The best FTP hosting providers offer secure file transfers, ample storage, and user-friendly management tools. The top recommended FTP hosting provider is Hostinger. It offers 100 FTP accounts, SFTP support for encrypted data transfers, and an intuitive control panel that simplifies file management.
FTP hosting refers to web hosting services that provide FTP access for transferring, managing, and storing files. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used for transferring files between computers on a network. It is essential for website management, allowing users to upload, download, and synchronize files with a remote server. This is made convenient with the support of an FTP-enabled web host. Standard FTP differs from SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol). FTP lacks encryption, making it less secure than SFTP which provides encrypted data transfers via SSH.
Choose the best FTP hosting by looking at 7 areas. The first is server response time, as this enables quicker and smoother file transfers. The second is security, as it’s recommended to prioritize SFTP or FTPS support. The second is the number of FTP accounts. The third is FTP tutorials. The fourth is ensuring sufficient storage space. The fifth is regular backup options. The sixth is pricing. Cheap FTP hosting services are viable but should meet your particular performance and security requirements. Free FTP hosting is also available but comes with strict limitations in storage, bandwidth, and support compared to paid FTP hosting services.
1. Hostinger
https://www.hostinger.com/
Hostinger is a Lithuania-based company with global presence. Their FTP hosting comes with SFTP support to ensure that your data transmissions remain encrypted and secure. Users receive 100 FTP accounts which is more than enough for managing a vast array of projects. Hostinger also offers comprehensive FTP tutorials and guides to ensure a smooth onboarding process. Their premium plan starts at $2.59/month and includes 100GB SSD storage. Expect fast load times and generous space for all your website needs. Check our Hostinger review for more details.
What are the pros and cons of Hostinger’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Beginner-friendly hPanel
- Comes with free domain
- Unlimited free SSL
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
Cons
- You need to purchase a 4 year plan to get their lowest prices
- They only offer free weekly backups
2. TMDHosting
https://www.tmdhosting.com/
TMDHosting was established in 2007 in Orlando, United States. It offers FTP hosting that combines affordability with high performance. Their plans ensure secure file transfers with unlimited FTP accounts and robust SFTP support across its hosting plans. Priced from $2.99/month, TMDHosting boasts a 99.9% uptime guarantee and hosts its services across a global network of 6 data centers, ensuring quick and reliable access worldwide. Check our TMDHosting article for the details.
What are the pros and cons of TMDHosting’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unlimited FTP accounts
- Free SSL certificates on all plans
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Global data center presence
- Beginner-friendly tools including cPanel and Weebly website builder
Cons
- You need to purchase a 4 year plan to get their lowest prices
- They only offer free weekly backups
3. GreenGeeks
https://www.greengeeks.com/
GreenGeeks offers robust FTP hosting that is also environmentally friendly. They currently offset 300% of the carbon from the energy they consume. Their Lite plan starts from just $2.95/month and includes unlimited FTP accounts. It supports SFTP for enhanced security. GreenGeeks also offers helpful tutorials on FTP to help any users who need extra support. A free domain and free SSL is also included. For a deep dive, read our full GreenGeeks review.
What are the pros and cons of GreenGeeks’ FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Free daily backups
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
Cons
- They only provide 1 free website
4. SiteGround
https://world.siteground.com/
SiteGround is a leading hosting provider known for their excellent server performance that uses Google Cloud infrastructure. Their basic Startup plan is priced at $3.99/month. It includes unlimited FTP accounts and the added security of SFTP support. SiteGround also provides FTP tutorials for easy setup and use. Free daily backups and complimentary SSL is also included. Explore our comprehensive SiteGround review for in-depth information.
What are the pros and cons of SiteGround’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Unlimited free email accounts
- Intuitive Site Tool control panel
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
Cons
- No free domain
- They only provide 1 free website
5. Kinsta
https://www.kinsta.com/
Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress hosting provider built on the premium tier of the Google Cloud Platform. Their Starter plan starts at a higher $29.17/month and offers cutting-edge technology and FTP performance. Kinsta plans only support one FTP account but ensures it’s secured with SFTP support. They provide extremely easy-to-follow FTP tutorials in their knowledgebase and a team of high-level technical experts. Plans also include daily free backups and free SSL. Learn more from our detailed Kinsta review.
