SFTPPlus MFT vs Cerberus FTP
This comparison assumes, SFTPPlus MFT server license is operated with a support contract.
The comparison only includes high-level SFTPPlus MFT client transfer orchestration functionalities,
since they are not available in Cerberus.
SFTPPlus MFT Server
- First year
- $2375
- Following years
- $475
Licensing
Runtime
- Max connections
- unlimited
- Max users
- unlimited
- IPv6Support for IPv6 and IPv4 over FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and HTTP/S. Details
- Yes
- TLS v1.3TLS 1.3 protocol support as well as modern key exchange, cipher, and MAC algorithms.
- Yes
- Windows ServerRun on Windows Server 2019 or newer. Details
- Yes
- Linux, Docker & KubernetesRun on Linux on x86 or ARM64, either as a standalone application or as a Kubernetes container. Details
- Yes
- MacOSRun on macOS on ARM64. Details
- Yes
User management
- Virtual directoriesVirtual directory system allowing the administrator to attach any directory or drive to a user account's root folder.
- Yes
- Users & GroupsManage user accounts and security groups from the native User Manager or by integrating your existing Active Directory or LDAP systems.
- Yes
- Detailed LogsTrack all client and file activity in near real-time.
- Yes
- Password PoliciesDefine user password complexity, change policies, authentication order and other requirements.
- Yes
- AD Security GroupsConfigure fine-grained directory access for multiple FTP security groups using Active Directory groups.
- Yes
Reporting
- Advanced Stats & ReportingView detailed file transfer audit trails for all client, file, and administrator activity based on user names, date ranges, or file access Details
- Yes
- SQL Database CaptureOutput all log activities to your SQL database of choice
- SQLite
Account Management
- Active Directory IntegrationConfigure user accounts and security groups within their AD instance.
- Yes
- LDAP IntegrationIntegrate LDAP or LDAPS (Secure LDAP) users. Details
- Yes
- CRL & CA SupportCheck client certificates against master revocation lists, or your own authorized certificate authority lists.
- Yes
- Client Cert VerificationRequire clients to verify themselves using digital certificates for SSL/TLS connections.
- Yes
- Server ReplicationSynch Manager supports multi-server environments to help maintain identical user and setting configurations or provide backup, failover and disaster recovery support.
- Yes
- Web Account RequestsEnable user self-service for account and password recovery.
- Only password update
- Entra ID/Azure AD SSOOrganizations running cloud-based Entra ID in Azure. Details
- Yes
- Okta/Google SSOOrganizations running cloud-based authentication with Okta or Google Identity. Details
- Yes
- RADIUSOrganizations using legacy or MFA schemes based on RADIUS, such as RSA SecurID or Duo.
- Yes
Protocols
- FTPSupports FTP transfer for legacy transfers. Details
- Yes
- FTP with TLS/SSL (FTPS)FTPS provides secure file transfer by first encrypting the client/server connection using SSL or TLS encryption. Details
- Yes
- HTTP Control APIPerform remote management through HTTP API. Cerberus uses SOAP, while SFTPPlus uses JSON-RPC.
- Yes
- Cloud deploymentEasily integrate with AWS, Azure and other cloud servers. Details
- Yes
- SFTPYou can configure Cerberus as an SFTP server on-premise or in the cloud. Details
- Yes
- SCPA simple file transfer protocol perfect for firmware updates and backups. Details
- Yes
- HTTP/S Web ClientAllow any user on any device to easily connect to your organization’s file server and share files or perform file operations. Details
- Yes
- AS2Applicability Statement 2 is a secure business-to-business protocol that uses HTTP/S to transport EDI and file payloads. Details
- Yes
- WebDAVA standard file transfer protocol on top of HTTP. Details
- Yes
Access Protection
- IP Allow/Deny Lists & Auto-BanningChoose whether to allow or deny access to your server based upon IP address.
- Yes
- GeoblockingRestrict server access by country of the request's origin.
- No
- Web AdministrationEasily control any feature and configuration remotely over the web.
- Yes
- Two-Factor AuthenticationConfigurable for Okta, Entra ID, and more, including AD and LDAP native users. Details
- Yes
- Server ManagerManage all your server security settings in one place.
- Yes
- File Retention PoliciesFolder Monitor to schedule automatic age-based file deletions.
- Yes
- Ad Hoc File SharingAllow users to share any file or folder through a unique, time-limited, public link.
- No
Transfer Security
- SSH2 SFTP and SCPSecure file transfer via SSH2, through the SFTP and SCP protocols.
- Yes
- Public Key AuthenticationVerify that the signature presented by an SFTP client matches the public key associated with that user.
- Yes
- FIPS 140-2 CryptographyMeets federal cryptographic requirements with FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography up to 256-bit AES encryption over SSL and SSH.
- Yes
- Elliptic Curve CryptographyUse drastically smaller keys to provide the equivalent security of RSA or Diffie-Hellman keys with Elliptic Curve Cryptography.
- Yes
- File Extension ManagementLimit transfers to only approved file extensions
- Yes
- PGP encryption and validationPGP encrypt, decrypt, sign or validate the signature for files.
- Yes
File Transfer Automation
- Event SupportAutomated file transfer actions make it easy to manage a high volume of file transfers. Details
- Yes
- Email NotificationCreation of email alerts for any file, access or directory activity.
- Yes
- Folder Automation EventsEasily create folder-based scheduled tasks that manipulate every file in a folder without needing to know specific file names
- Yes
- Transfer orchestrationLocal or remote transfer, with automated retries and advanced scheduling Details
- via optional client license
- Cloud storage transfersSend and receive files from SharePoint, Azure BLOB, and other cloud-based storage options. Details
- via optional client license
Support
- Phone & EmailCerberus has a US-based team. SFTPPlus has a UK/EU-based team. Details
- Yes
- On-call supportOut of office hours scheduled on-call support Details
- 2 events per year
- 24/7/365 Severity 1 Support24/7/365 support is only provided with the extended SFTPPlus support contract.
- No
- Remote supportMS Teams, Zoom, WebEx, etc
- Yes
- Upgrade Planning & AssistanceWe encourage our customers to keep the SFTPPlus version up to date. Assistance is provided as part of the support contract.
- Yes
- Migration Support for JSCAPE MFTWe provide migration support from any other file transfer solution.
- Yes
Cerberus Professional
- First year
- $1599
- Following years
- $1599
Licensing
Runtime
- Max connections
- unlimited
- Max users
- unlimited
- IPv6Support for IPv6 and IPv4 over FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and HTTP/S. Details
- Yes
- TLS v1.3TLS 1.3 protocol support as well as modern key exchange, cipher, and MAC algorithms.
- Yes
- Windows ServerRun on Windows Server 2019 or newer. Details
- Yes
- Linux, Docker & KubernetesRun on Linux on x86 or ARM64, either as a standalone application or as a Kubernetes container. Details
- No
- MacOSRun on macOS on ARM64. Details
- No
User management
- Virtual directoriesVirtual directory system allowing the administrator to attach any directory or drive to a user account's root folder.
- Yes
- Users & GroupsManage user accounts and security groups from the native User Manager or by integrating your existing Active Directory or LDAP systems.
- Yes
- Detailed LogsTrack all client and file activity in near real-time.
- Yes
- Password PoliciesDefine user password complexity, change policies, authentication order and other requirements.
- Yes
- AD Security GroupsConfigure fine-grained directory access for multiple FTP security groups using Active Directory groups.
- Yes
Reporting
- Advanced Stats & ReportingView detailed file transfer audit trails for all client, file, and administrator activity based on user names, date ranges, or file access Details
- No
- SQL Database CaptureOutput all log activities to your SQL database of choice
- Yes
Account Management
- Active Directory IntegrationConfigure user accounts and security groups within their AD instance.
- Yes
- LDAP IntegrationIntegrate LDAP or LDAPS (Secure LDAP) users. Details
- Yes
- CRL & CA SupportCheck client certificates against master revocation lists, or your own authorized certificate authority lists.
- Yes
- Client Cert VerificationRequire clients to verify themselves using digital certificates for SSL/TLS connections.
- Yes
- Server ReplicationSynch Manager supports multi-server environments to help maintain identical user and setting configurations or provide backup, failover and disaster recovery support.
- Yes
- Web Account RequestsEnable user self-service for account and password recovery.
- No
- Entra ID/Azure AD SSOOrganizations running cloud-based Entra ID in Azure. Details
- No
- Okta/Google SSOOrganizations running cloud-based authentication with Okta or Google Identity. Details
- No
- RADIUSOrganizations using legacy or MFA schemes based on RADIUS, such as RSA SecurID or Duo.
- No
Protocols
- FTPSupports FTP transfer for legacy transfers. Details
- Yes
- FTP with TLS/SSL (FTPS)FTPS provides secure file transfer by first encrypting the client/server connection using SSL or TLS encryption. Details
- Yes
- HTTP Control APIPerform remote management through HTTP API. Cerberus uses SOAP, while SFTPPlus uses JSON-RPC.
- Yes
- Cloud deploymentEasily integrate with AWS, Azure and other cloud servers. Details
- Yes
- SFTPYou can configure Cerberus as an SFTP server on-premise or in the cloud. Details
- Yes
- SCPA simple file transfer protocol perfect for firmware updates and backups. Details
- Yes
- HTTP/S Web ClientAllow any user on any device to easily connect to your organization’s file server and share files or perform file operations. Details
- No
- AS2Applicability Statement 2 is a secure business-to-business protocol that uses HTTP/S to transport EDI and file payloads. Details
- No
- WebDAVA standard file transfer protocol on top of HTTP. Details
- No
Access Protection
- IP Allow/Deny Lists & Auto-BanningChoose whether to allow or deny access to your server based upon IP address.
- Yes
- GeoblockingRestrict server access by country of the request's origin.
- Yes
- Web AdministrationEasily control any feature and configuration remotely over the web.
- Yes
- Two-Factor AuthenticationConfigurable for Okta, Entra ID, and more, including AD and LDAP native users. Details
- Yes
- Server ManagerManage all your server security settings in one place.
- Yes
- File Retention PoliciesFolder Monitor to schedule automatic age-based file deletions.
- No
- Ad Hoc File SharingAllow users to share any file or folder through a unique, time-limited, public link.
- No
Transfer Security
- SSH2 SFTP and SCPSecure file transfer via SSH2, through the SFTP and SCP protocols.
- Yes
- Public Key AuthenticationVerify that the signature presented by an SFTP client matches the public key associated with that user.
- Yes
- FIPS 140-2 CryptographyMeets federal cryptographic requirements with FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography up to 256-bit AES encryption over SSL and SSH.
- Yes
- Elliptic Curve CryptographyUse drastically smaller keys to provide the equivalent security of RSA or Diffie-Hellman keys with Elliptic Curve Cryptography.
- Yes
- File Extension ManagementLimit transfers to only approved file extensions
- Yes
- PGP encryption and validationPGP encrypt, decrypt, sign or validate the signature for files.
- No
File Transfer Automation
- Event SupportAutomated file transfer actions make it easy to manage a high volume of file transfers. Details
- No
- Email NotificationCreation of email alerts for any file, access or directory activity.
- No
- Folder Automation EventsEasily create folder-based scheduled tasks that manipulate every file in a folder without needing to know specific file names
- No
- Transfer orchestrationLocal or remote transfer, with automated retries and advanced scheduling Details
- No
- Cloud storage transfersSend and receive files from SharePoint, Azure BLOB, and other cloud-based storage options. Details
- No
Support
- Phone & EmailCerberus has a US-based team. SFTPPlus has a UK/EU-based team. Details
- Yes
- On-call supportOut of office hours scheduled on-call support Details
- No
- 24/7/365 Severity 1 Support24/7/365 support is only provided with the extended SFTPPlus support contract.
- No
- Remote supportMS Teams, Zoom, WebEx, etc
- No
- Upgrade Planning & AssistanceWe encourage our customers to keep the SFTPPlus version up to date. Assistance is provided as part of the support contract.
- No
- Migration Support for JSCAPE MFTWe provide migration support from any other file transfer solution.
- No
Cerberus Enterprise
- First year
- $3499
- Following years
- $3499
Licensing
Runtime
- Max connections
- unlimited
- Max users
- unlimited
- IPv6Support for IPv6 and IPv4 over FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and HTTP/S. Details
- Yes
- TLS v1.3TLS 1.3 protocol support as well as modern key exchange, cipher, and MAC algorithms.
- Yes
- Windows ServerRun on Windows Server 2019 or newer. Details
- Yes
- Linux, Docker & KubernetesRun on Linux on x86 or ARM64, either as a standalone application or as a Kubernetes container. Details
- No
- MacOSRun on macOS on ARM64. Details
- No
User management
- Virtual directoriesVirtual directory system allowing the administrator to attach any directory or drive to a user account's root folder.
- Yes
- Users & GroupsManage user accounts and security groups from the native User Manager or by integrating your existing Active Directory or LDAP systems.
- Yes
- Detailed LogsTrack all client and file activity in near real-time.
- Yes
- Password PoliciesDefine user password complexity, change policies, authentication order and other requirements.
- Yes
- AD Security GroupsConfigure fine-grained directory access for multiple FTP security groups using Active Directory groups.
- Yes
Reporting
- Advanced Stats & ReportingView detailed file transfer audit trails for all client, file, and administrator activity based on user names, date ranges, or file access Details
- Yes
- SQL Database CaptureOutput all log activities to your SQL database of choice
- Yes
Account Management
- Active Directory IntegrationConfigure user accounts and security groups within their AD instance.
- Yes
- LDAP IntegrationIntegrate LDAP or LDAPS (Secure LDAP) users. Details
- Yes
- CRL & CA SupportCheck client certificates against master revocation lists, or your own authorized certificate authority lists.
- Yes
- Client Cert VerificationRequire clients to verify themselves using digital certificates for SSL/TLS connections.
- Yes
- Server ReplicationSynch Manager supports multi-server environments to help maintain identical user and setting configurations or provide backup, failover and disaster recovery support.
- Yes
- Web Account RequestsEnable user self-service for account and password recovery.
- Yes
- Entra ID/Azure AD SSOOrganizations running cloud-based Entra ID in Azure. Details
- Yes
- Okta/Google SSOOrganizations running cloud-based authentication with Okta or Google Identity. Details
- No
- RADIUSOrganizations using legacy or MFA schemes based on RADIUS, such as RSA SecurID or Duo.
- No
Protocols
- FTPSupports FTP transfer for legacy transfers. Details
- Yes
- FTP with TLS/SSL (FTPS)FTPS provides secure file transfer by first encrypting the client/server connection using SSL or TLS encryption. Details
- Yes
- HTTP Control APIPerform remote management through HTTP API. Cerberus uses SOAP, while SFTPPlus uses JSON-RPC.
- Yes
- Cloud deploymentEasily integrate with AWS, Azure and other cloud servers. Details
- Yes
- SFTPYou can configure Cerberus as an SFTP server on-premise or in the cloud. Details
- Yes
- SCPA simple file transfer protocol perfect for firmware updates and backups. Details
- Yes
- HTTP/S Web ClientAllow any user on any device to easily connect to your organization’s file server and share files or perform file operations. Details
- Yes
- AS2Applicability Statement 2 is a secure business-to-business protocol that uses HTTP/S to transport EDI and file payloads. Details
- No
- WebDAVA standard file transfer protocol on top of HTTP. Details
- No
Access Protection
- IP Allow/Deny Lists & Auto-BanningChoose whether to allow or deny access to your server based upon IP address.
- Yes
- GeoblockingRestrict server access by country of the request's origin.
- Yes
- Web AdministrationEasily control any feature and configuration remotely over the web.
- Yes
- Two-Factor AuthenticationConfigurable for Okta, Entra ID, and more, including AD and LDAP native users. Details
- Yes
- Server ManagerManage all your server security settings in one place.
