{"id":35113,"date":"2026-07-17T13:29:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T13:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/?post_type=ht_kb&#038;p=35113"},"modified":"2026-07-17T13:29:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T13:29:20","slug":"ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/","title":{"rendered":"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choosing the right file transfer method is important for keeping your website secure while making it easy to upload, download and manage your website files. This means choosing FTP vs SFTP becomes an important choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide will help you understand the difference between FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) when transferring files to and from your 1-grid hosting account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end of this guide,\u00a0you&#8217;ll\u00a0understand when to use each protocol and which\u00a0option\u00a0is best for your website.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-grid-Images-for-KB-Articles-1000-x-600-px-1.png\" alt=\"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\" class=\"wp-image-35115\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-block-toc is-style-rounded htoc htoc--position-wide toc-list-style-plain\" data-htoc-state=\"expanded\"><span class=\"htoc__title\"><span class=\"ht_toc_title\">Quick Links<\/span><span class=\"htoc__toggle\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><g fill=\"#444\"><path d=\"M15 7H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><path d=\"M15 1H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1zM15 13H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/span><div class=\"htoc__itemswrap\"><ul class=\"ht_toc_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-understanding-ftp-vs-sftp\">Understanding FTP vs SFTP&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-when-should-you-use-ftp\">When Should You Use FTP?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-when-should-you-use-sftp\">When Should You Use SFTP?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-steps-to-access-ftp-or-sftp\">Steps to Access FTP vs SFTP\u00a0<\/a><ul class=\"ht_toc_child_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-step-1-log-in-to-your-1-grid-client-portal\">Step 1: Log in to your 1-grid Client Portal&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-step-2-open-your-hosting-service\">Step 2: Open Your Hosting Service&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-step-3-locate-your-ftp-accounts\">Step 3:&nbsp;Locate&nbsp;Your FTP Accounts&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-step-4-confirm-whether-sftp-is-available\">Step 4: Confirm Whether SFTP Is Available&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-step-5-connect-using-an-ftp-client\">Step 5: Connect Using an FTP Client&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-what-this-means\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What This Means<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FTP and SFTP are protocols used to transfer files between your computer and your web hosting server.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>They allow you to:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-upload-website-files\">Upload website files\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-download-backups\">Download backups\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-edit-website-content\">Edit website content\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-manage-folders\">Manage folders\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-transfer-media-and-application-files\">Transfer media and application files\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While both methods perform similar tasks, the biggest difference is\u00a0<strong>security<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-ftp-transfers-information-without-encryption\"><strong>FTP<\/strong>\u00a0transfers information without <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Encryption\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>encryption<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-sftp-encrypts-all-communication-between-your-computer-and-the-hosting-server-helping-protect-your-login-credentials-and-files\"><strong>SFTP<\/strong>\u00a0encrypts all communication between your computer and the hosting server, helping protect your login credentials and files.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most customers,\u00a0<strong>SFTP is the recommended\u00a0option<\/strong>, especially for live websites.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-understanding-ftp-vs-sftp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding FTP vs SFTP<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>FTP<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>SFTP<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Full Name&nbsp;<\/td><td>File Transfer Protocol&nbsp;<\/td><td>Secure File Transfer Protocol&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Encryption&nbsp;<\/td><td>No&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Default Port&nbsp;<\/td><td>21&nbsp;<\/td><td>22&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Connection Type&nbsp;<\/td><td>Standard connection&nbsp;<\/td><td>Secure SSH connection&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Password Protection&nbsp;<\/td><td>Unencrypted&nbsp;<\/td><td>Encrypted&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Recommended for Live Websites&nbsp;<\/td><td>No&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-when-should-you-use-ftp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Should You Use FTP?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>FTP may be suitable when:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-working-on-a-local-development-environment\">Working on a local development environment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-transferring-non-sensitive-files\">Transferring non-sensitive files.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-working-on-an-isolated-or-trusted-internal-network\">Working on an isolated or trusted internal network.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-connecting-to-older-systems-that-do-not-support-sftp\">Connecting to older systems that do not support SFTP.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because FTP does not encrypt your connection, it is\u00a0generally\u00a0<strong>not\u00a0recommended<\/strong>\u00a0for managing production websites.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-when-should-you-use-sftp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Should You Use SFTP?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SFTP is recommended when:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-managing-a-live-website\">Managing a live website.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-uploading-customer-or-business-information\">Uploading customer or business information.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-working-on-an-ecommerce-website\">Working on an eCommerce website.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-transferring-backups\">Transferring backups.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-editing-website-files-remotely\">Editing website files remotely.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-connecting-over-public-or-shared-internet-connections\">Connecting over public or shared internet connections.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SFTP encrypts both your credentials and your file transfers, making it the safer\u00a0option\u00a0for most website owners.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-steps-to-access-ftp-or-sftp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Steps to Access FTP vs SFTP\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"htoc-step-1-log-in-to-your-1-grid-client-portal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: Log in to your 1-grid Client Portal<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. Sign in to your <a href=\"https:\/\/1-grid.com\/client\/clientarea.php?\"><strong>1-grid Customer Zone<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"htoc-step-2-open-your-hosting-service\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 2: Open Your Hosting Service<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. Navigate to your hosting service and access your hosting management area.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"htoc-step-3-locate-your-ftp-accounts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3:&nbsp;Locate&nbsp;Your FTP Accounts<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. Open the <strong>FTP Accounts<\/strong> section.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here you can:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-view-existing-ftp-accounts\">View existing FTP accounts\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-create-additional-ftp-users\">Create\u00a0additional\u00a0FTP users\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-reset-ftp-passwords\">Reset FTP passwords\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-manage-ftp-access\">Manage FTP access\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"htoc-step-4-confirm-whether-sftp-is-available\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 4: Confirm Whether SFTP Is Available<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SFTP\u00a0requires<strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssh.com\/academy\/ssh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SSH<\/a><\/strong> support.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Availability depends on your hosting package.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If SFTP is available on your hosting plan, use:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-hostname\">Hostname\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-username\">Username\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-password-or-ssh-key\">Password or SSH Key\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-port-22\">Port\u00a0<strong>22<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"htoc-step-5-connect-using-an-ftp-client\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 5: Connect Using an FTP Client<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. <strong>Open your preferred FTP client, such as:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-filezilla\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/filezilla-project.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FileZilla\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-winscp\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winscp.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WinSCP<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-cyberduck\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cyberduck.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Cyberduck\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Enter your connection details.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For FTP:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-port-21\">Port\u00a0<strong>21<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For SFTP:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-port-221\">Port\u00a0<strong>22<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Connect to your hosting account and begin transferring files.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-best-practices\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Best Practices for FTP vs SFTP<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For the most secure experience:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-use-sftp-whenever-possible\">Use SFTP whenever possible.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-use-strong-unique-passwords\">Use strong, unique passwords.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-remove-ftp-accounts-you-no-longer-use\">Remove FTP accounts you no longer use.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-keep-your-ftp-client-updated\">Keep your FTP client updated.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-back-up-your-website-before-making-major-changes\">Back up your website before making major changes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-only-grant-ftp-access-to-trusted-users\">Only grant FTP access to trusted users.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-important-things-to-know\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Important Things to Know<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-ftp-is-still-supported-by-many-hosting-platforms-but-is-less-secure-than-sftp\">FTP is still supported by many hosting platforms but is less secure than SFTP.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-sftp-requires-ssh-access-which-may-not-be-available-on-every-hosting-package\">SFTP\u00a0requires\u00a0SSH access, which may not be available on every hosting package.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-your-ftp-username-and-password-may-differ-from-your-cpanel-login-credentials\">Your FTP username and password may differ from your cPanel login credentials.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-changing-your-ftp-password-does-not-change-your-hosting-account-password\">Changing your FTP password does not change your hosting account password.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-some-firewall-or-antivirus-software-may-block-ftp-or-sftp-connections-until-permission-is-granted\">Some\u00a0firewall\u00a0or antivirus software may block FTP or SFTP connections until permission is granted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-before-you-move-on\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Before You Move On<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before connecting to your hosting account, confirm that:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-you-re-using-the-correct-hostname\">You&#8217;re\u00a0using the correct hostname.