SFTPPlus MFT vs CData Arc Professional
Compare the SFTPPlus MFT server and client licence with CData Arc Professional, including its EDI capabilities.
SFTPPlus MFT
- First year
- $4,750
- Following years
- $950
Licensing
- Published on-premise list pricesSFTPPlus publishes licence and support prices. CData quotes self-hosted Arc Professional contracts; the estimate shown here comes from G2's 2024 pricing. Details
- Yes
- Perpetual licenceSFTPPlus licences are perpetual. CData's current Arc pricing page describes annual or multi-year contracts. Details
- Yes
- Complete protocols licenceSFTPPlus includes all supported protocols for each licensed role. Arc Professional includes Core, MFT, EDI, and Database connectors; Other connectors, including IBM MQ, are licensed separately. Details
- Yes
- Unlimited partners and connectionsSFTPPlus has no licensed partner or connection limits. Arc's MFT connection and EDI partner allowances are separate and depend on the quote; unlimited MFT connections do not imply unlimited EDI partners. Details
- Yes
- Development and testing instancesSFTPPlus includes one individual development instance and one shared testing or pre-production instance. Arc's server count is set by the quote; obtain separate non-production licence terms and prices. Details
- Yes
- Included cold disaster recovery instanceSFTPPlus includes a cold recovery instance. Confirm Arc's self-hosted recovery rights separately from its per-node cluster licensing. Details
- Yes
Runtime and deployment
- Windows ServerBoth run on Windows Server. Arc's .NET edition requires .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later. Details
- Yes
- LinuxBoth support Linux. Arc's cross-platform edition requires Java 17 or later. Details
- Yes
- Docker and KubernetesBoth document container deployments and Kubernetes orchestration. Details
- Yes
- MacOSSFTPPlus supports macOS on Apple Silicon. Arc documents Mac support through its Java edition; check the supported Java runtime for the target machine. Details
- Yes
- No separate Java or .NET runtimeSFTPPlus bundles its runtime. Arc uses Java or .NET, depending on the edition. Details
- Yes
File transfer protocols
- File transfer APISFTPPlus provides an HTTP API for uploading, downloading, and managing files and folders. Arc Professional provides API endpoints for uploading and downloading files through workflows. Details
- Yes
- SFTP server and clientAccept incoming SFTP connections and initiate transfers to remote SFTP servers. Details
- Yes
- SCP serverSFTPPlus supports SCP for server-side. Details
- Yes
- SCP clientSFTPPlus does not support SCP client-side connections. Details
- No
- FTP and FTPS server and clientBoth accept incoming FTP or FTPS connections and automate outgoing client transfers. Details
- Yes
- HTTPS file browser for partnersSFTPPlus provides a file browser with per-user folder permissions. Details
- Yes
- AS2 (Drummond certified)Both send and receive AS2 messages with encryption, signatures, and delivery receipts. EDI document interpretation is a separate capability. Details
- Yes
- WebDAV clientBoth can upload to and download from remote WebDAV servers. Details
- Yes
- WebDAV serverSFTPPlus exposes user folders over WebDAV. Arc's documented WebDAV connector is a client; a server implementation was not confirmed. Details
- Yes
- AS3 and AS4Arc provides AS3 and AS4 connectors, including Drummond-certified AS4. SFTPPlus supports AS2 only.
- No
- OFTP2Arc supports Odette FTP for automotive and manufacturing partner exchanges. SFTPPlus does not implement OFTP2.
- No
- SharePoint Online and Azure BlobBoth provide connectors for these Microsoft services. Arc groups SharePoint and Azure Blob under MFT connectors. Details
- Yes
- Azure Files and Exchange Online attachmentsSFTPPlus provides native Azure Files and Microsoft Graph email attachment transfers. Details
- Yes
- Oracle Database transfersSFTPPlus maps Oracle rows to files. Arc Professional includes database connectors for reading and writing data within flows. Details
- Yes
- SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and DB2 connectorsArc includes connectors for these databases. SFTPPlus's native database transfer location is specific to Oracle. Details
- No
- IBM MQBoth exchange data with IBM MQ queues. Arc categorizes IBM MQ as an Other connector, which requires separate licensing. Details
- Yes
- Box and Dropbox connectorsArc includes these in its MFT connector catalogue. SFTPPlus requires an external integration for these services.
- No
- Salesforce and NetSuite connectorsArc offers application connectors beyond Professional's included connector categories. SFTPPlus requires an external integration.
