SFTPPlus MFT Client vs MOVEit Automation

This comparison covers the SFTPPlus MFT client licence and self-managed MOVEit Automation with advanced workflow capabilities.
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SFTPPlus MFT Client

First year
$2,375
Following years
$475

Licensing

Published vendor list pricesSFTPPlus MFT publishes its licence and support prices. Progress provides an individual quote; public reseller listings provide the estimate used here. Details
Yes
Perpetual licenceThe cost model assumes a perpetual software purchase with an annual support renewal. Confirm the term offered in the MOVEit quote. Details
Yes
All supported client protocols includedSFTPPlus MFT includes all of its supported client connectors. MOVEit capabilities depend on the licence, including AS1, AS2, and AS3 options. Details
Yes
Cold disaster recovery instanceIncluded with SFTPPlus MFT. The MOVEit price reference is a bundle with a disaster recovery option; this does not imply automatic failover. Details
Yes
Development and testing instancesThese instances are included with SFTPPlus MFT. Confirm the separate non-production rights in a MOVEit quote. Details
Yes
Unlimited remote endpoints and transfersSFTPPlus MFT has no licence cap on endpoints or transfers. MOVEit limits and advanced features depend on the selected edition and licence. Details
Yes

Runtime and deployment

Windows ServerRun unattended transfer processing as a Windows service. Details
Yes
LinuxRun the automation engine on Linux. MOVEit Automation is a Windows application. Details
Yes
Docker and KubernetesDeploy the engine using supported Linux container images. Details
Yes
MacOSRun automated transfer processing on macOS. Details
Yes
Self-managed cloud deploymentInstall the automation engine on your own cloud virtual machines. Details
Yes

File transfer protocols

SFTP clientUpload and download files using SSH file transfer. Details
Yes
FTP and FTPS clientsConnect to plain FTP servers or FTP servers secured with TLS. Details
Yes
AS2 sendSFTPPlus MFT Client sends AS2 messages and validates delivery receipts. MOVEit uses an AS protocol licence option, and its documented AS2 solution also requires MOVEit Transfer. Details
Yes
AS1 and AS3MOVEit offers these additional EDI transport protocols. SFTPPlus MFT supports AS2. Details
No
WebDAV clientUse a remote WebDAV server as a transfer source or destination. MOVEit's documented host types do not include WebDAV. Details
Yes
Azure Blob and SharePoint OnlineTransfer files directly to and from these Microsoft storage services. Details
Yes
Azure Files connectorAccess Azure Files through its storage API. Access through a mounted SMB share is a different integration method. Details
Yes
Amazon S3 and Google Cloud StorageMOVEit provides native storage connectors. These connectors remain on the SFTPPlus MFT roadmap. Details
No
Exchange Online attachments through Microsoft GraphMonitor a mailbox and retrieve attachments through Microsoft Graph. MOVEit lists POP3 email hosts, without this mailbox connector. Details
Yes
SMTP file deliverySend files as email attachments through an SMTP server. Details
Yes
Oracle Database as a transfer endpointRead and write Oracle Database rows as file transfer sources and destinations. MOVEit's logging database support is not an equivalent connector. Details
Yes
IBM MQ as a transfer endpointExchange file content with IBM MQ queues through a native connector. MOVEit's documented host types do not include IBM MQ. Details
Yes
Windows network sharesUse accessible network shares as sources or destinations. MOVEit provides UNC hosts; SFTPPlus MFT can use shares available through the operating system. Details
Yes

Administration and integration

Web administrationConfigure transfers and review their activity from a browser. Details
Yes
Command-line controlStart and manage transfers from scripts. Details
Yes
HTTP administration APISFTPPlus MFT administration uses JSON-RPC, including through admin-shell. MOVEit provides a REST API with the applicable licence. Details
Yes
Configuration in one text file, without databaseSFTPPlus MFT stores settings in an INI file. MOVEit uses encrypted configuration files and a database for its transfer history. Details
Yes
Configuration as codeSFTPPlus MFT supports declarative INI deployments. MOVEit can be integrated into scripted operations using its APIs and configuration export tools. Details
Yes
Configuration promotionSFTPPlus MFT manages configuration variants through its cluster controller. MOVEit supports exporting and importing selected task configurations. Details
Cluster licence