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-your-username-and-password-are-correct\">Your username and password are correct.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-you-ve-selected-the-correct-port-21-for-ftp-or-22-for-sftp\">You&#8217;ve\u00a0selected the correct port (21 for FTP or 22 for SFTP).\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-your-hosting-account-is-active\">Your hosting account is active.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-ssh-is-enabled-if-you-re-using-sftp\">SSH is enabled if\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0using SFTP.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-common-mistakes-to-avoid\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common Mistakes to Avoid<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-using-ftp-instead-of-sftp-for-a-live-website\">Using FTP instead of SFTP for a live website.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-entering-the-wrong-connection-port\">Entering the wrong connection port.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-confusing-ftp-credentials-with-cpanel-login-details\">Confusing FTP credentials with cPanel login details.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-leaving-unused-ftp-accounts-active\">Leaving unused FTP accounts active.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-connecting-over-unsecured-public-wi-fi-using-ftp\">Connecting over unsecured public Wi-Fi using FTP.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-if-this-didn-t-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>If This Didn&#8217;t Work<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;unable to connect:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-verify-your-ftp-or-sftp-credentials\">Verify your FTP or SFTP credentials.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-confirm-you-re-using-the-correct-hostname\">Confirm\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0using the correct hostname.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-check-that-the-correct-port-is-selected\">Check that the correct port is selected.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-ensure-your-firewall-isn-t-blocking-the-connection\">Ensure your\u00a0firewall\u00a0isn&#8217;t\u00a0blocking the connection.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-confirm-that-ssh-access-is-enabled-if-using-sftp\">Confirm that SSH access is enabled if using SFTP.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you still need\u00a0assistance, please provide:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-your-domain-name\">Your domain name\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-hosting-package\">Hosting package\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-ftp-client-you-re-using\">FTP client\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0using\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-full-error-message\">Full error message\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-screenshot-of-the-connection-settings-excluding-your-password\">Screenshot of the connection settings (excluding your password)\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This will help us troubleshoot your connection more efficiently.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-related-articles\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related Articles<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"htoc-how-to-create-an-ftp-account\"><a href=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/?s=create+FTP&amp;ht-kb-search=1&amp;lang=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How to Create an FTP Account\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-how-to-connect-to-your-website-using-filezilla\"><a href=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/how-to-connect-to-sftp-using-filezilla\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How to Connect to SFTP using FileZilla<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-how-to-reset-an-ftp-password\"><a href=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/?s=FTP+Password&amp;ht-kb-search=1&amp;lang=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How to Reset an FTP Password\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-how-to-enable-ssh-access\"><a href=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/?s=SSH&amp;ht-kb-search=1&amp;lang=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>SSH Access Guides<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"htoc-how-to-manage-files-in-cpanel-file-manager\"><a href=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/how-to-upload-a-file-using-file-manager-cpanel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How to Upload a File Using File Manager\u00a0in cPanel\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Is SFTP more secure than FTP?\u00a0<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"htoc-yes-sftp-encrypts-your-connection-and-protects-your-login-credentials-and-transferred-files\">Yes. SFTP encrypts your connection and protects your login credentials and transferred files.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Can I still use FTP?\u00a0<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"htoc-yes-ftp-is-still-supported-on-many-hosting-platforms-but-sftp-is-recommended-whenever-available\">Yes. FTP is still supported on many hosting platforms, but SFTP is recommended whenever available.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Does SFTP use different login details?\u00a0<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"htoc-usually-not\">Usually not.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"htoc-in-most-cases-you-use-the-same-hosting-credentials-unless-ssh-keys-have-been-configured\">In most cases, you use the same hosting credentials unless SSH keys have been configured.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Why can&#8217;t I connect using SFTP?\u00a0<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"htoc-your-hosting-package-may-not-include-ssh-access-or-ssh-may-not-yet-be-enabled\">Your hosting package may not include SSH access, or SSH may not yet be enabled.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Which port should I use for FTP vs SFTP?\u00a0<\/strong><\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>FTP uses Port&nbsp;<strong>21<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SFTP uses Port&nbsp;<strong>22<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Which FTP client should I use?