SFTPPlus MFT vs Axway SecureTransport
This comparison covers the SFTPPlus MFT server and client licence and customer-managed, on-premises Axway SecureTransport.
SFTPPlus MFT
- First year
- $4,750
- Following years
- $950
Licensing
- Published list pricesSFTPPlus publishes licence and support prices. Axway requests a quote. Details
- Yes
- Perpetual licence availableBoth publish perpetual licence terms. The Axway cost estimate assumes a perpetual purchase with annual support; confirm availability and terms with Axway.
- Yes
- All supported protocols includedSFTPPlus includes all protocols for the licensed role. Axway's current subscription includes its supported protocols; optional deployment and integration components still need to be scoped. Details
- Yes
- Unlimited monthly transfer quotaSFTPPlus has no licensed transfer limit. Axway's subscription is metered by monthly file transfers, with excess-use fees. Details
- Yes
- Development and testing instances includedSFTPPlus includes one individual development and one shared testing instance. Axway's current subscription includes unlimited on-premises non-production environments. Details
- Yes
- Cold disaster recovery includedSFTPPlus includes one cold recovery instance. Axway's current subscription includes on-premises disaster recovery environments. Details
- Yes
Runtime and deployment
- Windows ServerInstall on supported Windows Server versions. Details
- Yes
- LinuxInstall on supported Linux distributions. Details
- Yes
- Docker and KubernetesSFTPPlus supports containers and Kubernetes. Axway container deployment requires the Enterprise Pack in its current subscription terms. Details
- Yes
- MacOSSFTPPlus supports Apple Silicon Macs. SecureTransport's current platform list covers Windows Server and Linux. Details
- Yes
File transfer protocols
- SFTP and SCPExchange files over SSH. Details
- Yes
- FTP and FTPSSupport FTP and FTP secured with TLS, for incoming connections and automated client transfers. Details
- Yes
- HTTPS web clientUpload, download, and manage files in a browser. Details
- Yes
- AS2Send and receive business documents with signatures, encryption, and delivery receipts. Both document Drummond-certified AS2 support. Details
- Yes
- WebDAV server and clientSFTPPlus supports WebDAV in both roles. An equivalent SecureTransport service was not confirmed in the reviewed protocol documentation. Details
- Yes
- PeSITSecureTransport supports PeSIT for partner networks that require it.
- No
- Connect:Direct integrationSecureTransport provides a Connect:Direct transfer site. SFTPPlus has no built-in equivalent.
- No
- AS4 clientAxway documents an AS4 client connector in beta, for initiated push and pull transfers. SFTPPlus supports AS2. Details
- No
- SharePoint OnlineTransfer files to and from SharePoint document libraries. Details
- Yes
- Azure Blob and Azure FilesUse Azure storage as a transfer source or destination. Details
- Yes
- SMB sharesTransfer files to and from Windows-compatible network shares. Details
- Yes
- Native Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage connectorsSecureTransport bundles these connectors. Native clients remain on the SFTPPlus roadmap; mounted storage is a separate integration. Details
- No
- Google Drive connectorSecureTransport bundles a Google Drive connector. SFTPPlus has no dedicated Google Drive client. Details
- No
- Oracle rows as file transfer endpointsSFTPPlus maps existing tables and rows to files using SQL statements, without PL/SQL stored procedures. An equivalent SecureTransport business-data connector was not confirmed; its Oracle configuration database is a different function. Details
- Yes
- IBM MQ queuesSFTPPlus includes the IBM MQ C Client. SecureTransport's JMS connector can use JMS providers such as IBM MQ; validate provider libraries and configuration with Axway. Details
- Yes
- Messaging topics and publish/subscribeSFTPPlus supports point-to-point IBM MQ queues. Axway's JMS connector also supports topics, with durable subscriptions for receiving messages. Details
- No
- Exchange Online attachment retrievalSFTPPlus monitors Exchange Online mailboxes and downloads attachments. An equivalent dedicated SecureTransport connector was not confirmed. Details
- Yes
Administration and integration
- Web administrationConfigure and monitor file transfers from a browser. Details
- Yes
- Command-line administrationSFTPPlus provides admin-shell. SecureTransport provides command-line utilities and REST APIs that can be called from scripts. Details
