What Is FileZilla?
FileZilla is a long-running open-source project for moving files between a computer and a remote machine. Two separate programs carry the name: FileZilla Client, the desktop transfer window most people mean when they say "FileZilla", and FileZilla Server, a Windows service that answers incoming FTP and FTPS connections. Both are published under the GNU General Public License, so neither one costs anything.
What FileZilla Client does
The client shows two file panes: what is on your Windows PC on the left, what is on the remote host on the right. You drag items between them and a transfer queue works through the list, resuming interrupted jobs instead of starting over. Saved connections live in the Site Manager, so a hosting account you touch every week is two clicks away.
Three protocols are handled in one window: plain FTP, FTP secured with TLS (FTPS), and SFTP, which rides on top of SSH. Which one you pick depends on what the host offers — the step-by-step connection guide walks through each field.
What FileZilla Server does
FileZilla Server turns a Windows machine into the other end of that conversation. You define local users, point each of them at a folder, decide who may read and who may write, and switch on TLS so credentials never cross the network in the clear. Setup details are covered on the Windows server configuration page.
What is FTP, in one paragraph?
File Transfer Protocol is one of the oldest ways two computers agree to hand files back and forth. One side listens, the other connects, authenticates, and asks for a directory listing or a file. Plain FTP sends the password unencrypted, which is why FTPS and SFTP exist and why virtually every host now expects one of them.
Who uses an FTP client?
- People publishing or repairing a website on shared hosting.
- Photographers and video editors shipping large batches of files to a client.
- Admins pulling logs or backups off a remote box.
- Anyone handed FTP credentials by an agency, printer or supplier.
How it behaves on Windows
On Windows 10 and Windows 11 the client runs as an ordinary desktop app: an installer (or a portable folder) plus a program window, no background service. Settings sit in your user profile, so an upgrade keeps saved sites intact. Compatibility notes and installer choices are collected on the Windows installation page.
Client vs Server at a glance
- You need files from somewhere else — install the client. Start at the client download page.
- Other people need files from you — install the server. See FileZilla Server for Windows.
- Both — the two programs happily run on the same PC, which is the easiest way to test a new server configuration.
Frequently asked
What is FileZilla?
FileZilla is a free, open-source file transfer project. It consists of FileZilla Client, a desktop program for connecting to remote servers over FTP, FTPS and SFTP, and FileZilla Server, an FTP/FTPS server for Windows.
Is FileZilla free on Windows?
Yes. FileZilla Client and FileZilla Server are released under the GNU General Public License and can be downloaded at no cost from the FileZilla Project website.
What is the difference between FileZilla Client and FileZilla Server?
The client connects to a remote machine and moves files to or from it. The server accepts incoming FTP and FTPS connections so other people can reach files stored on your Windows computer.