\u00a0<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"htoc-popular-ftp-clients-include\">Popular FTP clients include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>FileZilla&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WinSCP&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cyberduck&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"htoc-all-support-sftp-connections\">All support SFTP connections.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-empowering-insight\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Empowering Insight<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1-grid-Images-for-KB-Articles-1000-x-600-px-1600-x-300-px.png\" alt=\"Empowering Insight\" class=\"wp-image-34464\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choosing SFTP over FTP is one of the simplest ways to improve your website&#8217;s security. A secure connection helps protect both your website files and your login credentials every time you connect.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"htoc-need-additional-support\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need Additional Support?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;still unable to connect using FTP or SFTP after following this guide, our Support team is happy to help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Contact us <\/strong><\/a>with your domain name, hosting package details, FTP client, and any error messages ready so we can\u00a0assist\u00a0you more efficiently.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing the right file transfer method is important for keeping your website secure while making it easy to upload, download and manage your website files. This means choosing FTP vs SFTP becomes an important choice. This guide will help you understand the difference between FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SFTP&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"ht-kb-category":[1174],"ht-kb-tag":[1929,407,434,1931,1927,470,1928,909,1930],"class_list":["post-35113","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","ht_kb_category-hosting","ht_kb_tag-file-transfer-protocol","ht_kb_tag-filezilla","ht_kb_tag-ftp","ht_kb_tag-ftp-client","ht_kb_tag-ftp-hosting","ht_kb_tag-hosting","ht_kb_tag-secure-file-transfer","ht_kb_tag-sftp","ht_kb_tag-ssh-file-transfer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0 - 1-grid Knowledge Base<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the difference between FTP vs SFTP, when to use each protocol, and how to securely connect to your 1-grid hosting account.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0 - 1-grid Knowledge Base\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn the difference between FTP vs SFTP, when to use each protocol, and how to securely connect to your 1-grid hosting account.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"1-grid Knowledge Base\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/1grid.co.za\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-17T13:29:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-grid-Images-for-KB-Articles-1000-x-600-px-1.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@1grid_hosting\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/\",\"name\":\"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0 - 1-grid Knowledge Base\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-17T13:29:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-17T13:29:20+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn the difference between FTP vs SFTP, when to use each protocol, and how to securely connect to your 1-grid hosting account.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/\",\"name\":\"1-Grid Domain Hosting Knowledge Base\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#organization\",\"name\":\"1-Grid Domain Hosting Knowledge Base\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/1-grid-logo-color.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/1-grid-logo-color.svg\",\"width\":100,\"height\":100,\"caption\":\"1-Grid Domain Hosting Knowledge Base\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/1grid.co.za\/\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/1grid_hosting\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/1grid_hosting\/\",\"https:\/\/za.linkedin.com\/company\/1-grid\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0 - 1-grid Knowledge Base","description":"Learn the difference between FTP vs SFTP, when to use each protocol, and how to securely connect to your 1-grid hosting account.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0 - 1-grid Knowledge Base","og_description":"Learn the difference between FTP vs SFTP, when to use each protocol, and how to securely connect to your 1-grid hosting account.","og_url":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/","og_site_name":"1-grid Knowledge Base","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/1grid.co.za\/","article_modified_time":"2026-07-17T13:29:20+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-grid-Images-for-KB-Articles-1000-x-600-px-1.png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@1grid_hosting","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/","url":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/","name":"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0 - 1-grid Knowledge Base","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-07-17T13:29:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-17T13:29:20+00:00","description":"Learn the difference between FTP vs SFTP, when to use each protocol, and how to securely connect to your 1-grid hosting account.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/ftp-vs-sftp-which-should-you-use-1-grid\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use? | 1-grid\u00a0"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#website","url":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/","name":"1-Grid Domain Hosting Knowledge Base","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#organization","name":"1-Grid Domain Hosting Knowledge Base","url":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/1-grid-logo-color.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/1-grid-logo-color.svg","width":100,"height":100,"caption":"1-Grid Domain Hosting Knowledge Base"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/1grid.co.za\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/1grid_hosting","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/1grid_hosting\/","https:\/\/za.linkedin.com\/company\/1-grid"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/35113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35113"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/35113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35118,"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/35113\/revisions\/35118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=35113"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1grid.co.za\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=35113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}