A native FileZilla alternative for your Mac

FileZilla is a dependable, free workhorse. But it was never designed as a Mac app. Here is an honest look at what changes when you switch to a client built only for macOS.

Download Upstream freeSee all features

FileZilla has earned its reputation: it is free, open source and battle-tested on millions of servers. If you live inside macOS all day, though, you feel the difference — a cross-platform interface that ignores Mac conventions, passwords kept in an XML file instead of the Keychain, and no Quick Look, no ⌘K, no App Sandbox.

Upstream keeps the parts that matter — rock-solid FTP, FTPS and SFTP — and rebuilds everything else as a native Swift app. And because switching tools should not mean retyping fifty hosts, Upstream FULL imports your entire FileZilla Site Manager in one step.

Upstream vs FileZilla, feature by feature

An honest snapshot — a ✓ means the feature ships today, notes mark the differences that matter.

FeatureUpstreamFileZilla
PriceFree · FULL 19,99 € onceFree, open source (Pro is paid)
FTP, FTPS & SFTP✓✓
Native macOS app (Swift & SwiftNIO)✓Cross-platform toolkit UI
Passwords in the macOS Keychain✓XML file (optional master password)
App Sandbox & Mac App Store✓—
Folder sync with dry-run previewFULLDirectory comparison only
Edit remote files with auto-uploadFULLBasic view/edit
Quick Look previews✓—
⌘K command paletteFULL—
Multiple tabsFULL✓
Cloud protocols (S3, WebDAV…)—Pro version only
Windows & Linux versions—✓
Import sites from FileZillaFULL — sitemanager.xml—

Where FileZilla is still the right choice

  • You need the same client on Windows or Linux — Upstream is macOS-only.
  • You want a completely free, open-source tool with no paid tier at all.
  • You need cloud storage protocols like S3 or WebDAV (FileZilla Pro covers them; Upstream is deliberately FTP/FTPS/SFTP only).

Where Upstream pulls ahead on a Mac

  • A real native interface: SF Symbols, dark mode, Quick Look with the spacebar, drag & drop with Finder.
  • Credentials live in the macOS Keychain and the app runs in Apple’s App Sandbox — not in a plaintext XML file.
  • Folder sync shows a color-coded dry-run preview before touching a single file.
  • Watch-mode editing re-uploads on every save from VS Code, TextMate or Xcode.
  • Installed and updated through the Mac App Store, with Family Sharing on the FULL purchase.

Switch in about a minute

Export nothing, reconfigure nothing: point Upstream FULL at FileZilla’s sitemanager.xml (or your ~/.ssh/config) and every host, port, protocol and username comes across intact. Add passwords to the Keychain and you are connected.

Common questions

Can Upstream import my FileZilla sites?
Yes. Upstream FULL imports every server from FileZilla’s sitemanager.xml, or from your ~/.ssh/config, in a single step.
Is Upstream free like FileZilla?
The core is free with no limits: unlimited sites, the concurrent transfer queue, Quick Look, CHMOD and full file management. FULL is an optional 19,99 € one-time purchase that adds automation — never a subscription.
Does Upstream support S3 or WebDAV like FileZilla Pro?
No, by design. Upstream focuses on doing FTP, FTPS and SFTP exceptionally well. If you need cloud-bucket protocols, FileZilla Pro or Cyberduck are better fits.

Try Upstream free, decide later

The core is free forever — unlimited FTP, FTPS and SFTP sites, the concurrent queue, Quick Look and full file management. No trial clock, no subscription.

Download on the Mac App Store

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