FileZilla vs. SolarWinds Serv-U

I use FileZilla to securely upload files that are not permitted to be sent via insecure methods like email or web forms. FileZilla is great to test the ability to "reach" the remote SFTP server and to verify my files arrived. Once I have tested that, then our internal IT group automates the uploads to these third parties, however I can always manually log into FIleZilla to verify the uploads.

Incentivized

For anyone who needs to receive/send files between themselves and others, in an organized fashion, I would strongly recommend Serv-U as a great tool at a sensible cost. In our line of work, we can get several customers signed in at once, each sending in hundreds of Megabytes of data simultaneously. Serv-U has never struggled with this. We don't use the Quota set up for sending/receiving data but I can see it is useful where an exchange of information is the point.

• Strips away unwanted underlying code from products that produce documents using any Microsoft product that is not needed in our products.
• The nice part is that it strips away hidden code such as ctrl and another digit that is not necessary or can be replaced with the correct coding to produce standard processes such as graphics using ANSI or another protocol as well as line feeds and header masks.
• We are in the process of determining if their pro product will function in the way we want it to across networks rather than going to each workstation to make changes decreasing our productivity.
• We are also evaluating whether their technical support is responsive.

• The Wizard allows us to create new user accounts very easily and quickly. We do not have a formal IT department so those of us "mere mortals" can use this easily.
• Using the Web Client has made it very simple to set up and instruct our customers on getting to the server from any device with a minimum of fuss. We have many customers with ESL, and school students including middle and high school. Most of them are not computer experts, just regular users so the simplicity allows to do the whole setup over the phone in minutes.
• The newer version of Serv-U does not appear to be very resource-hungry so our computer runs nice and fast, without having to be a top of the range powerbox. We concentrated on large storage to cope with the file sizes we receive daily.

• Website slow to download from - This is a minor gripe, and only a one time thing, but in writing this review I decided to install the latest version of FileZilla just to make sure I was running the latest and greatest. Turns out that it takes 10 minutes to download from their website, on a 50 Mbit dedicated business line.
• Some features locked behind Pro - The free version of FileZilla lacks some features that would be nice to have without requiring the upgrade to Pro. However, FileZilla Pro is quite affordable and so if you need integration with Google Drive, OneDrive, DropBox, Box, or many others, then it's definitely worth it.
• Auto-update could be improved - I had a version of FileZilla installed and it would not auto update. In fact, Mac OS X required me to remove it, saying that it was malware. I re-downloaded FileZilla again after this, but it was odd. At other times, it seems that FileZilla auto-updates just fine.

Incentivized

• The user interface on large screens becomes tiny and nearly unreadable without the aid of Windows Magnifier.
• Active Directory integration is either absent or not straightforward.
• Settings and configuration aren't always intuitive.

FileZilla is really easy to understand and makes it easy to log into servers to upload files. Moving files around is a breeze (even if it's a little tedious to wait for large quantities to move one by one) and editing html and css files directly is a feature it would be difficult for us to live without

Incentivized

I've always found the setup of FileZilla to be easy to use and setting up new sites has been quick. In working with FileZilla, I haven't had any issues. I rate it high because it's easy, quick, and free. I think anyone that is familiar with File Explorer can use FileZilla.

Incentivized

Support was the biggest hurdle for us. It definitely needs improvement, but not to the point of being a deal breaker.

Incentivized

Both perform the job they are expected to do, and they are easy to use. The FileZilla software is a desktop-based app, so I can only access it on the device on which it was installed. Cisco Secure Email allows you to send emails as you would normally, but the email and attachments are secure.

Incentivized

Previously we have used FileZilla and Microsoft FTP services, but neither out-performed Serv-U. although it was easy to use, FileZilla required constant attention from IT staff and did not live up to security protocol in place. The Windows Server FTP was difficult to configure for clients due to the tight integration with Active Directory. This also limited who could help administer the server.

• The fact that FileZilla is free is an immediate advantage over other filesharing applications when it comes to maintaining a tight budget.
• FileZilla being open-source means that new updates and maintenance are also cost-free.
• The fact that no licenses are required means zero capital expenditure, another bonus.

Incentivized

• I have been using it for over 10 years so the ROI was there for sure.
• It is not a constant attention needing program.
• Set up and it does its job.