Automation

Scheduled client transfersPull and push files according to a configured schedule. Details
Yes
File monitoring and filteringSelect matching files in monitored locations for processing. Details
Yes
Automatic retriesRetry failed transfers with configurable retry settings. Details
Yes
Server-to-server streamingSFTPPlus MFT can stream between remote locations without storing the whole file locally. An equivalent MOVEit mode is not confirmed in the reviewed documentation. Details
Yes
Visual workflow branches and loopsMOVEit Advanced Tasks provide conditional steps and loops in the task editor. SFTPPlus MFT uses transfer settings and event handlers, without an equivalent visual workflow designer. Details
No
Multiple destinations in one taskMOVEit tasks can distribute files to several destinations. SFTPPlus MFT uses separate transfers or dispatch rules rather than multiple destinations in one transfer definition. Details
No
Two-way folder synchronizationMOVEit has a synchronization task type that reconciles two folders. SFTPPlus MFT does not provide an equivalent two-way synchronization task. Details
No
Compress and extract archivesInclude archive creation or extraction in automated processing. Details
Yes
PGP encryption and signature processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files with OpenPGP. MOVEit's native PGP functionality must be enabled in its licence. Details
Yes
External scripts and programsExtend processing with custom code. SFTPPlus MFT can invoke external executables; MOVEit supports custom scripts and built-in process steps. Details
Yes

Security and identity

Active Directory administrator accountsUse existing directory identities for administrators. These are management accounts, not incoming file transfer users. Details
Yes
OpenID Connect administrator SSOAuthenticate browser administrators through providers such as Entra ID or Okta. MOVEit Automation added this support in version 2025.1. Details
Yes
Role-based administrationLimit which settings or tasks an administrator can manage. MOVEit permissions depend on the selected edition; this comparison includes advanced administration capabilities. Details
Yes
SSH public key authenticationAuthenticate automated SFTP connections using an SSH key. Details
Yes

Other features

Email status notificationsReport transfer results and failures by email. Details
Yes
Built-in task history reportsMOVEit provides task and transfer history reports. SFTPPlus MFT provides activity filters and configurable event reports, without an equivalent task reporting interface. Details
Logs and event reports
Task execution monitoringMOVEit shows running task status through Web Admin. SFTPPlus MFT shows component status and activity logs, without the same task execution view. Details
Component status and logs

High availability and audit

Automatic client transfer failoverSFTPPlus MFT requires additional cluster licensing. MOVEit Automation Failover is a separate option from a cold disaster recovery licence. Details
Cluster licence
Central management of different node rolesSFTPPlus MFT can assign different transfers and components to node pools from one cluster controller. An equivalent heterogeneous MOVEit Automation cluster is not confirmed. Details
Cluster licence
Detailed transfer historyRecord file paths, results, and errors for operations and audit review. Details
Yes
Cryptographically chained audit recordsMOVEit Automation stores transfer records in a tamper-evident database. SFTPPlus MFT does not provide a built-in hash chain for its audit records. Details
No

Support

Phone and email supportAvailable with the relevant support contract. Details
Yes
Updates with active maintenanceReceive supported product updates while the applicable maintenance agreement remains active. Details
Yes
Extended support coverageBoth vendors offer extended coverage separately from standard business-hours support. Details
Add-on
Implementation and training servicesBoth vendors offer assistance for deployment projects and administrator training. Details
Add-on

MOVEit Automation

First year
~$14,000
Following years
~$2,800

Licensing

Published vendor list pricesSFTPPlus MFT publishes its licence and support prices. Progress provides an individual quote; public reseller listings provide the estimate used here. Details
No
Perpetual licenceThe cost model assumes a perpetual software purchase with an annual support renewal. Confirm the term offered in the MOVEit quote. Details
Yes
All supported client protocols includedSFTPPlus MFT includes all of its supported client connectors. MOVEit capabilities depend on the licence, including AS1, AS2, and AS3 options. Details
No
Cold disaster recovery instanceIncluded with SFTPPlus MFT. The MOVEit price reference is a bundle with a disaster recovery option; this does not imply automatic failover. Details
Yes
Development and testing instancesThese instances are included with SFTPPlus MFT. Confirm the separate non-production rights in a MOVEit quote. Details
Separate licence
Unlimited remote endpoints and transfersSFTPPlus MFT has no licence cap on endpoints or transfers. MOVEit limits and advanced features depend on the selected edition and licence. Details
Depends on licence

