FileZilla

ApplicationFileZilla Project

Also called filezilla client, filezilla ftp

FileZilla ProjectProductivity

The FileZilla Project's FTP and SFTP client. The process is filezilla.exe. Download only from filezilla-project.org. Some mirrors bundle extra offers.

What you need to know

Download FileZilla only from filezilla-project.org.

filezilla.exe is the FileZilla Client. Official builds are on filezilla-project.org. Some mirrors add bundled offers. WinSCP is a different SFTP GUI. FileZilla Server is a different product.

What is it?: FTP and SFTP client
Official site?: filezilla-project.org only
Same as WinSCP?: No. Different GUI and sites

Feex says

If a search ad offered FileZilla with a shopping helper, I would send you back to filezilla-project.org. I would not treat WinSCP bookmarks as this site manager.

What is FileZilla?

FileZilla Client is an FTP, FTPS, and SFTP GUI. It is not WinSCP and not FileZilla Server. Official binaries live on filezilla-project.org.

If you have never used it

If you need FTP or SFTP in a classic three-pane window, FileZilla Client is this product. Download it only from filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client. Some third-party pages wrap the installer with extra offers. WinSCP is a different Windows GUI. FileZilla Server is a different download.

What is it used for?

FTP and FTPS to a host

The site manager and transfer queue. WinSCP can do FTP too. The UI and saved sites are FileZilla's.

SFTP over SSH

SFTP is supported. PuTTY Pageant pairing is WinSCP's stronger story, not this client's identity.

Compare local and remote trees

The two-pane layout people remember from hosting control-panel docs.

Who is it for?

People whose web host still says use FTP
Anyone burned by a bundled FileZilla download
Users comparing it with WinSCP for SFTP

Current status

FileZilla (2001) is a current ftp and sftp client from FileZilla Project. The vendor still points Windows users at https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client.

How old is it?

The FileZilla Project started in 2001. The client is still the usual school and host-panel FTP app. Current 3.x builds are the product. FileZilla Server is a separate program.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

FileZilla Client

FileZilla Server (different product)

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the FileZilla Project
RAM	The client is small. Queue size follows the transfer

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
filezilla.exe	FileZilla Client window

Startup components

FileZilla can start with Windows if you allow it. That is a client setting, not a server service unless you installed Server.

File locations

Common FileZilla locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files\FileZilla FTP Client\

File formats

FTPSFTP

Common problems

Bundled offers on unofficial mirrors

The official type=client page is on filezilla-project.org. A FileZilla download on a shareware portal is the case to avoid.

Plain FTP on public Wi-Fi

FTP sends passwords in the clear unless you use FTPS or SFTP. That is a FileZilla protocol choice, not a WinSCP theme.

Getting unstuck

Re-download from filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client

If the installer offered extra toolbars, you were not on the project page.

Confirm you installed Client, not Server

FileZilla Server is a listener. This article is the client window.

Saved sites live in FileZilla, not WinSCP

Export from FileZilla's site manager if you need a backup. WinSCP.ini will not import them cleanly.

Alternatives

WinSCP if your shop already lives in PuTTY sessions. A browser is not a good FTP client. SFTP in Windows Terminal is the inbox command path.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client Official installer or vendor page
Help	wiki.filezilla-project.org/ Vendor support
Official site	filezilla-project.org/ Start here, not a random exe host
Client download only	filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client Official client. Not FileZilla Server

Related hardware

The client is light. Large trees follow the network and disk.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

FileZilla official site · Vendor product page
FileZilla help · Vendor support
FileZilla Wiki · Official client documentation
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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