What are the pros and cons of Kinsta’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- User-friendly MyKinsta control panel
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
Cons
- Their most basic plan costs $29.17/month
- They only provide 1 free website
- No free email account
- No free domain
6. A2 Hosting
https://www.a2hosting.com/
A2 Hosting places a strong emphasis on performance and has quickly gained a reputation for their speed and reliability. A2 Hosting’s Startup plan is priced competitively at $2.99/month. Users get unlimited FTP accounts which lets them manage files seamlessly across various projects. Both FTPS and SFTP protocols are supported for encrypted and safe data transfers. A2 provides a range of FTP tutorials. This plan includes 100GB SSD storage and free SSL. Learn more from our detailed A2 Hosting review.
What are the pros and cons of A2’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unlimited free email accounts
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
Cons
- They only provide 1 free website
- Free backup is only available in their higher tier plans
- No free domain
7. DreamHost
https://www.dreamhost.com/
DreamHost serves over 400,000 customers worldwide with their US-based data centers. They offer very affordable FTP hosting. DreamHost’s Shared Starter plan starts at just $2.95/month. Users get access to 6 FTP accounts suitable for various projects or team members. They also provide informative FTP guides. DreamHost’s 100% uptime guarantee ensures that your site is always online. You also have an excellent 97-day money-back guarantee to fall back on if you aren’t satisfied with their FTP offerings. Read our full DreamHost review for more details.
What are the pros and cons of DreamHost’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Free daily backups
- Comes with free domain
- Comes with free SSL
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to get their lowest prices
- No free email accounts are included in the plan
- They only provide 1 free website
8. HostPapa
https://www.hostpapa.com/
HostPapa is a privately-owned hosting company with data centers in both Canada and the US. It supports over 500,000 websites globally and sets itself apart with environmentally conscious initiatives. HostPapa’s Start plan delivers both value and performance. It starts from just $2.36/month and includes unlimited FTP accounts. HostPapa prioritizes data integrity with the added security of FTPS. They also offer excellent FTP tutorials, a generous 100GB SSD storage and a free domain. Find all the details in our extensive HostPapa review.
What are the pros and cons of HostPapa’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Comes with free SSL
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to get their lowest prices
- They only provide 1 free website
- Free backup is only available in their higher tier plans
9. ScalaHosting
https://www.scalahosting.com/
ScalaHosting delivers high-performance hosting and excellent money-back guarantees. Their Mini plan starts from just $2.95/month and offers generous FTP features. Users get unlimited FTP accounts and FTPS support which enables secure data transfers. Beginners and experts both benefit from ScalaHosting’s comprehensive FTP tutorials. You also get a free domain and the assurance of an anytime money-back guarantee. Find all the details in our extensive ScalaHosting review.
What are the pros and cons of ScalaHosting’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Unlimited free email accounts
- Daily free backups
- Free SSL
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to get their lowest prices
- They only provide 1 free website
10. HostGator
https://www.hostgator.com/
HostGator is a Texas-based web host that offers balanced FTP hosting. Their Hatchling plan is priced at $3.75/month and offers unlimited FTP accounts. It supports both FTPS and SFTP for secure transfers. HostGator also provides helpful FTP tutorials for users. Every package includes a free domain and SSL certificate for added security and credibility. Find all the details in our comprehensive HostGator review.
What are the pros and cons of HostGator’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Unlimited free email accounts
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to get their lowest prices
- They only provide 1 free website
- They only offer weekly free backups
- No uptime guarantee
11. Bluehost
https://www.bluehost.com/
Bluehost is a well-known web host from Orem, Utah. Their FTP hosting starts at just $2.95/month for their Basic Plan. This includes unlimited FTP accounts and supports SFTP for safe file transfers. They also offer FTP tutorials for beginners. A free domain and SSL certificate is included. Check out our thorough Bluehost review for a complete overview.
What are the pros and cons of Bluehost’s FTP hosting?
Pros
- Free cPanel included
- Comes with free domain
- Free SSL provided
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- They only provide 1 free website
- Need to pay for email accounts
- Need to pay for backups
- No uptime guarantee
What Is FTP?
FTP (or File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol for transferring files between computers on a network. It is a key technology for file management and is used widely in web hosting and website management.
FTP facilitates the secure and efficient exchange of files over networks such as the internet. Website owners use it to easily perform tasks such as uploading website files and downloading data from remote servers to their local computers. FTP is also used to configure file permissions, and synchronize website content. All this is made easy with the support of a FTP-enabled web host.
What is the difference between FTP and SFTP?