- No
Administration and integration
- Web administrationConfigure and monitor transfers from a browser. Details
- Yes
- Command-line administrationSFTPPlus provides admin-shell. Details
- Yes
- Administration APISFTPPlus provides a JSON-RPC API for reading and changing configuration and controlling services. Arc Professional includes a REST API for managing connectors, workflows, and application settings. Details
- Yes
- Configuration in one text file, without databaseSFTPPlus uses one INI configuration file and does not need an application database. Arc uses a configuration directory and a database for transaction history. Details
- Yes
- Configuration as codeSFTPPlus supports declarative INI deployments. Arc can be configured through its Admin API and exported flows; its integrated Git version control is listed under Enterprise. Details
- Yes
- Built-in configuration promotionSFTPPlus manages configuration variants through a separately licensed cluster controller. Arc's Git integration can move flow changes between instances and is an Enterprise feature. Details
- Cluster licence
Automation
- Scheduled client transfersAutomate transfers with schedules, folder monitoring, and retries. Details
- Yes
- Server-to-server streamingSFTPPlus can transfer between remote servers without storing the complete file locally. Details
- Yes
- Event-driven actionsBoth can trigger processing and notifications from transfer events. Details
- Yes
- Visual workflow designerArc connects processing steps in a graphical flow designer. SFTPPlus uses Web Manager forms, INI settings, and event handlers. Details
- No
- Compress and decompress filesBoth support automated archive processing, including ZIP files. Details
- Yes
- PGP file processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files using OpenPGP. Details
- Yes
- Built-in Excel, CSV, XML, and JSON mappingArc maps structured data between formats. SFTPPlus can convert text encodings; document mapping requires an external processor. Details
- No
- EDI translation and validationArc interprets standards such as X12, EDIFACT, and HL7 and can generate EDI acknowledgements. SFTPPlus transports the documents and provides AS2 receipts, leaving EDI processing to another application. Details
- No
Security and identity
- LDAP and Active DirectorySFTPPlus includes directory authentication. CData lists Active Directory integration under Enterprise, beyond the Professional licence compared here. Details
- Yes
- OpenID Connect SSOSFTPPlus supports OpenID Connect for web users and administrators. Arc supports it for console sign-in, with SSO listed under Enterprise. Details
- Yes
- SAML SSOArc supports SAML for console sign-in with an SSO entitlement. SFTPPlus uses OpenID Connect for web SSO. Details
- No
- RADIUS authenticationSFTPPlus integrates with RADIUS authentication services. Details
- Yes
- IP allow listsBoth can restrict access by source IP address. Apply the rules to the relevant service and user accounts. Details
- Yes
Other features
- Ad hoc sharing linksSFTPPlus has no built-in expiring download links.
- no (on roadmap)
- Web password recoverySFTPPlus supports password changes and recovery. Details
- Yes
- EDI partner management consoleArc provides reusable partner relationships and document mappings. SFTPPlus manages AS2 partners as accounts without an EDI mapping console. Details
- no (on roadmap)
High availability and audit
- Centralized cluster configurationSFTPPlus uses a cluster controller. Arc nodes share an application data directory and database; each node needs its own licence key, with Professional eligibility to be confirmed in the quote. Details
- Cluster licence
- Shared cluster settingsSFTPPlus replicates settings to nodes. Arc cluster nodes use shared storage for their settings. Details
- Cluster licence
- Client transfer failoverBoth document continued processing across clustered instances. SFTPPlus uses delayed activation; Arc uses shared storage and locking. Neither active cluster is included in the single-instance prices. Details
- Cluster licence
- Transfer and administration auditSFTPPlus records transfer and configuration events. Arc exposes transaction logs and an administrator audit log; this is distinct from its Enterprise Reporting feature. Details
- Yes
Support
- Email supportIncluded in the SFTPPlus standard support price used here. Arc includes standard email support for active customers. Details
- Yes
- Phone or web meeting supportSFTPPlus standard support includes phone and screen sharing assistance. Arc advertises web meetings with Premium Support. Details
- Yes
- Scheduled on-call supportSFTPPlus standard support includes two scheduled out-of-hours events per year. Equivalent Arc coverage was not confirmed. Details
- Yes
- 24/7 support availableSFTPPlus offers extended support contracts. Details
- Add-on
