Classic FTP
Active and passive mode, UTF-8 paths and robust listing parsing (Unix & Windows servers). Perfect for legacy hosting and intranet boxes.
Pay once · No subscription
The file transfer clientmacOS always deserved.
FTP, FTPS and SFTP in one native app — the power of a pro client with the elegance of Apple. Built in Swift & SwiftNIO for rock-solid, blazing-fast transfers.
- Free to download, full core features
- Keychain & App Sandbox secure
- Native for macOS 15 Sequoia
Speaks every protocol
FTPFTPSSFTPSwift & SwiftNIOKeychainApp Sandbox
3protocols in one app
0subscriptions, ever
100%native Swift & SwiftNIO
∞saved sites, even free
Connectivity
Every protocol, done properly
One app for plain FTP, encrypted FTPS and SFTP over SSH — with the authentication your servers actually use, from passwords to private keys.
FTPS over TLS
Explicit (AUTH TLS) and implicit FTPS with full certificate validation. When a certificate is self-signed, you review the fingerprint and decide — no blind trust.
SFTP over SSH
Full SFTP with password or, in FULL, RSA and ed25519 private keys with passphrases. Host identity is pinned with a known-hosts store to stop MITM.
Passwords are stored in the macOS Keychain. Private keys never leave your Mac. Host fingerprints are verified on every connection.
Built for power users
Everything a pro client needs, none of the clutter
A real dual-pane workflow with a professional transfer engine — wrapped in an interface that feels right at home on your Mac.
Dual-Pane
Local and remote, side by side
Browse your disk and your server in a clean two-panel view with native icons, breadcrumbs, instant filtering, list and grid modes. Drag & drop from Finder or between panes.
- Interactive breadcrumb address bar
- List, small & large icons, detail columns
- Drag & drop with Finder and across panes
Transfer engine
A queue that never gives up
Multi-threaded, recursive transfers for files and whole folders. Interrupted? Upstream resumes automatically with exponential-backoff retries and live speed, all on SwiftNIO.
- Concurrent queue, configurable parallelism
- Automatic resume of interrupted transfers
- Live protocol log in a terminal-style console
FULL
Edit remote files like they're local
Open any remote file in VS Code, TextMate or Xcode. Upstream watches for saves and re-uploads to the server instantly — your edit loop without the manual round-trip.
- Watch mode auto-uploads on save
- Pick your editor from the app catalog
- One-shot remote edit is free, too
FULL
Sync folders with total confidence
Compare local and remote directories and mirror them in either direction. A dry-run preview shows exactly what will upload, download or delete before anything happens — with .syncignore exclusions and smart conflict handling.
- Dry-run preview before every sync
- Color-coded diff: missing, changed, newer
- Synchronized browsing across both panes
FULL
Fly between servers with ⌘K
Hit ⌘K, type a few letters, and connect to any saved site or run an action instantly. Fuzzy matching finds what you mean — keep your hands on the keyboard and your flow unbroken.
- Fuzzy command palette for sites & actions
- Multiple tabs, one server per session
- Quick Connect for one-off servers
More inside
Packed with thoughtful details
Dozens of small decisions that add up to a client you actually enjoy using.
Keychain security
Every credential is stored in the macOS Keychain. Nothing ever leaves your Mac in the clear.
Quick Look
Preview remote files instantly with the spacebar — no download, no detour.
CHMOD editor
Set permissions with an interactive rwx grid or by typing the octal value directly.
Live console log
Watch raw protocol commands and responses stream by in a modern terminal-style panel.
Remote file management
Create, rename, move and delete files and folders on the server as if they were local.
Instant search & filters
Filter any listing as you type to find the one file among thousands in a heartbeat.
Import from FileZilla FULL
Migrate every server in seconds from sitemanager.xml or your ~/.ssh/config.
SSH key auth FULL
Connect over SFTP with RSA or ed25519 private keys and passphrases.
Multiple tabs FULL
Stay connected to several servers at once and switch sessions in a click.
Download as ZIP FULL
Grab several remote files or whole folders as a single ZIP generated on the fly.
Bandwidth limit FULL
Cap the global transfer speed so a big upload never hogs your whole connection.
iCloud sync FULL
Keep your saved sites and bookmarks in sync across all your Macs.
Trust by design
Security that isn't an afterthought
Upstream runs inside Apple's App Sandbox and treats your servers and credentials the way a native Mac app should.
App Sandbox & Keychain
The app is fully sandboxed per Apple's guidelines, and every password lives in the system Keychain — never in a plist, never in the clear.
Certificate & host verification
FTPS certificates are validated, and SFTP host keys are pinned in a known-hosts store. If a fingerprint changes, Upstream stops and asks — protecting you from man-in-the-middle attacks.
