SFTPPlus MFT vs Serv-U FTP and MFT Server
This comparison covers the SFTPPlus MFT server licence to
Serv-U File Transfer Protocol Server and Serv-U Managed File Transfer Server.
SFTPPlus MFT Server
- First year
- $2,375
- Following years
- $475
Licensing
- Perpetual licenceContinue using the purchased version without renewing a product subscription. Details
- Yes
- Included non-production instancesSFTPPlus includes development, one testing or pre-production instance, and cold disaster recovery. Details
- Yes
- Included cold disaster recovery instanceSFTPPlus includes a cold recovery instance. Details
- Yes
- Unlimited usersNo licence limits on users or simultaneous connections. Details
- Yes
- Unlimited connectionsNo licence limits on users or simultaneous connections. Details
- Yes
Runtime and deployment
- Windows ServerInstall on Windows Server 2019 or 2022. Details
- Yes
- LinuxInstall on supported Linux distributions. Serv-U 2026.3 includes RHEL 8 and 9, Ubuntu 20.04 and 22.04, and Debian 12. Details
- Yes
- Docker & KubernetesDocumented container deployment. Serv-U's system requirements describe Windows and Linux installations without a supported container deployment procedure. Details
- Yes
- MacOSRun the server on macOS. Serv-U lists Windows and Linux as its supported operating systems. Details
- Yes
File transfer protocols
- FTPAccept connections from clients using unencrypted FTP. Details
- Yes
- FTP with TLS (FTPS)Accept encrypted FTP transfers using explicit or implicit TLS. Details
- Yes
- SFTPAccept file transfers over SSH. Serv-U requires the MFT edition for this protocol. Details
- Yes
- SCPAccept connections using the legacy SCP protocol over SSH. Serv-U's SSH listener supports SFTP, not SCP. Details
- Yes
- HTTP(S) web clientProtect browser file transfers with TLS. Serv-U FTP Server includes HTTP access, while HTTPS requires its MFT edition. Details
- Yes
- AS2 receivingReceive AS2 messages from trading partners. Sending AS2 messages with SFTPPlus requires a client licence. Details
- Yes
- WebDAV serverExpose files through the WebDAV protocol. WebDAV is not among Serv-U's supported listener protocols. Details
- Yes
Administration and integration
- Remote web administrationAdminister the server remotely through a browser. Serv-U's edition comparison reserves remote web administration for MFT. Details
- Yes
- HTTP APIIntegrate file transfers, user authentication, and event delivery over HTTP. Configuration and management use admin-shell through the JSON-RPC management interface. Details
- Yes
- Single INI configuration fileManage application settings through one editable INI file. Serv-U keeps configuration across its archive, user files, and server identity data. Details
- Yes
- Command-line administrationSFTPPlus provides admin-shell for configuration and operations. Details
- Yes
- Configuration as codeSFTPPlus supports declarative INI deployments. Details
- Yes
Automation
- Event actionsReact to uploads, failed logins, and other server events using configurable conditions and actions. Details
- Yes
- Email notificationsSend email alerts in response to file transfer or access events. Details
- Yes
- External commands on eventsRun an external executable when a selected server event occurs. Details
- Yes
- Compress/decompress filesCompress files into GZIP or ZIP archives and extract GZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, or ZIP content. Details
- Yes
- Built-in PGP processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files without an external PGP tool. Details
- Yes
Security and identity
- LDAP and Active DirectoryAuthenticate using directory accounts. Serv-U requires MFT, and its Windows authentication integration requires a Windows host. Details
- Yes
- Entra ID, Okta & Google web SSOSign in through a cloud identity provider using OpenID Connect. This is different from LDAP or Windows domain authentication. Details
- Yes
- RADIUS authenticationAuthenticate file transfer users through a RADIUS service, including an external MFA provider. Details
- Yes
- TOTP for web usersRequire a password and an authenticator code for browser sessions. Details
- Yes
- TOTP for SFTP and FTPSRequire authenticator codes for protocol clients. Serv-U documents TOTP MFA for web sessions only; this row does not compare SSH key and password combinations. Details
- Yes
- IP allow/deny lists & automatic blockingRestrict source addresses and block repeated connection or authentication attempts. Details
- Yes
- Password policiesConfigure password requirements and account access limits. Details
- Yes
- Custom identity integrationIntegrate an existing user system. SFTPPlus can call a custom HTTP authentication service; Serv-U MFT supports custom authentication libraries and ODBC user databases. Details
- Yes
Other features
- Virtual directories, users & groupsMap selected folders into user accounts and control access through group permissions. Details
- Yes
- File retention policiesAutomatically archive or delete old files. Both Serv-U editions run file management rules hourly; MFT adds success and failure events for those rules. Details
- Yes
- Ad hoc guest sharingSend or request files using expiring links for recipients without a regular server account. This is on the SFTPPlus roadmap. