Cloud storage for productivity, collaboration, real-time file sharing, and email communications are all ways that we can transfer information on the Internet.  With email, you can send and receive attachments, and cloud storage services allow you to upload files and invite others to view or download.  There are some other options for information transfer that we will now cover.

There are options known as simple file transfer services which don’t require signing up for an account.  These types of services are smaller scale with less functionality than the bigger platforms that store and share such as Google Drive.  They serve the sole purpose of transferring files to someone, somewhere else.  

Some examples are Filemail, FileShare, Hightail, WeTransfer, and Send Anywhere.  These web-based software platforms are usually free with limitations on file size and time limits for file availability and most also have higher tiered paid options.

File transfer protocol (FTP) is still a file transfer service, but it works a little differently because it is based on an Internet protocol specifically designed to transfer information on the Internet.  Web designers and developers use FTP quite often.  This type of transfer can be done using an FTP Client or via command-line utilities. Popular free clients for FTP include WinSCP and FileZilla.

In FTP a client connects to the FTP service and enters login information. Once logged in, the user can navigate the file structure to find the location that they need to get a file from or where to place a file. The selection is made and some connections and interchanges are made between the server and the client and finally, the file is placed or retrieved as requested by the end-user who can then log out of the client.

How to use FTP for File Transfer?

To transfer files via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), you need to establish an FTP connection. To make an FTP connection you can use a standard Web browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc.) or an FTP Client. To transfer a file with FTP you need to have an FTP account for the web space you are going to transfer the file to.

FTP Client Software

An FTP Client is a software designed to transfer files back-and-forth between a computer and a server over the Internet. It needs to be installed on your computer and can only be used with a live connection to the Internet.

With an FTP Client (such as FileZilla, Cyberduck or Transmit) uploading/downloading a file is really easy. Furthermore, FTP clients have some extra features. For example, you can resume a download that did not finish successfully. This is a very nice feature for people with slower Internet connections.

FTP clients’ interface is usually divided into two – the panel on the left shows the files and folders on your computer (Desktop, My Documents, etc,) and the panel on the right displays the files on the remote server (if this is your website hosting account, you will see the public_html folder, where the files of your site are stored).

FTP File Transfer

File transfers are made by simply dragging and dropping files from one pane to the other. Additional features of the FTP Client include multiple file transfers at a time, auto-resuming of the transfer, file queuing and more.

Free FTP Client Software

• FileZilla Tutorial

• Cyberduck

• Transmit