SmartFTP Reviews 24

This is a scam. I purchased the software and was told it required an "update". Zero mention that the update would invalidate the license. I was under the gun so I went ahead and paid another $69 extortion fee to reactivate the software. It is still bricked and I'm out more money. AVOID.

Update 7/30/2025: Original review from 6-15-2024 deleted. I found a major bug in their client that is not present in any other FTP client at all. Downloads to SMB shares over anything but SFTP perform incredibly terribly. This is on multiple devices and every other client is completely fine. Multiple clients saturate my line on FTP.

I've contacted support several times and gave them more than a week to respond to me. I have been completely ignored now, likely because they saw my review exposing their business practices. I was previously an extremely happy customer and willing to pay for their software. I even said it was an incredibly well-written client and quite possibly the best on the market. I was incredibly unhappy that they discontinued the ability to purchase software maintenance on my already purchased perpetual license without any notice, and then raised prices on subscriptions without any notice, and canceled my subscription, so one day my software would just simply stop working, not auto-renew, and I would suddenly find that I have to pay a higher price with no notice.

I have previously contacted support and received responses in just about a day, sometimes hours.

I have an active subscription and I'm entitled to support.

This is truly an awful company. I suggest no one do business with them.

6/27/2025: Update
I am reducing my rating by three stars. While SmartFTP is by far the most polished, stable, and one of the fastest FTP clients on the market, I am not happy with some of the consumer-unfriendly business decisions made by the vendor. First, last year they terminated the ability to purchase maintenance for my perpetual license. This means that my perpetual license that I purchased in 2018 can no longer receive updates after the maintenance expires, forcing me to purchase a subscription license to continue receiving updates. This was done with no notice, not even an email or a blog post or anything. Just done suddenly. I had to contact support to see what was going on.

Second, after purchasing a subscription license, out of nowhere, they raised the price of the subscription license and also provided no notification. It also appeared that my subscription had been terminated, yet on the side of their payment provider, PayPro, my subscription had not been terminated. Therefore, if I didn't catch that, I likely would have been charged $70 for a subscription that would not have provided me with any software. I asked support about this, and they were unsure of what happened, advising me to cancel the subscription on the PayPro side.

On top of that, they continue to sell perpetual licenses at double the price of what they were previously. A Professional license sold perpetually costs nearly $200. This $200 license can only get updates for one year. Suppose a Windows feature update comes out. That $200 license will cease to work when the feature update comes out. You can no longer purchase maintenance for perpetual licenses, meaning that this perpetual license will be dead in the water once the feature update comes out and prevents it from working because they put a block newer builds of Windows until they officially support it with an update. They also do not provide a repository of old versions, so even if you wanted to stay on an old version of Windows, it's up to you to make sure you keep the latest installer you're entitled to, which is very hard to do because they update the software 2-3 times a month without clear changelogs. It's very easy to miss that window and then completely lose access to the installer you need. Therefore, as you cannot purchase maintenance on your $200 license, by buying a $200 perpetual license, you essentially burn $200 with none of this disclosed up front.

I would've been fine paying for my subscription license if they were just frank with me that the price was going up and maybe notified me by an email. It was a $5 increase, not such a big deal. Combined with these other business practice issues, I can no longer consciously give this developer my money anymore. I am not giving them a one-star review because they make genuinely excellent software. However, they don't treat their customers well, and this is just not a company I would recommend supporting.

Dear SmartFTP person. (mb?)
Sell the source/software.. go retire to a beach.

Or start taking this seriously..

I've been using SmartFTP since early 2009, and I have been generally content with how the tool works. But as almost everyone here reports, I've had issues with the tool abruptly refusing to start up until I paid for a license renewal.

I’m frustrated for the following reasons:
• I initially bought a copy of the software with the understanding that once installed, it would keep working. That is how it worked for me for the first few years. Then I was forced into a new licensing model.
• The annual pricing is way out-of-line within the FTP tool market. The first time or two, it was easier to pay to regain access to credentials for my various client sites. Now, I realize that I’m better off putting in the time to migrate these credentials to a new tool, instead of paying each year for the overpriced license.
• The product has forced me to download and upgrade the tool upon certain Windows updates. Even if I choose a perpetual license, the tool is bound to lock me out within a few months after the initial year expires.
• The website for managing my account is not intuitive and hard to use.
• From my user experience, I found it hard to understand their links, terms, and licensing. I found it hard to find a way to cancel.
• I found customer support to be rude, telling me it’s my fault… (I clicked an obfuscated link on their site and was not given an online option to undo or change an unintended upgrade to an even more expensive version. During a support ticket, they stated _I_ made the mistake but they did give me a refund and removed that upgrade.)