- Onboarding and configuration assistanceBoth support installation and usage questions. Extensive deployment work can require additional services. Details
- Yes
- Dedicated professional servicesBoth vendors offer paid implementation and training. CData also offers EDI mapping and connector development services. Details
- Add-on
CData Arc Professional
- First year
- ~$10,000
- Following years
- ~$10,000
Licensing
- Published on-premise list pricesSFTPPlus publishes licence and support prices. CData quotes self-hosted Arc Professional contracts; the estimate shown here comes from G2's 2024 pricing. Details
- No
- Perpetual licenceSFTPPlus licences are perpetual. CData's current Arc pricing page describes annual or multi-year contracts. Details
- No
- Complete protocols licenceSFTPPlus includes all supported protocols for each licensed role. Arc Professional includes Core, MFT, EDI, and Database connectors; Other connectors, including IBM MQ, are licensed separately. Details
- No
- Unlimited partners and connectionsSFTPPlus has no licensed partner or connection limits. Arc's MFT connection and EDI partner allowances are separate and depend on the quote; unlimited MFT connections do not imply unlimited EDI partners. Details
- No
- Development and testing instancesSFTPPlus includes one individual development instance and one shared testing or pre-production instance. Arc's server count is set by the quote; obtain separate non-production licence terms and prices. Details
- No
- Included cold disaster recovery instanceSFTPPlus includes a cold recovery instance. Confirm Arc's self-hosted recovery rights separately from its per-node cluster licensing. Details
- No
Runtime and deployment
- Windows ServerBoth run on Windows Server. Arc's .NET edition requires .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later. Details
- Yes
- LinuxBoth support Linux. Arc's cross-platform edition requires Java 17 or later. Details
- Yes
- Docker and KubernetesBoth document container deployments and Kubernetes orchestration. Details
- Yes
- MacOSSFTPPlus supports macOS on Apple Silicon. Arc documents Mac support through its Java edition; check the supported Java runtime for the target machine. Details
- Yes
- No separate Java or .NET runtimeSFTPPlus bundles its runtime. Arc uses Java or .NET, depending on the edition. Details
- No
File transfer protocols
- File transfer APISFTPPlus provides an HTTP API for uploading, downloading, and managing files and folders. Arc Professional provides API endpoints for uploading and downloading files through workflows. Details
- Yes
- SFTP server and clientAccept incoming SFTP connections and initiate transfers to remote SFTP servers. Details
- Yes
- SCP serverSFTPPlus supports SCP for server-side. Details
- No
- SCP clientSFTPPlus does not support SCP client-side connections. Details
- Yes
- FTP and FTPS server and clientBoth accept incoming FTP or FTPS connections and automate outgoing client transfers. Details
- Yes
- HTTPS file browser for partnersSFTPPlus provides a file browser with per-user folder permissions. Details
- No
- AS2 (Drummond certified)Both send and receive AS2 messages with encryption, signatures, and delivery receipts. EDI document interpretation is a separate capability. Details
- Yes
- WebDAV clientBoth can upload to and download from remote WebDAV servers. Details
- Yes
- WebDAV serverSFTPPlus exposes user folders over WebDAV. Arc's documented WebDAV connector is a client; a server implementation was not confirmed. Details
- Not confirmed
- AS3 and AS4Arc provides AS3 and AS4 connectors, including Drummond-certified AS4. SFTPPlus supports AS2 only.
- Yes
- OFTP2Arc supports Odette FTP for automotive and manufacturing partner exchanges. SFTPPlus does not implement OFTP2.
- Yes
- SharePoint Online and Azure BlobBoth provide connectors for these Microsoft services. Arc groups SharePoint and Azure Blob under MFT connectors. Details
- Yes
- Azure Files and Exchange Online attachmentsSFTPPlus provides native Azure Files and Microsoft Graph email attachment transfers. Details
- Yes
- Oracle Database transfersSFTPPlus maps Oracle rows to files. Arc Professional includes database connectors for reading and writing data within flows. Details
- Yes
- SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and DB2 connectorsArc includes connectors for these databases. SFTPPlus's native database transfer location is specific to Oracle. Details
- Yes
- IBM MQBoth exchange data with IBM MQ queues. Arc categorizes IBM MQ as an Other connector, which requires separate licensing. Details
- Separate licence
- Box and Dropbox connectorsArc includes these in its MFT connector catalogue. SFTPPlus requires an external integration for these services.
- Yes
- Salesforce and NetSuite connectorsArc offers application connectors beyond Professional's included connector categories. SFTPPlus requires an external integration.
