FTP vs SFTP: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Use?

Choosing a file-transfer method is no longer a simple task. The old battle of FTP versus SFTP has real consequences for speed, cost, and security. This article explains the difference between FTP and SFTP so that you can pick the right tool and avoid surprises later.

FTP vs SFTP: Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into ports, packets, and passwords, it helps to know what each protocol does on a normal working day.

What is FTP?

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) first appeared in 1971, long before Wi-Fi and smartphones. A client program connects to an FTP server on port 21, sends plain text commands, and uploads or downloads files. All credentials and the data itself travel without encryption unless you add extra steps, such as FTP/TLS.

What is SFTP?

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is not FTP plus a padlock. It is an extension of SSH, the same tool that administrators use for remote shell access. SFTP runs over port 22, wraps every packet in SSH encryption, and drops the file on the server exactly where you expect it without exposing anything along the way.

SFTP vs FTP: What's the Difference?

Side-by-side facts are useful, but we also need to look at where the two protocols part ways. The next sections show how the secure FTP vs SFTP debate plays out in real networks.

Encryption

FTP sends the username and the password in plain text unless you explicitly turn on TLS. This means anyone on the same network can read the credentials with minimal effort. SFTP encrypts both the data and the credentials from end to end because it follows SSH rules. No extra switch is needed.

Firewalls

FTP opens a new random port for every file or directory listing. This behavior means network engineers must open a wide port range on the firewall or use special helpers, which breaks some NAT setups. SFTP travels inside the same port 22 channel, so only one port stays open, and firewall rules stay simple.

Compliance

Many industry rules—HIPAA for health data, PCI-DSS for card payments, and GDPR for Europe—require encrypted transfer. Auditors normally accept SFTP or FTP/TLS as compliant, while plain FTP fails the test. Choosing the default saves time during future compliance reviews.

Vulnerabilities

Inside the common security databases, FTP appears with many entries: command injection, weak ACLs, and brute-force attacks. The protocol always needs patches for how it handles long paths and file names. SFTP relies on the SSH stack, and that stack has far fewer open issues. Patches for SSH also fix SFTP in most cases.

Data Protection

Broken downloads on both systems can resume at the point of failure, but the risk of data tampering is far higher on FTP. When an attacker intercepts an FTP session, files may change contents, file names may shift, or extra lines could be added. In contrast, the encryption of SFTP signs every packet. A change to a single byte will break the SSH integrity check, alert both sides, and stop the transfer.

FTP vs SFTP: Comparison Table

The table gathers the key items in one place so that you can scan, compare, and move on.

FTP/TLS vs SFTP: Pros and Cons

Numbers on a table are helpful, but every protocol carries its own set of trade-offs. The following sections list the gains and pains you must weigh before you choose.

FTP/TLS: pros and cons

Pros:

• Keeps the old FTP commands, so any legacy script runs with only one added letter.
• Handles very large files with high speed on high-latency links.
• Many inexpensive or free clients can connect, including common browsers.
• The existing control scripts in routers and NAS devices often mention FTP only, making setup easier for simple cases.

Cons:

• You need to configure a certificate on every server and keep it renewed.
• Passive mode still opens a wide port range, which slows down firewall rules.
• The encryption layer and the data layer jump between different ports; some desktop firewalls block the jump.
• Several scanners flag “unencrypted FTP” on the wrong port and flood the logs even when TLS is used.

SFTP: pros and cons

Pros:

• Comes with SSH, so you do not install or license another server.
• One firewall port covers the entire session, cutting admin time.
• Both the commands and the data enjoy the same strong cipher; there is no weakness phase.
• The control channel remains open, which means you can run commands such as mv, rm, or chmod without a new login.

Cons:

• Older mainframe clients and some embedded systems lack SFTP support, forcing upgrades.
• SFTP has a higher CPU load on both sides for compression and encryption.
• Bandwidth throttling at the router level can hit SSH and block SFTP unexpectedly.
• Shared hosting providers may limit SSH or restrict it to one key per account, adding management steps.

SFTP or FTP: Which One Should You Choose?

Use the bullet points below as a quick checklist that keeps the decision grounded in daily work rather than hype.

• Regulatory need: Choose SFTP if you store or move personal data, credit card data, or health data. Auditors expect a stronger protocol and will ask for proof.
• Client limits: Pick FTP if you support very old hardware that cannot install new code, but lock it behind VPN or switch to FTP/TLS as soon as hardware refreshes allow.
• Network layout: Select SFTP when you must traverse strict enterprise firewalls that allow only one outbound port; the fewer ports, the fewer tickets.
• Performance targets: FTP transfers often beat SFTP for single-threaded, very large archives on fast LAN segments. Run real tests on your own links before you decide.
• Admin skill set: Teams already familiar with SSL certificates may find FTP/TLS easier. Teams that maintain SSH keys daily should prefer SFTP because the same keys do double duty.
• Monitoring tools: If your log analysis suite splits FTP and HTTP traffic, favor FTP/TLS. If your suite parses SSH traffic, SFTP slots in naturally.

FTP and SFTP for Security Cameras

Despite the warnings above, most new IP cameras still ship with an FTP client as the primary upload option. The reason is backward compatibility: very low-cost cameras rely on tiny embedded Linux builds, and manufacturers keep the disk image small by using standard system calls.

The vendor often assumes the buyer will place the camera in a private VLAN or rear a company firewall, so the plain text risk feels acceptable to them. If you care about video footage privacy, configure the camera with SFTP instead. Many firmware updates now list SFTP or at least FTP/TLS under the upload tab, and the change only takes ten minutes.

FAQs

Does anyone still use SFTP?

Yes. Thousands of SFTP transfer operations are performed each hour to serve payroll files, medical images, legal agreements, transaction logs, and off-site backups by major financial institutions, hospitals, law firms, e-commerce, and cloud service providers.

Why is FTP no longer used?

Plain FTP transmits usernames, passwords, and file contents as plain text that can be read by anybody on the same switch, Wi-F,i or tapped cable. There are a number of modern rules like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR, which prohibit such exposure, and attackers can detect the credentials or replace files during the transfer within minutes.

Is port 22 FTP or SFTP?

Port 22 is shared only by SSH and the Secure File Transfer Protocol that rides on it. Conventional FTP clients connect to port twenty-one as the control port and to randomly chosen high ports as data ports, never port twenty-two.

Can SFTP be used for FTP?

No. SFTP uses a different and entirely different set of binary commands and packet formats and runs on top of SSH. Normal FTP clients know only the traditional plain-text FTP conversation and will not identify, negotiate, or finish an SFTP conversation.

Conclusion

FTP opened the door to early internet file sharing, while SFTP built a stronger lock on the same door. Today, the difference between FTP and SFTP centers on encryption, ports, and compliance pain.

Use SFTP when security, audits, and modern networks matter. Reserve FTP or FTP/TLS only when legacy hardware leaves no room to upgrade. Share your experience with transferring files in the comments below and tell others which protocol earned your trust.