Runtime and deployment

Windows ServerRun unattended transfer processing as a Windows service. Details
Yes
LinuxRun the automation engine on Linux. MOVEit Automation is a Windows application. Details
No
Docker and KubernetesDeploy the engine using supported Linux container images. Details
No
MacOSRun automated transfer processing on macOS. Details
No
Self-managed cloud deploymentInstall the automation engine on your own cloud virtual machines. Details
Yes

File transfer protocols

SFTP clientUpload and download files using SSH file transfer. Details
Yes
FTP and FTPS clientsConnect to plain FTP servers or FTP servers secured with TLS. Details
Yes
AS2 sendSFTPPlus MFT Client sends AS2 messages and validates delivery receipts. MOVEit uses an AS protocol licence option, and its documented AS2 solution also requires MOVEit Transfer. Details
extra cost licence option
AS1 and AS3MOVEit offers these additional EDI transport protocols. SFTPPlus MFT supports AS2. Details
Licence option
WebDAV clientUse a remote WebDAV server as a transfer source or destination. MOVEit's documented host types do not include WebDAV. Details
No
Azure Blob and SharePoint OnlineTransfer files directly to and from these Microsoft storage services. Details
Yes
Azure Files connectorAccess Azure Files through its storage API. Access through a mounted SMB share is a different integration method. Details
No
Amazon S3 and Google Cloud StorageMOVEit provides native storage connectors. These connectors remain on the SFTPPlus MFT roadmap. Details
Yes
Exchange Online attachments through Microsoft GraphMonitor a mailbox and retrieve attachments through Microsoft Graph. MOVEit lists POP3 email hosts, without this mailbox connector. Details
No
SMTP file deliverySend files as email attachments through an SMTP server. Details
Yes
Oracle Database as a transfer endpointRead and write Oracle Database rows as file transfer sources and destinations. MOVEit's logging database support is not an equivalent connector. Details
No
IBM MQ as a transfer endpointExchange file content with IBM MQ queues through a native connector. MOVEit's documented host types do not include IBM MQ. Details
No
Windows network sharesUse accessible network shares as sources or destinations. MOVEit provides UNC hosts; SFTPPlus MFT can use shares available through the operating system. Details
Yes

Administration and integration

Web administrationConfigure transfers and review their activity from a browser. Details
Yes
Command-line controlStart and manage transfers from scripts. Details
No
HTTP administration APISFTPPlus MFT administration uses JSON-RPC, including through admin-shell. MOVEit provides a REST API with the applicable licence. Details
API option
Configuration in one text file, without databaseSFTPPlus MFT stores settings in an INI file. MOVEit uses encrypted configuration files and a database for its transfer history. Details
No
Configuration as codeSFTPPlus MFT supports declarative INI deployments. MOVEit can be integrated into scripted operations using its APIs and configuration export tools. Details
Via API and export
Configuration promotionSFTPPlus MFT manages configuration variants through its cluster controller. MOVEit supports exporting and importing selected task configurations. Details
Task export and import

Automation

Scheduled client transfersPull and push files according to a configured schedule. Details
Yes
File monitoring and filteringSelect matching files in monitored locations for processing. Details
Yes
Automatic retriesRetry failed transfers with configurable retry settings. Details
Yes
Server-to-server streamingSFTPPlus MFT can stream between remote locations without storing the whole file locally. An equivalent MOVEit mode is not confirmed in the reviewed documentation. Details
Not confirmed
Visual workflow branches and loopsMOVEit Advanced Tasks provide conditional steps and loops in the task editor. SFTPPlus MFT uses transfer settings and event handlers, without an equivalent visual workflow designer. Details
Yes
Multiple destinations in one taskMOVEit tasks can distribute files to several destinations. SFTPPlus MFT uses separate transfers or dispatch rules rather than multiple destinations in one transfer definition. Details
Yes
Two-way folder synchronizationMOVEit has a synchronization task type that reconciles two folders. SFTPPlus MFT does not provide an equivalent two-way synchronization task. Details
Yes
Compress and extract archivesInclude archive creation or extraction in automated processing. Details
Yes
PGP encryption and signature processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files with OpenPGP. MOVEit's native PGP functionality must be enabled in its licence. Details
Licence option
External scripts and programsExtend processing with custom code. SFTPPlus MFT can invoke external executables; MOVEit supports custom scripts and built-in process steps. Details
Yes

