Cyberduck - Helpful without Spending a Buck
December 23, 2019

Cyberduck - Helpful without Spending a Buck

Chris Oros | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Cyberduck

Cyberduck is being used by various members of our IT department (all with differing levels of technical background). Cyberduck is mainly used as a simple FTP tool (on Windows OS). Specifically, Cyberduck helps us retrieve encrypted or
non-encrypted files from external parties, an activity that comes in handy when an automated interface fails, or when testing file exchanges as part of a new vendor process. Being able to directly connect to external servers and retrieve files, as well as drop files on our own servers, is ideal for communicating with third parties (especially when ad hoc transferring) and not relying on automated batch processes.

Pros

  • Easy to install right after download, with a simplified UI for navigation.
  • Drag-and-drop view on the UI is easily understandable for any level of technical expertise.

Cons

  • The complexity in trying to configure and store SSH is odd for an FTP tool and probably the main drawback of Cyberduck.
  • Loads slowly and, at times, seems to have a slower transfer (upload/download) rate than other FTP applications.
  • Being free and with a supportive forum for troubleshooting, Cyberduck is a benefit for any cost-conscious organization.
  • Being an easy-to-use FTP client means that business users can be taught how to utilize the product, allowing for our IT department to have increased focus on other, higher-skill tasks.
FileZilla and WinSCP are the two main alternatives to Cyberduck within my organization, and really the two main freeware competitors that I know of. Cyberduck is suited for those without a high level of technical background, and as one might guess, is also the easiest to use and navigate. FileZilla and WinSCP are both easier to use when it comes to key storage and SSH configuration, but these are tasks that our IT department does on Cyberduck for users with less technical knowledge. By us doing these tasks, the end business user is able to utilize a simple tool for their needs.
Developers and testers of Cybderduck seem to be a close-knit, active community, and proud of their product. Cyberduck's main website has an easy-to-use forum where any question can be asked, as well as a well-developed catalogue of FAQs. I have visited help pages for other applications that have sometimes had a contemptuous attitude from a small coterie of administrators, but Cyberduck's community is not at all like that.

Do you think Cyberduck delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cyberduck's feature set?

Yes

Did Cyberduck live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Cyberduck go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cyberduck again?

Yes

Cyberduck is well-suited for the beginner user, though it can also be leveraged by others with increased skill level. The easy-to-navigate, non-cluttered UI is suited for those who really just need to exchange files with a third party vendor every now and then. The ability to edit documents within the application itself is also a key feature, as this means you do not need to waste time downloading a document, editing, and then saving and reuploading it.
Being freeware while also having decent technical support from an active online community means it's a great alternative to any non-free product and for any organization watching costs closely. Compared to other FTP apps out there (I'm looking at you, FileZilla...), Cyberduck does not come with bloatware that causes unnecessary pop-ups and slowdowns.

Comments

More Reviews of Cyberduck

  1. Home
  2. Storage Management Software
  3. Cyberduck Reviews
  4. User Review of Cyberduck