I would keep using the tool were it like most installable software and priced competitively within the FTP market. As it is, after 13+ years, before my current license expires, I am leaving and not coming back.

SmartFTP SCAMMERS!

Recent windows update caused SmartFTP to stop working, I was forced to download an update that got it working again, but now it says my maintenance has run out and I have to buy a new one for $400! I have paid this $400 twice already, once in 2018 and once in 2020. I am not doing it again!

They claim the license is perpetual, but the make sure that windows updates brake their junk software, then you have no choice but to update SmartFTP which triggers having to pay again.

TOTAL SCAM! JUNK SOFTWARE.

I am going to FileZilla, does the same thing, probably better for free, Pro version is only like $20!

In my search for a WebDAV client to replace my FULLY REGISTERED copy of SmartFTP that I was SCAMMED out of, I discovered several good alternatives. Do a google search and you'll find them too (honest companies).

I had been using SmartFTP version version 4 for years, and depended on it. Recently reluctantly upgraded to Windows 10, and needed the latest version of SmartFTP 9 for Windows 10.

The new version is just unusable. For example, saved connections are much harder to launch, drag and drop uses this enormous icon so one cannot see the destination folder, the file tree constantly resets, the terminal windows flashes, and the local window does not get preserved. In addition, settings are spread out under at least 6 different menus/options so changing anything is going on a frustrating search.

A real pity.

Like other people have mentioned, they disabled your ability to reinstall this software. I received a notification about a new version, and I upgraded. Then I was told I did not have a license for the new version, so I uninstalled it and tried to reinstall my old version. Nope. "Product Version Not Supported". It was working fine a few minutes ago!

Try and contact support? no response. Try and go to forums? Sorry you don't have a valid license.

I have supported them for years, having bought several paid versions. Give your money to someone who deserves it, not these scammers.

9.28.2020: I see that SmartFTP has finally replied. They are being dishonest with their reply. They never replied to my email. I can't access the forums ( I think they shut them down in 2016 ). Never a good sign.

The reality is that I bought a copy of the software, and they ACTIVELY prevented me from running it on windows10, by saying the version I bought wasn't licensed for windows 10 ( only up to windows 7 ). I had bought it before windows10 existed, and it ran FINE on windows 10.

Once they get your money, don't expect to ever hear from them again. FTP isn't rocket science, plenty of free software does the same thing.

Have paid to use SmartFTP for many years. It was the best, at first. Then came the developer in god mode to redo the navigation of SmartFTP with the 'Ribbon' navigation concept. Now all the cool features are tucked away in a maze of random clicks and ribbons. I paid to extend my license, thinking Developer might use my $ to develop better navigation and correct the issues caused by his idea of ribbon navigation and it hasn't changed. Now the time is up and it's time for me to pay again if I want to see, hope, and wish he would improve the UI of the software. I emailed him about the trouble I was having navigating the ribbon as he set it up. He effectively told me to 'get used to it - that it was staying and he would not be changing it'. Well, alrighty then. Your god and I am simply a paying customer who will NEVER change my mind about NEVER paying you again. Buh-Bye

Purchased enterprise version in 2016. Now suddenly license has expired. Would need to 'renew' for $179.Current program rendered worthless. Lol. For a simple utility ftp program, when there are endless substitute solutions out there. ok then. good bye cash cow. if you were a stock, i would short the hell out of you. good luck.

STOP buying this FTP Client. After every Windows 10 Update, the Software stops working. If you are out of maintenance, you have to buy the software again and again and again. It is not even possible to get your saved favorites out of the application. I have paid three times for this software.

This is not how to deal with your paying customers.

Expensive and short term, I have a permanent license but no access to installer

Couldn't even download the product successfully and when I requested a refund they simply said, "No."

Purchased in 2012 for approx 50$
Version was not functional after a Reinstallation.. all Favorites Domain Log-ins where not reachable.. so I purchased a 1 year Maintenance for another approx 50$ in 2014
Now again the software cant be started without any reason telling me that the code is not activated for the Windows OS I am using.. without any reinstallation or change..
The software version for wich I had payed is not available online.
Only option is purchase a new maintenance period or buy the software for 79$... unclear is for wich duration that would be possible to use.. they change the Software Version frequently to bring you in troubles and force you to purchase theire maintenance..
STAY AWAY!!!