No accounts, no tracking
There's no Upstream login and no analytics harvesting your activity. Your sites, keys and files are yours — the app just connects you to your servers.
Private SSH keys stay put
RSA and ed25519 keys are read locally and used only to authenticate. They're never uploaded, copied or shared with anyone — including us.
Who it's for
One client, every workflow
From shipping a website to backing up a NAS, Upstream fits the way you already work.
Web developers
Deploy a WordPress theme or a static site, edit remote files live in VS Code, and sync a build folder in one pass — dry-run first, of course.
Sysadmins & NAS owners
Move files to a Synology or QNAP over SFTP, fix permissions with the CHMOD editor and keep an eye on the protocol log while you work.
Homelab & Raspberry Pi
Connect to a VPS, a seedbox or a Raspberry Pi with SSH keys, and manage everything from a real Mac interface instead of the terminal.
Agencies & freelancers
Keep dozens of client servers in a color-coded Site Manager, jump between them with tabs and ⌘K, and sync them all across your Macs with iCloud.
Switching over?
Bring every server with you in seconds
Coming from another client? Upstream FULL imports your whole server list so you don't retype a single host, port or username.
1
Export your sites from FileZilla, or point Upstream at your ~/.ssh/config.
2
Import sitemanager.xml — every host, port and protocol comes across intact.
3
Add passwords to the Keychain or attach an SSH key, and you're connected.
Free vs Full
Powerful for free. Unstoppable with FULL.
Core transferring is always free and never limited. FULL adds automation for your daily workflow — a single purchase, yours forever.
| Feature | Free | FULL |
|---|---|---|
| FTP, FTPS & SFTP | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited saved sites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Concurrent & recursive queue | ✓ | ✓ |
| Resume & auto-retry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quick Look & CHMOD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote file management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & drop with Finder | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live protocol console | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search & filters | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-shot remote edit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edit with auto-upload (watch) | — | ✓ |
| Folder sync & comparison | — | ✓ |
| Synchronized browsing | — | ✓ |
| Download as ZIP archive | — | ✓ |
| SSH key authentication | — | ✓ |
| FileZilla & SSH config import | — | ✓ |
| Multiple tabs | — | ✓ |
| Command palette ⌘K | — | ✓ |
| iCloud site sync | — | ✓ |
| Bandwidth limit | — | ✓ |
See it in action
A closer look
Pricing
Buy once. Use forever.
No subscriptions, no accounts, no nonsense.
Upstream
Free
Everything you need to transfer files every day.
- Unlimited FTP, FTPS & SFTP sites
- Concurrent & recursive queue with resume
- Site Manager with Keychain
- Quick Look, CHMOD, console log & filters
Most popular
Upstream FULL
19,99 €one-time
Unlock the complete automation toolkit.
- Folder sync, comparison & sync browsing
- Live edit with auto-upload & ZIP download
- SSH key auth & FileZilla / SSH import
- Tabs, ⌘K palette, bandwidth limit & iCloud
In-app purchase. Family Sharing supported. Restore on any of your Macs.
FAQ
Good questions, clear answers
Is Upstream really free?
Yes. Downloading Upstream is free and the core — unlimited FTP/FTPS/SFTP sites, the concurrent queue, Site Manager, Quick Look and file management — is fully usable with no limits. FULL is an optional one-time purchase that unlocks automation features.
Which protocols are supported?
FTP, FTPS (explicit and implicit) and SFTP over SSH. SFTP supports password and, with FULL, RSA / ed25519 key authentication.
Is it a subscription?
Never. Upstream FULL is a single non-consumable in-app purchase — buy once, own it forever, with Family Sharing support.
Are my passwords safe?
Absolutely. Credentials live only in the macOS Keychain and the app runs inside Apple's App Sandbox. Nothing is sent to us or stored in the clear.
Can I import my sites from FileZilla?
Yes, with FULL. Import your servers in seconds from FileZilla's sitemanager.xml or from your ~/.ssh/config.
What do I need to run it?
A Mac running macOS 15 Sequoia or later. Upstream is a native Swift app built on SwiftNIO.
How much is Upstream FULL?
A one-time 19,99 € in-app purchase. No renewals, no hidden costs — you unlock every automation feature forever.
Can I use it on more than one Mac?
Yes. The purchase is tied to your Apple Account, so you can restore FULL on any of your Macs, and Family Sharing is supported.
Does it handle large files and whole folders?
Yes. Transfers are recursive and streamed on SwiftNIO, so multi-gigabyte files and deep folder trees move efficiently — and resume automatically if the connection drops.
Do you collect my data?
No. Upstream has no account and no tracking. Credentials stay in the Keychain and your files never pass through us — the app talks directly to your servers.