Security and identity

Active Directory administrator accountsUse existing directory identities for administrators. These are management accounts, not incoming file transfer users. Details
Yes
OpenID Connect administrator SSOAuthenticate browser administrators through providers such as Entra ID or Okta. MOVEit Automation added this support in version 2025.1. Details
Yes
Role-based administrationLimit which settings or tasks an administrator can manage. MOVEit permissions depend on the selected edition; this comparison includes advanced administration capabilities. Details
Yes
SSH public key authenticationAuthenticate automated SFTP connections using an SSH key. Details
Yes

Other features

Email status notificationsReport transfer results and failures by email. Details
Yes
Built-in task history reportsMOVEit provides task and transfer history reports. SFTPPlus MFT provides activity filters and configurable event reports, without an equivalent task reporting interface. Details
Yes
Task execution monitoringMOVEit shows running task status through Web Admin. SFTPPlus MFT shows component status and activity logs, without the same task execution view. Details
Yes

High availability and audit

Automatic client transfer failoverSFTPPlus MFT requires additional cluster licensing. MOVEit Automation Failover is a separate option from a cold disaster recovery licence. Details
Failover option
Central management of different node rolesSFTPPlus MFT can assign different transfers and components to node pools from one cluster controller. An equivalent heterogeneous MOVEit Automation cluster is not confirmed. Details
Not confirmed
Detailed transfer historyRecord file paths, results, and errors for operations and audit review. Details
Yes
Cryptographically chained audit recordsMOVEit Automation stores transfer records in a tamper-evident database. SFTPPlus MFT does not provide a built-in hash chain for its audit records. Details
Yes

Support

Phone and email supportAvailable with the relevant support contract. Details
Yes
Updates with active maintenanceReceive supported product updates while the applicable maintenance agreement remains active. Details
Yes
Extended support coverageBoth vendors offer extended coverage separately from standard business-hours support. Details
Add-on
Implementation and training servicesBoth vendors offer assistance for deployment projects and administrator training. Details
Add-on

Features checked on 13 September 2026. Contact us and we will update the page.

Comparison criteria ​

This comparison covers software that initiates transfers to remote systems, using the SFTPPlus MFT client licence and MOVEit Automation with advanced task capabilities.

It excludes incoming SFTP, FTPS, and browser file services, which are covered by SFTPPlus MFT Server vs MOVEit Transfer. Progress Automate MFT is a separate product and is outside this comparison.

These are our estimates, not a MOVEit quote.

The MOVEit estimate uses SHI's Automation Bundle Tier 3 with Disaster Recovery listing. The listed licence price is $11,192. We allow 25% of that price for annual support, giving rounded estimates of $14,000 for the first year and $2,800 for renewal.

The SFTPPlus MFT first-year price includes a $1,900 licence and $475 standard support.

Why choose SFTPPlus MFT ​

SFTPPlus MFT is a better fit when automated transfers need to run on Linux, macOS, or in Kubernetes. All configuration is available in a readable INI file, which makes deployments and configuration reviews easier to automate.

The client includes connectors for Oracle Database, IBM MQ, and Exchange Online attachments. For example, it can retrieve a mailbox attachment through Microsoft Graph and deliver its contents to an SFTP server or an IBM MQ queue. These are native transfer endpoints, so the workflow does not need a separate connector script. It also supports WebDAV and Azure Files.

The transfer engine supports remote file monitoring, filtering, schedules, retries, and streaming between remote servers. Its published price includes PGP processing and all supported client protocols, with no additional endpoint or transfer licence limits. For workflows built around those capabilities, the cost is lower than the MOVEit budgeting estimate above.

When MOVEit Automation is a better fit ​

MOVEit Automation offers a task editor with conditional branches, loops, and multiple destinations. It is a better fit when operators need to express several processing steps as one visual workflow or reconcile two directories with a dedicated synchronization task. SFTPPlus MFT can combine transfers, event handlers, and external programs, but does not offer the same workflow editor or two-way synchronization mode.

MOVEit also connects directly to Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage. Those connectors remain on the SFTPPlus MFT roadmap, and are excluded from current support here. MOVEit's optional AS1 and AS3 support is useful for partners that require those protocols.

Its task history and execution views provide more workflow-specific operational information than SFTPPlus MFT's component status and activity logs. MOVEit also supplies cryptographically chained audit records, while SFTPPlus MFT relies on its logs and external audit integrations.

Evidence and updates ​

Feature references include the MOVEit Automation overview and supported host types. The MOVEit API documentation explains API and command-line licensing. Features were checked on 13 September 2026. Please contact us if an edition or licence change affects this comparison.