- Yes
- HTTP APIIntegrate file operations and external applications through HTTP. SFTPPlus administration uses its JSON-RPC interface through admin-shell; Axway provides an administration REST API. Details
- Yes
- Configuration in one text file, without databaseSFTPPlus stores settings in an INI file. SecureTransport uses a database, either embedded or external. Details
- Yes
- Configuration as codeSFTPPlus supports declarative INI configuration. Axway supports scripted configuration through APIs and configuration import and export. Details
- Yes
- Built-in configuration promotionSFTPPlus manages configuration variants through its cluster controller, licensed separately. SecureTransport supports configuration export and import between environments. Details
- Cluster licence
Automation
- Scheduled client transfersInitiate unattended transfers with scheduling and retries. Details
- Yes
- Remote-to-remote streamingSFTPPlus can transfer between remote servers without storing the whole file locally. SecureTransport Edge streaming across the DMZ is a different function; equivalent client streaming was not confirmed. Details
- Yes
- Event-driven actionsTrigger processing and notifications from file transfer events. Details
- Yes
- Visual workflow designerSecureTransport Advanced Routing provides a graphical route designer. SFTPPlus uses configuration forms and event handlers. Details
- No
- Compress and decompress filesAutomate file archiving and extraction. Details
- Yes
- PGP file processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files using OpenPGP. Details
- Yes
Security and identity
- LDAP and Active DirectoryAuthenticate through an existing directory. Details
- Yes
- OpenID Connect SSOUse an identity provider for browser sign-in. Axway documents bundled OIDC support from SecureTransport 5.5-20250529. Details
- Yes
- SAML SSOSecureTransport supports SAML. SFTPPlus uses OpenID Connect for browser SSO. Details
- No
- Multi-factor authentication through an identity providerApply the identity provider's MFA policy to supported browser sign-in flows. This does not make every automated protocol connection interactive. Details
- Yes
- IP access restrictionsRestrict access by source IP address. Details
- Yes
Other features
- Ad hoc sharing linksSecureTransport supports ad hoc file packages. Account-free sharing is on the SFTPPlus roadmap. Details
- No
- Web password change and recoverySFTPPlus supports password changes after login. SecureTransport also provides password reset functionality. Details
- Password change only
- Built-in monitoring dashboards with SentinelAxway includes limited Sentinel use for SecureTransport monitoring. SFTPPlus supplies audit events and logs for reporting through external tools. Details
- No
High availability and audit
- Centralized cluster configurationManage multiple transfer nodes centrally. SFTPPlus requires cluster licensing; the Axway estimate includes Enterprise Pack. Details
- Yes
- Shared cluster settingsSFTPPlus replicates configuration to nodes. SecureTransport Enterprise Clusters share an external database. Details
- Yes
- Client transfer failoverContinue transfer processing through another node after a failure. SFTPPlus uses delayed fallback activation; validate retry behavior with the actual endpoints. Details
- Yes
- Centralized audit trailReview transfer, user, and administration activity across a deployment. Details
- Yes
Support
- Phone and emailBoth vendors offer support by phone and email under their support contracts. Details
- Yes
- Scheduled on-call supportSFTPPlus standard support includes two scheduled out-of-hours events per year. Confirm equivalent scheduling in Axway's support quote. Details
- Yes
- Extended support availableSFTPPlus offers extended support contracts. Axway lists mission-critical support as an option. Details
- Yes
- Onboarding and configuration assistanceBoth offer implementation assistance. Substantial integration work may require professional services. Details
- Yes
- Dedicated professional servicesBoth vendors offer consultancy and training as additional services. Details
- Yes
Axway SecureTransport
- First year
- ~$30,000
- Following years
- ~$7,500
Licensing
- Published list pricesSFTPPlus publishes licence and support prices. Axway requests a quote. Details
- No
- Perpetual licence availableBoth publish perpetual licence terms. The Axway cost estimate assumes a perpetual purchase with annual support; confirm availability and terms with Axway.
