
Cloud Storage
0% 0
File Transfer
23 23%
File Transfer
77% 77

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AWS Transfer for SFTP and WinSCP

AWS Transfer for SFTP Reviews

We have no reviews of AWS Transfer for SFTP yet.
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WinSCP Reviews

10 Best PuTTY Alternatives To Try in 2024
If you’re on a Windows computer and want a safe way to transfer files, WinSCP is a great choice.
Source: www.redswitches.com
10 Best PuTTY Alternatives for SSH Remote Connection
The WinSCP is a Windows-based file transfer utility that allows free connecting and transfer of files remotely between Windows and Linux devices. The utility tool is an open-source product using the exclusive SCP protocol.
Source: www.tecmint.com
Top 12 BEST SSH Clients For Windows – Free PuTTY Alternatives
WinSCP is used for file transfers. It provides basic file manager functionality. It has scripting capabilities. This SFTP client and FTP client provide functionalities for copying a file between a local computer and remote servers. It makes use of FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV or S3 file transfer protocols.
Source: www.softwaretestinghelp.com
10 Best FTP Clients for WordPress Users (Mac and Windows)
WinSCP isn’t an option for Mac or Linux users. It makes sense for those who want a strictly Windows-based FTP client. We like it mostly for the simplicity of the interface. If you only want the basic necessities, WinSCP looks like a good option for you.
Source: kinsta.com
7 Best FileZilla Alternatives to Use in 2022
WinSCP is one of the popular and best FTP Client used for Windows. To update files via a remote computer, use the SFTP via SSH client or as an FTP. There are command-line capabilities, an internal text editor to update the files remotely.
Source: techdator.net

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, WinSCP should be more popular than AWS Transfer for SFTP. It has been mentiond 63 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.

AWS Transfer for SFTP mentions (7)

  • What is the easiest way to get Python code running on AWS?
    It is not clear the use case. However, if you want to run a FTP server with capabilities to run python scripts, for example, when files arrive… I recommend evaluate AWS Transfer Family leveraging the managed workflow capabilities. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Event-Driven Serverless Data Architecture
    S3/Transfer - Doesn't matter what you work on, it's hard to get away from file-based transfers and S3 and AWS Transfer are great choices for that. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Is there a preferred SFTP tool in this reddit to receive SFTPs?
    Are you in AWS? They have a managed SFTP service. https://aws.amazon.com/aws-transfer-family/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Upload fortigate gate config directly to s3, possible?
    I bet you could use aws transfer https://aws.amazon.com/aws-transfer-family/. There is a hourly charge so I would setup a small linux server with s3fs but that's me. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Aws internet line
    Are you saying you’re using AWS Transfer Family? Source: over 3 years ago
View more

WinSCP mentions (63)

  • Microsoft CTO: "Thoughts on OpenAI" (2019)
    > I don't know a single techie person who uses Windows (other than for gaming) I'd say that Windows actually has some nice software, like MobaXTerm: https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/ which in my eyes is better than Remmina or pretty much anything I've found on nix, short of just running the same thing on Wine. WinSCP is also pretty cool, albeit nothing particularly special: https://winscp.net/eng/index.php PowerToys... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • How to Setup a Minecraft Server on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide
    You may choose to download the files locally and then upload them to your server using another client like WinSCP or FileZilla, but the simplest way would be to use wget with the download link as below:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Beyond WinSCP: Updating Servers with C# and DevExpress in DevOps🚀
    In this article, we will explore a DevOps approach that goes beyond conventional file transfer tools like WinSCP. Check here for how to set up WinSCP. Our focus will be on leveraging the capabilities of C# and the DevExpress Framework to not only update servers efficiently but also to orchestrate a seamless and automated deployment process. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Best secure and encrypted cloud service?
    For a secure cloud storage setup, I use Cryptomator, accessible at https://cryptomator.org/, on my Android device, and Mountain Duck, available at https://mountainduck.io/, on my desktop. This configuration enables me to choose my own storage provider on a pay-as-you-go basis. My preferred storage provider is S3, mainly because it facilitates easy backup of cloud files on my NAS or via tools such as WinSCP, which... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I made a miyoogamelist and image exporter for Launchbox
    Download and install [Python](https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.6.3/python-3.6.3.exe) Choose All Users and add it to your Path Open cmd, and type 'pip install Pillow' Download the attached file and edit it accordingly (specify your LaunchBox folder, desired output folder and platforms) Run 'python launchbox\_retropie\_export.py' Transfer the files to your Pi using... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AWS Transfer for SFTP and WinSCP, you can also consider the following products

GoAnywhere MFT - GoAnywhere is a managed file transfer (MFT) solution that secures and automates the exchange of data. GoAnywhere's interface and workflow features eliminate the need for custom programs, scripts, single-function tools or other manual methods.

FileZilla - FileZilla is an FTP, or file transfer protocol, client. It lets individuals transfer single files or batches to a web server. For many years, FTP was the standard for website design. Read more about FileZilla.

Cerberus FTP Server - Cerberus FTP Server Enterprise is a professional FTP server that supports encrypted FTPS and SFTP sessions as well as HTTP and HTTPS file...

Cyberduck - A libre FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, S3, Backblaze B2, Azure & OpenStack Swift browser.

GlobalSCAPE Enhanced File Transfer - With operational efficiency in mind, Globalscape’s Enhanced File Transfer™ (EFT™) Enterprise features quick and intuitive setup, advanced automation capabilities, real-time visibility into data transfers, and much more.

Forklift - The most advanced dual pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS.

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