- Separate licence
Administration and integration
- Web administrationConfigure and monitor transfers from a browser. Details
- Yes
- Command-line administrationSFTPPlus provides admin-shell. Details
- No
- Administration APISFTPPlus provides a JSON-RPC API for reading and changing configuration and controlling services. Arc Professional includes a REST API for managing connectors, workflows, and application settings. Details
- Yes
- Configuration in one text file, without databaseSFTPPlus uses one INI configuration file and does not need an application database. Arc uses a configuration directory and a database for transaction history. Details
- No
- Configuration as codeSFTPPlus supports declarative INI deployments. Arc can be configured through its Admin API and exported flows; its integrated Git version control is listed under Enterprise. Details
- No
- Built-in configuration promotionSFTPPlus manages configuration variants through a separately licensed cluster controller. Arc's Git integration can move flow changes between instances and is an Enterprise feature. Details
- Enterprise upgrade
Automation
- Scheduled client transfersAutomate transfers with schedules, folder monitoring, and retries. Details
- Yes
- Server-to-server streamingSFTPPlus can transfer between remote servers without storing the complete file locally. Details
- No
- Event-driven actionsBoth can trigger processing and notifications from transfer events. Details
- Yes
- Visual workflow designerArc connects processing steps in a graphical flow designer. SFTPPlus uses Web Manager forms, INI settings, and event handlers. Details
- Yes
- Compress and decompress filesBoth support automated archive processing, including ZIP files. Details
- Yes
- PGP file processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files using OpenPGP. Details
- Yes
- Built-in Excel, CSV, XML, and JSON mappingArc maps structured data between formats. SFTPPlus can convert text encodings; document mapping requires an external processor. Details
- Yes
- EDI translation and validationArc interprets standards such as X12, EDIFACT, and HL7 and can generate EDI acknowledgements. SFTPPlus transports the documents and provides AS2 receipts, leaving EDI processing to another application. Details
- Yes
Security and identity
- LDAP and Active DirectorySFTPPlus includes directory authentication. CData lists Active Directory integration under Enterprise, beyond the Professional licence compared here. Details
- Enterprise upgrade
- OpenID Connect SSOSFTPPlus supports OpenID Connect for web users and administrators. Arc supports it for console sign-in, with SSO listed under Enterprise. Details
- Enterprise upgrade
- SAML SSOArc supports SAML for console sign-in with an SSO entitlement. SFTPPlus uses OpenID Connect for web SSO. Details
- Enterprise upgrade
- RADIUS authenticationSFTPPlus integrates with RADIUS authentication services. Details
- No
- IP allow listsBoth can restrict access by source IP address. Apply the rules to the relevant service and user accounts. Details
- Yes
Other features
- Ad hoc sharing linksSFTPPlus has no built-in expiring download links.
- No
- Web password recoverySFTPPlus supports password changes and recovery. Details
- Yes
- EDI partner management consoleArc provides reusable partner relationships and document mappings. SFTPPlus manages AS2 partners as accounts without an EDI mapping console. Details
- Yes
High availability and audit
- Centralized cluster configurationSFTPPlus uses a cluster controller. Arc nodes share an application data directory and database; each node needs its own licence key, with Professional eligibility to be confirmed in the quote. Details
- Per-node licence
- Shared cluster settingsSFTPPlus replicates settings to nodes. Arc cluster nodes use shared storage for their settings. Details
- Per-node licence
- Client transfer failoverBoth document continued processing across clustered instances. SFTPPlus uses delayed activation; Arc uses shared storage and locking. Neither active cluster is included in the single-instance prices. Details
- Per-node licence
- Transfer and administration auditSFTPPlus records transfer and configuration events. Arc exposes transaction logs and an administrator audit log; this is distinct from its Enterprise Reporting feature. Details
- Yes
Support
- Email supportIncluded in the SFTPPlus standard support price used here. Arc includes standard email support for active customers. Details
- Yes
- Phone or web meeting supportSFTPPlus standard support includes phone and screen sharing assistance. Arc advertises web meetings with Premium Support. Details
- no (require premium support)
- Scheduled on-call supportSFTPPlus standard support includes two scheduled out-of-hours events per year. Equivalent Arc coverage was not confirmed. Details
- no (require premium support)
- 24/7 support availableSFTPPlus offers extended support contracts. Details
- Add-on
- Onboarding and configuration assistanceBoth support installation and usage questions. Extensive deployment work can require additional services. Details
- Yes
- Dedicated professional servicesBoth vendors offer paid implementation and training. CData also offers EDI mapping and connector development services. Details
- Add-on
Comparison criteria
This comparison covers one production installation of SFTPPlus MFT with server and client licences, and the full CData Arc Professional platform with EDI processing. It does not use the separate Arc MFT Professional package.
CData's self-hosted pricing requires a quote. We estimate about $10,000 per year for an on-premise Professional licence, rounded from the $9,999 Professional price listed on G2. That listing's detailed pricing is dated 9 October 2024, so it is a historical budgeting reference, not a confirmed current list price.
Why choose SFTPPlus MFT
SFTPPlus MFT is a better fit when you need secure transfers and already have an application that interprets your EDI documents. Its AS2 implementation handles signed and encrypted delivery with receipts, without a separate EDI translation licence. The licence does not increase with the number of partners or connections.
SFTPPlus MFT includes a partner file browser, directory authentication, and OpenID Connect sign-in. Its single INI configuration file supports reviewable deployments, and its bundled runtime avoids a separate Java or .NET dependency.
When CData Arc Professional is a better fit
Arc Professional is a better fit when transferring a document is only one step in processing an order, invoice, or healthcare message. Its EDI connectors translate and validate document content and generate acknowledgements, while its visual designer connects those operations to database and file transfer steps. SFTPPlus MFT requires an external EDI application or processor for that work.
Arc also supports AS3, AS4, OFTP2, Box, Dropbox, and a wider selection of database connectors. Those can remove the need to build integrations around SFTPPlus MFT.