TrustRadius

Best Managed File Transfer (MFT) Software 2025

Managed File Transfer (MFT) Software simply manages the secure transfer of data or files from one computer user to another, with the benefit that the MFT solution should offer more security than standard file transfer protocol (FTP), and possibly include monitoring, alerting, reporting and auditing, and other security features to prevent data loss.

We’ve collected videos, features, and capabilities below. Take me there.

All Products

Learn More about Managed File Transfer (MFT) Software

What is Managed File Transfer (MFT) Software?

Managed File Transfer (MFT) software facilitates the movement of data or files between systems. MFT solutions improve upon the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) standard to include a suite of additional functions, including monitoring, alerting, reporting, and auditing.

FTP is a vestige of the ARPANET era, constructed as a simple way to move files in early computer networks. Therefore, it predates the contemporary facets of the internet and its related security considerations. While it has evolved, with newer versions incorporating encryption, best practices dictate organizations routinely transferring sensitive documents should not solely rely on classic FTP.

Managed File Transfer (MFT) solutions arose more recently to overcome FTP's shortcomings. As its name implies, MFT packages management features on top of transmission capabilities, while also implementing security and compliance features that FTP platforms do not include, or would have to rely on complicated, ad hoc scripting to achieve.

Features and Capabilities


Key features of professional MFT software include:

  • Data sharing and transfer
  • Integration of multiple data transmission protocols
  • Encryption support
  • Database management
  • API integration
  • Authentication and Auditing
  • Fail-over, redundancy and load-balancing
  • Compression

MFT Software Comparison



To compare different MFT tools, consider these factors for each product offering:

Platform Compatibility: MFTs may entail limitations regarding which Operating Systems and Hardware on which they can function. An awareness of the enterprise IT infrastructure is needed so an MFT can be properly implemented on systems.

Interface Variables: Some MFTs will present a GUI environment, while others will be more console or terminal-based. Select the one that best fits your environment, with attention to factors like ease-of-use, the overhead of processing, and user expertise.

Licensing: There may be restrictions on the use and distribution of MFT suites. Some will be open-source and available on that model of circulation, while others may be strictly proprietary and locked into a vendor's support. Consider this while envisioning how to scale the MFT.

Start a Managed File Transfer (MFT) software comparison

Pricing Information



While there are free and/or open-source FTP software products available, their MFT counterparts are not as common. Most MFT products will charge by the amount of data transferred, but may be free up to a certain amount. Many products offer pay-as-you-go plans, which charge only for data your organization actually transfers. However, enterprises may benefit from high-intensity plans which charge per server. Pay-as-you-go plans can cost as low as $1USD per gigabyte. MFT server pricing can range anywhere from $3,000-$15,000, also dependent on server capacity.

Related Categories

Managed File Transfer (MFT) FAQs

What is managed file transfer (MFT) software?

Managed File Transfer (MFT) software facilitates the movement of data or files between systems. MFT solutions improve upon the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) standard to include a suite of additional functions, including monitoring, alerting, reporting, and auditing.

What are the differences between managed file transfer (MFT) and file transfer protocol (FTP)?

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a vestige of the ARPANET era, constructed as a simple way to move files in early computer networks. Therefore, it predates the contemporary facets of the internet and its related security considerations. While it has evolved, with newer versions incorporating encryption, best practices dictate organizations routinely transferring sensitive documents ought not to rely on classic FTP.

Managed File Transfer (MFT) solutions arose more recently to overcome FTP's shortcomings. As its name implies, MFT packages management features on top of transmission capabilities, while also implementing security and compliance features that FTP platforms do not include, or would have to rely on complicated, ad hoc scripting to achieve.

What are the pros of managed file transfer (MFT)?

MFT can benefit your organization or business by:

  • Ensuring and securing reliable data transmission
  • Providing visibility into data movement within infrastructure
  • Upgrading and simplifying file transfers and their related maintenance
  • Implementing industry-standard practices around encryption of network traffic
OSZAR »