- Yes
- All supported protocols includedSFTPPlus includes all protocols for the licensed role. Axway's current subscription includes its supported protocols; optional deployment and integration components still need to be scoped. Details
- Yes
- Unlimited monthly transfer quotaSFTPPlus has no licensed transfer limit. Axway's subscription is metered by monthly file transfers, with excess-use fees. Details
- No
- Development and testing instances includedSFTPPlus includes one individual development and one shared testing instance. Axway's current subscription includes unlimited on-premises non-production environments. Details
- Yes
- Cold disaster recovery includedSFTPPlus includes one cold recovery instance. Axway's current subscription includes on-premises disaster recovery environments. Details
- Yes
Runtime and deployment
- Windows ServerInstall on supported Windows Server versions. Details
- Yes
- LinuxInstall on supported Linux distributions. Details
- Yes
- Docker and KubernetesSFTPPlus supports containers and Kubernetes. Axway container deployment requires the Enterprise Pack in its current subscription terms. Details
- Yes
- MacOSSFTPPlus supports Apple Silicon Macs. SecureTransport's current platform list covers Windows Server and Linux. Details
- No
File transfer protocols
- SFTP and SCPExchange files over SSH. Details
- Yes
- FTP and FTPSSupport FTP and FTP secured with TLS, for incoming connections and automated client transfers. Details
- Yes
- HTTPS web clientUpload, download, and manage files in a browser. Details
- Yes
- AS2Send and receive business documents with signatures, encryption, and delivery receipts. Both document Drummond-certified AS2 support. Details
- Yes
- WebDAV server and clientSFTPPlus supports WebDAV in both roles. An equivalent SecureTransport service was not confirmed in the reviewed protocol documentation. Details
- No
- PeSITSecureTransport supports PeSIT for partner networks that require it.
- Yes
- Connect:Direct integrationSecureTransport provides a Connect:Direct transfer site. SFTPPlus has no built-in equivalent.
- Yes
- AS4 clientAxway documents an AS4 client connector in beta, for initiated push and pull transfers. SFTPPlus supports AS2. Details
- Beta
- SharePoint OnlineTransfer files to and from SharePoint document libraries. Details
- Yes
- Azure Blob and Azure FilesUse Azure storage as a transfer source or destination. Details
- Yes
- SMB sharesTransfer files to and from Windows-compatible network shares. Details
- Yes
- Native Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage connectorsSecureTransport bundles these connectors. Native clients remain on the SFTPPlus roadmap; mounted storage is a separate integration. Details
- Yes
- Google Drive connectorSecureTransport bundles a Google Drive connector. SFTPPlus has no dedicated Google Drive client. Details
- Yes
- Oracle rows as file transfer endpointsSFTPPlus maps existing tables and rows to files using SQL statements, without PL/SQL stored procedures. An equivalent SecureTransport business-data connector was not confirmed; its Oracle configuration database is a different function. Details
- No
- IBM MQ queuesSFTPPlus includes the IBM MQ C Client. SecureTransport's JMS connector can use JMS providers such as IBM MQ; validate provider libraries and configuration with Axway. Details
- Via JMS connector
- Messaging topics and publish/subscribeSFTPPlus supports point-to-point IBM MQ queues. Axway's JMS connector also supports topics, with durable subscriptions for receiving messages. Details
- Yes
- Exchange Online attachment retrievalSFTPPlus monitors Exchange Online mailboxes and downloads attachments. An equivalent dedicated SecureTransport connector was not confirmed. Details
- No
Administration and integration
- Web administrationConfigure and monitor file transfers from a browser. Details
- Yes
- Command-line administrationSFTPPlus provides admin-shell. SecureTransport provides command-line utilities and REST APIs that can be called from scripts. Details
- Yes
- HTTP APIIntegrate file operations and external applications through HTTP. SFTPPlus administration uses its JSON-RPC interface through admin-shell; Axway provides an administration REST API. Details
- Yes
- Configuration in one text file, without databaseSFTPPlus stores settings in an INI file. SecureTransport uses a database, either embedded or external. Details
- No
- Configuration as codeSFTPPlus supports declarative INI configuration. Axway supports scripted configuration through APIs and configuration import and export. Details
- Yes
- Built-in configuration promotionSFTPPlus manages configuration variants through its cluster controller, licensed separately. SecureTransport supports configuration export and import between environments. Details
- Export and import
Automation
- Scheduled client transfersInitiate unattended transfers with scheduling and retries. Details
- Yes
- Remote-to-remote streamingSFTPPlus can transfer between remote servers without storing the whole file locally. SecureTransport Edge streaming across the DMZ is a different function; equivalent client streaming was not confirmed. Details
- No
- Event-driven actionsTrigger processing and notifications from file transfer events. Details
- Yes
