{"id":"privacy-safety.should-i-use-ftp-or-sftp","url":"/faq/privacy-safety/should-i-use-ftp-or-sftp","category":{"id":"privacy-safety","title":"Privacy & safety"},"subcategory":{"id":"accounts-and-credentials","title":"Accounts, passwords and keys"},"question":"Is FTP safe to use with Storage Studio, or should I use SFTP?","alt_questions":["What's the difference between FTP and SFTP for privacy?","Does FTP encrypt my password?","ftp vs sftp security","Which is more secure, FTP or SFTP?","Should I connect my server with FTP?"],"short_answer":"Use SFTP whenever the server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so they can be read on the network; SFTP encrypts both.","answer_markdown":"Prefer **SFTP** whenever your server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so anyone able to watch the network between you and the server could read them. SFTP encrypts both.\n\nStorage Studio supports both because some servers only offer FTP, but it's the server that decides what's possible. If you must use FTP, avoid it on public Wi-Fi.\n\nSee [Cloud accounts](/faq/cloud-accounts/) for setting up a server account.","answer_html":"

Prefer SFTP whenever your server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so anyone able to watch the network between you and the server could read them. SFTP encrypts both.

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Storage Studio supports both because some servers only offer FTP, but it's the server that decides what's possible. If you must use FTP, avoid it on public Wi-Fi.

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See Cloud accounts for setting up a server account.

","answer_text":"Prefer SFTP whenever your server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so anyone able to watch the network between you and the server could read them. SFTP encrypts both.\n\nStorage Studio supports both because some servers only offer FTP, but it's the server that decides what's possible. If you must use FTP, avoid it on public Wi-Fi.\n\nSee Cloud accounts for setting up a server account.","tags":["ftp","sftp","security"],"related":[{"id":"cloud-accounts.where-are-my-cloud-passwords-and-keys-stored","question":"Where does Storage Studio keep my cloud passwords and access keys?","url":"/faq/cloud-accounts/where-are-my-cloud-passwords-and-keys-stored"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Is FTP safe to use with Storage Studio, or should I use SFTP? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Use SFTP whenever the server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so they can be read on the network; SFTP encrypts both.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Privacy & safety","path":"/faq/privacy-safety/"},{"name":"Is FTP safe to use with Storage Studio, or should I use SFTP?","path":"/faq/privacy-safety/should-i-use-ftp-or-sftp"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/should-i-use-ftp-or-sftp","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Is FTP safe to use with Storage Studio, or should I use SFTP?","alternateName":["What's the difference between FTP and SFTP for privacy?","Does FTP encrypt my password?","ftp vs sftp security","Which is more secure, FTP or SFTP?","Should I connect my server with FTP?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Prefer SFTP whenever your server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so anyone able to watch the network between you and the server could read them. SFTP encrypts both.\n\nStorage Studio supports both because some servers only offer FTP, but it's the server that decides what's possible. If you must use FTP, avoid it on public Wi-Fi.\n\nSee Cloud accounts for setting up a server account.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/should-i-use-ftp-or-sftp"}}]},"fragment":"
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Privacy & safety · Accounts, passwords and keys

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Is FTP safe to use with Storage Studio, or should I use SFTP?

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Short answer: Use SFTP whenever the server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so they can be read on the network; SFTP encrypts both.

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Prefer SFTP whenever your server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so anyone able to watch the network between you and the server could read them. SFTP encrypts both.

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Storage Studio supports both because some servers only offer FTP, but it's the server that decides what's possible. If you must use FTP, avoid it on public Wi-Fi.

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See Cloud accounts for setting up a server account.

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Last reviewed

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