- Yes
- File Retention PoliciesFolder Monitor to schedule automatic age-based file deletions.
- Yes
- Ad Hoc File SharingAllow users to share any file or folder through a unique, time-limited, public link.
- Yes
Transfer Security
- SSH2 SFTP and SCPSecure file transfer via SSH2, through the SFTP and SCP protocols.
- Yes
- Public Key AuthenticationVerify that the signature presented by an SFTP client matches the public key associated with that user.
- Yes
- FIPS 140-2 CryptographyMeets federal cryptographic requirements with FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography up to 256-bit AES encryption over SSL and SSH.
- Yes
- Elliptic Curve CryptographyUse drastically smaller keys to provide the equivalent security of RSA or Diffie-Hellman keys with Elliptic Curve Cryptography.
- Yes
- File Extension ManagementLimit transfers to only approved file extensions
- Yes
- PGP encryption and validationPGP encrypt, decrypt, sign or validate the signature for files.
- No
File Transfer Automation
- Event SupportAutomated file transfer actions make it easy to manage a high volume of file transfers. Details
- Yes
- Email NotificationCreation of email alerts for any file, access or directory activity.
- Yes
- Folder Automation EventsEasily create folder-based scheduled tasks that manipulate every file in a folder without needing to know specific file names
- Yes
- Transfer orchestrationLocal or remote transfer, with automated retries and advanced scheduling Details
- No
- Cloud storage transfersSend and receive files from SharePoint, Azure BLOB, and other cloud-based storage options. Details
- No
Support
- Phone & EmailCerberus has a US-based team. SFTPPlus has a UK/EU-based team. Details
- Yes
- On-call supportOut of office hours scheduled on-call support Details
- No
- 24/7/365 Severity 1 Support24/7/365 support is only provided with the extended SFTPPlus support contract.
- No
- Remote supportMS Teams, Zoom, WebEx, etc
- No
- Upgrade Planning & AssistanceWe encourage our customers to keep the SFTPPlus version up to date. Assistance is provided as part of the support contract.
- No
- Migration Support for JSCAPE MFTWe provide migration support from any other file transfer solution.
- No
The information from this page is based on the Cerberus pricing comparison page. Use it to compare product capabilities and recurring costs side by side.
Total cost of ownership (TCO)
Cerberus pricing assumes a 3-year contract.
SFTPPlus is based on a perpetual software license, with optional support subscriptions for ongoing years. You have the option not to pay for the support service, resulting in zero cost for SFTPPlus after the first year.
The primary reason our customers choose SFTPPlus over Cerberus is the reduced cost.
SFTPPlus is cheaper than even Cerberus Professional, starting from the second year of operation.
With the option to deploy on Linux or Kubernetes, operational costs can be reduced even further.
MFT vs File Server
Both SFTPPlus MFT and Cerberus FTP focus on being lightweight, self-hosted, highly secure managed file transfer servers rather than complex enterprise integration suites. They share similar core traits: strict compliance (PCI DSS, HIPAA, FIPS), multi-protocol support (SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS), and robust audit logs.
SFTPPlus MFT is explicitly positioned as a Managed File Transfer (MFT) platform, covering both server and client/agent-side transfers. Cerberus is primarily a secure file-transfer server, with MFT automation layered on top.
SFTPPlus missing features
SFTPPlus lacks support for geoblocking. We think this can lead to false positives. Instead, SFTPPlus allows administrators to configure a list of IPs or IP ranges that are accepted or rejected.
Users in SFTPPlus can only update their own password. They can't self-recover a lost password. This is for security reasons, and we are considering extending this functionality in future releases, while avoiding account hijacking. In Cerberus, users can recover a lost password.
Cerberus also allows ad hoc sharing of files and folders over the web. This functionality is missing in the current SFTPPlus version and is a high-priority item on the SFTPPlus roadmap.
SFTPPlus is actively developed and maintained. If there are any features missing from SFTPPlus in comparison with Cerberus, get in touch with us and we will be happy to include them in the next release.