- Visual workflow designerSecureTransport Advanced Routing provides a graphical route designer. SFTPPlus uses configuration forms and event handlers. Details
- Yes
- Compress and decompress filesAutomate file archiving and extraction. Details
- Yes
- PGP file processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files using OpenPGP. Details
- Yes
Security and identity
- LDAP and Active DirectoryAuthenticate through an existing directory. Details
- Yes
- OpenID Connect SSOUse an identity provider for browser sign-in. Axway documents bundled OIDC support from SecureTransport 5.5-20250529. Details
- Yes
- SAML SSOSecureTransport supports SAML. SFTPPlus uses OpenID Connect for browser SSO. Details
- Yes
- Multi-factor authentication through an identity providerApply the identity provider's MFA policy to supported browser sign-in flows. This does not make every automated protocol connection interactive. Details
- Yes
- IP access restrictionsRestrict access by source IP address. Details
- Yes
Other features
- Ad hoc sharing linksSecureTransport supports ad hoc file packages. Account-free sharing is on the SFTPPlus roadmap. Details
- Yes
- Web password change and recoverySFTPPlus supports password changes after login. SecureTransport also provides password reset functionality. Details
- Yes
- Built-in monitoring dashboards with SentinelAxway includes limited Sentinel use for SecureTransport monitoring. SFTPPlus supplies audit events and logs for reporting through external tools. Details
- Yes
High availability and audit
- Centralized cluster configurationManage multiple transfer nodes centrally. SFTPPlus requires cluster licensing; the Axway estimate includes Enterprise Pack. Details
- Yes
- Shared cluster settingsSFTPPlus replicates configuration to nodes. SecureTransport Enterprise Clusters share an external database. Details
- Yes
- Client transfer failoverContinue transfer processing through another node after a failure. SFTPPlus uses delayed fallback activation; validate retry behavior with the actual endpoints. Details
- Yes
- Centralized audit trailReview transfer, user, and administration activity across a deployment. Details
- Yes
Support
- Phone and emailBoth vendors offer support by phone and email under their support contracts. Details
- Yes
- Scheduled on-call supportSFTPPlus standard support includes two scheduled out-of-hours events per year. Confirm equivalent scheduling in Axway's support quote. Details
- Confirm with vendor
- Extended support availableSFTPPlus offers extended support contracts. Axway lists mission-critical support as an option. Details
- Yes
- Onboarding and configuration assistanceBoth offer implementation assistance. Substantial integration work may require professional services. Details
- Yes
- Dedicated professional servicesBoth vendors offer consultancy and training as additional services. Details
- Yes
Comparison criteria
This comparison uses the current SFTPPlus MFT server and client features and SecureTransport 5.5 documentation. It covers software you operate on your own infrastructure, including automated outbound transfers.
SFTPPlus MFT costs $4,750 in the first year, comprising $3,800 for perpetual server and client licences and $950 for standard support. The following year's standard support is $950.
Axway's pricing page starts the customer-managed subscription at 25,000 transfers per month, but does not give a dollar amount. Our Axway estimate assumes a perpetual purchase costing $30,000 in the first year, followed by $7,500 per year for support, calculated as 25% of $30,000. These are our planning assumptions, not published Axway prices or a vendor quote. Rows describing Axway subscription entitlements may differ from the terms of a perpetual offer.
Why choose SFTPPlus MFT
SFTPPlus MFT is a better fit when you want to manage file transfers through a single INI configuration file and keep the transfer service independent of a configuration database. You can review changes in Git, deploy the same settings through existing tools, or edit them in Web Manager. The perpetual licence has no monthly transfer quota, so more files do not trigger a higher software tier.
For Oracle Database file transfers, SFTPPlus queries your existing tables directly. You configure SQL statements to map a row's identifier, content, and optional metadata to a file. An SFTP upload can become an Oracle row, or content selected from Oracle can be sent to a partner. The transfer engine handles scheduling, retries, and audit events without requiring PL/SQL stored procedures or a separate extraction script.
This is distinct from SecureTransport's use of Oracle to store its own application data.
SFTPPlus also includes the IBM MQ client library and manages MQ certificates through its Web Manager and vault. Its focused configuration can suit a gateway between existing queues, business tables, and file transfer partners.
Why choose Axway SecureTransport
SecureTransport is a better fit when partners require PeSIT or Connect:Direct, or when SAML sign-in, ad hoc file packages, and a graphical route designer are part of the requirement. It also bundles Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and Google Drive connectors. SFTPPlus does not currently provide those native clients, and its IBM MQ support covers queues rather than publish/subscribe topics. Axway's JMS connector covers both messaging models.