Honest opinion is this: It is a total ripoff! I have over $100 invested in this program and today it once again told me that my program needs to be activated, it has turned into a "Trial" that has expired! Bull!

The maintenance period is expired and I can't even install the version I paid for again, says the license is expired!

Reading others dismay at the exact same problem, SmartFTP replied that a user could reinstall the program that they originally purchased, or for me, the last upgrade I bought. DOES NOT WORK!

Worst part is, I really need it and their is no grace period. So, thought I'd contact their support to try to get this working and you need a service contract to contact them!
The Upgrade cost today is $49.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dang, that should be a one-time cost.

Last version I had upgraded too in 2016 is v7.x.x.x. It is not even in their repository to download.

I will not be paying SFTP another penny. I advise everyone to stay away, unless you want to spend $30-50 every year renewing AND what you paid for and have keys to will no longer work.

Crooks! You've been advised of their behavior.

25 February 2018

Unable to install/activate versions released within maintenance period after maintenance expires.

Raised prices to make room for a subscription service that they are trying to force users into.

I have been licensed since 2008 and will not renew for 2017/18 or ever use again since they have made it useless not allowing me to activate a version that was released during my maintenance period.

Having bought a license, the good it cost was not so expensive and was perpetual, I forgot for myself about the many moments that I so strained in other customers. So it was until the developers did not update the version, which was no longer part of the scope of the license. Failed activation failures, the client turned into a window offering to buy. A flurry of complaints erupted on the developer forum. To which they replied that they say all rights are respected. Having the means and means, I had to buy an expanded version, and for the time being forgetting about this moment. I updated the client under the license, then I simply stopped, because I did not need to buy a license that was not cheap for the sake of a new number, but the functionality was enough with interest and so on.

Until released version 6 (I have a license for the entire lineup of version 4) and everything ... the joy is over. Now the client immediately issues a notice on the need to buy a license. After specifying an existing license, the client issues an unknown license check error and opens the site on the license purchase page.

Well, as an honest man, I wrote in the support through the feedback form. Month of silence. Created a topic on the forum. On what the administration offered me to go into the program and from inside write a ticker to the support service. I had to ask whether they read that the program does not start at all. Now for a long time this thread is simply ignored with a question. And judging by the search similar complaints were from other users, but alas in these branches did not get, since access to either is limited.

Wishing that users buy the new version, apparently the developers of SmartFTP, simply again nullified the purchased licenses of previous versions. That's so simple, the money spent (and in sum they are not so small) are flown into the pipe and you have nobody unnecessary license code and a program that does not work. Will I buy a new license? No! Where the confidence that the developers will not come up with another reason to reset your purchase, it is not. And I do not advise buying the rest.

UPD 2022 03
I bought two licenses, I showed you one of them as per your request. And she one of them was perpetual license. The claim is that having an active license, your software stopped working, offering me to buy a new one, which is indicated in the recall. Used license just nulled. In principle, it is impossible to write to the support service through the application if you have a license request or a connection error. I don't know if this is on purpose or a developres error. And no, I couldn’t work, because the software began to offer to buy, thereby blocking the work, so you're not right. Speech that I tried to download the new version and was not. You ignored all requests and woke up only after 5 years. For 5 years, the only reaction was only here, but neither on the forum nor through support requests, you did not answer, despite this you dare to write otherwise in your answer now. Starting with claims, telling what I can and what I can't. Unlike you, I am responsible for my work, and do not provide the product "as is".

STAY AWAY!! You can't install it again if there is a new version out.. It says it's out of date. So your forced to upgrade (IF YOU WISH TO USE IT AGAIN) or you can not install the version you paid for. SMART FTP use to be amazing the go to FTP program then they became greedy.

Great software interface, but an overall horrible experience!! Stay away from this company.
Upon contacting customer support with a request for my license email registrar to be changed because I noticed my account was somehow compromised( likely a company database hack?? I.E. unwillingly shared license key)
Despite not being my fault customer support stripped my license - an effective loss of almost $100. I had been a customer for over 5 years and was just entering into my 2nd year of a 3 year paid maintenance period.
[cost of the program + 1year maintenance is $70] yearly maintenance fee is $30 if purchased 3 years in advance.

Stay away!! There are other better options on the market or even free alternatives.

EDIT*** smart ftp claims you can still use the program without paying the maintenance fee (which is a load of crock- you can't) nor can you use the program when they delete your paid for license from their system. Again STAY AWAY.