The difference between FTP and SFTP lies mainly in their security mechanisms. FTP lacks encryption and this makes it vulnerable to potential data breaches during file transmission. SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) instead offers robust security features. These include encryption, public key cryptography authentication, and secure file transfer over SSH (Secure Shell Protocol). SFTP is the recommended choice if your primary concern is data security.
FTP provides compatibility with a wide range of clients and is often preferred when encryption is not a strict requirement. FTP is therefore an excellent choice in cases where usability and flexibility is more important than high security.
How do I choose the best FTP hosting?
Choose the best FTP hosting for your needs by considering these 6 areas:
- Server response time Look for hosts that are able to provide consistently fast server response time. This refers to the time it takes for the host’s server to respond to a request. Fast server response times enable quicker and smoother file transfers.
- Security Prioritize providers that support secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS. These protocols encrypt your data during transmission and safeguards it against unauthorized access.
- Number of FTP accounts Having the ability to create multiple FTP accounts is crucial, especially if you manage a big website or multiple sites. This feature enables various users to efficiently manage distinct sections, directories, or functions of your website.
- FTP tutorials Tutorials play a pivotal role in understanding and leveraging FTP to its full potential, especially for beginners. These guides simplify the FTP setup process and make file transfers hassle-free.
- Storage Assess your storage needs based on your website’s size and projected growth. Opt for an FTP hosting provider that provides adequate storage to accommodate your files comfortably
- Backup A robust backup system safeguards your files and website data in case of unexpected issues. Data loss is disastrous, so inquire about the provider’s backup options.
- Price Seek out a FTP host provider that offers competitive pricing without compromising on essential functionalities.
How Do I Monitor The Server Response Time Of FTP Hosting?
Monitor the server response time of FTP hosting by using a host tracker such as UptimeRobot, Pingdom, GTmetrix, or Bitcatcha Host Tracker. These tools ping your server speed at regular intervals and retain historical performance data. Our Bitcatcha Host Tracker provides an intuitive dashboard for tracking speed trends and sends email alerts when server slowdowns occur.
Should I use cheap FTP hosting services?
Yes, you should use cheap FTP hosting services because you’re likely to find a viable option that fits your online needs. There are plenty of affordable hosting options available including some that are even free. The key here is to choose a hosting provider that aligns with your budget and specific requirements. Always ensure that the chosen provider meets your performance and security expectations to avoid potential drawbacks such as slow loading times, security concerns, or downtime.
Is there free FTP hosting?
Yes, there is free FTP hosting. These options are a great fit for individuals looking to create personal websites or novice webmasters who want to explore FTP functionality without incurring any costs. These free services offer a valuable entry point. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Free FTP hosting typically comes with limitations in terms of storage, bandwidth, and support compared to paid FTP hosting solutions.
Which is the best FTP hosting provider?
The best FTP hosting provider for you ultimately depends on your specific needs and priorities. Hostinger stands out as our top choice based on our own criteria.
Here’s a quick recap of the top 11 FTP hosting providers:
| Specifications | Hostinger | TMDHosting | GreenGeeks | SiteGround | Kinsta | A2 Hosting | DreamHost | HostPapa | ScalaHosting | HostGator | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Premium | Starter | Choice Plus | Pro | DRIVE | Starter | Shared Unlimited | Start | Pro | DO1GB | Mini |
| SSD storage | 100 GB | 50 GB | Unlimited | 10 GB | 10 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 100 GB | Unlimited | 10 GB | 40 GB |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unmetered | Unlimited | 25,000 visits | Unlimited | Unmetered | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Websites | 100 | 1 | Unlimited | 1 | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 | Unlimited | 1 | 3 |
| FTP accounts | 100 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| FTP tutorials | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Secure FTP supported | SFTP | SFTP | SFTP | SFTP | SFTP | SFTP and FTPS | SFTP | FTPS | FTPS | SFTP and FTPS | SFTP |
| Free domain | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free backup | Weekly | No | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | No | Daily | Weekly | Daily |
| Price/mo | $2.59 | $2.99 | $4.95 | $3.99 | $29.17 | $4.99 | $2.95 | $5 | $5.95 | $3.75 | $5.45 |
| See all features |
As you weigh your options, take the time to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each hosting provider. Focus on factors such as FTP security requirements, pricing, and storage. Your decision needs to be a reflection of your website’s unique needs and long-term goals.
A well-informed choice ensures a seamless and efficient file management experience for your website. This allows you to concentrate on your online projects with confidence and ease.