FTP vs SFTP vs FTPS vs WebDAV vs FTP over HTTPS

 

Secure and reliable file transfer is essential for every modern business. For decades, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) has been the standard, but as security and compliance needs grew, protocols like SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol), FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS), and WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) emerged to offer additional features. There is also FTP over HTTPS which enable fully supported FTP on an encrypted connection that is supported on all networks. FTP Worldwide offers all four of the following options.

 

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

FTP transfers files over a TCP/IP network. It’s fast and widely supported, making it useful for transferring files that do not need to be encrypted.

•                     ✅Pros: Simple, efficient for large files.

•                     ❌Cons: Sends data in plain text, insecure for sensitive information.
💡 Best for: Quick, non-sensitive transfers.

 

FTP over HTTPS (File Transfer Protocol over Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

This is a secure method to transfer files securely using a web browser. Files and folders and be dragged and dropped to upload files without any special software. It’s fast, widely supported and encrypted. It is the default used for FTP Worldwide

•                     ✅Pros: Simple, requires no extra software and uses port 443 so it is supported on any corporate network

•                     ❌Cons: The connection can time out before the file completes uploading for very large file uploads. Customized timeout options are available for higher plans
💡 Best for: End Users uploading folders and files.

 

SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)

SFTP, developed by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), encrypts both data and credentials using SSH (Secure Shell).

•                     ✅Pros: Strong encryption, firewall-friendly.

•                     ❌Cons: Slightly slower.
💡 Best for: Sensitive data like healthcare, finance, or intellectual property.

FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS)

FTPS enhances FTP with SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security) encryption.

•                     ✅Pros: High security, supports explicit and implicit encryption.

•                     ❌Cons: Requires custom ports.
💡 Best for: Compliance-driven industries (e.g., PCI-DSS).

WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning)

WebDAV uses HTTPS to allow users to access their online files via a mapped network drive using their local operating system’s File Manager tool

•                     ✅Pros: Uses standard ports (443) so a corporate network will not block the port

•                     ❌Cons: Very large files are incompatible with WebDAV
💡 Best for: Convenience of using a mapped network drive.

 

Conclusion

Each protocol offers unique strengths. FTP suits basic transfers, SFTP and FTPS meet strict security standards, FTP over HTTPS and WebDAV require no additional software and are easy to use.

At FTPWorldwide, we deliver secure, scalable solutions including all five options described above.