If you searched for WinSCP by name rather than a generic term like 'FTP client,' you likely already know you need it, probably for managing a web host, VPS, or Raspberry Pi over SFTP. This page skips the explanation of what an SFTP client is and gets straight to the current installer, plus one setup detail that trips up new users: the portable version option. The full product page covers scripting and automation if you need those later.
Installer vs Portable Version
WinSCP offers both a standard installer and a portable ZIP build that runs with no installation, useful on locked-down work PCs or when carrying it on a USB drive. Both versions are built from the same open-source codebase, so there's no feature difference between them.
It's Windows-only software, but it can connect to Linux, macOS, or any server running an SSH/SFTP or FTP daemon, so the remote system's OS doesn't matter.
Who ends up using WinSCP
System administrators managing web hosts, developers deploying to VPS instances, and hobbyists configuring a Raspberry Pi over SFTP all reach for WinSCP.
- Web developers uploading site files to a shared host or VPS over SFTP
- Sysadmins scripting automated nightly backups from a remote Linux server
- Hobbyists configuring a Raspberry Pi or home server without a graphical desktop
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about WinSCP before you request the link: it only ships for Windows, so double-check that's the machine you're installing it on before you request the link. And on pricing, WinSCP is open source, so the installer is free with no trial timer, feature lock, or upsell screen to click past. It's developed and maintained by Martin Prikryl.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
It's a lightweight tool, so there's no serious CPU/RAM/storage requirement beyond what its OS already needs to run comfortably.
Quick steps
- Pick installer or portable ZIP depending on whether you have admin rights
- Enter your server's hostname, username, and password or SSH key on first connect
- Drag files between the local and remote panes to transfer them
WinSCP: the honest trade-offs
- Familiar dual-pane, drag-and-drop interface makes remote file management intuitive
- Supports SFTP, FTP, SCP, and WebDAV in one free open-source client
- Built-in scripting console enables unattended, automated file transfers
- Windows-only, so Mac and Linux users need a different client entirely
- Interface feels dated next to newer cross-platform file transfer tools
The build here matches what's published on WinSCP's official SourceForge and GitHub release pages, unaltered.
Other File Management & Compression downloads people search for
Browse the full File Management & Compression category →
Keeping WinSCP up to date
Since WinSCP is open source, most Linux distributions keep it current through their own package manager. On Windows/macOS, re-running the installer from the official site (or an updater built into the app, if it has one) gets you the latest release. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main WinSCP page.
Frequently asked questions
Can WinSCP connect using an SSH private key instead of a password?
Yes, it supports key-based authentication for SFTP and SCP connections, including keys generated in PuTTY's format.
Does WinSCP support scripting for automated transfers?
Yes, it includes a scripting console and can be automated via .NET assembly for scheduled or unattended file transfers.
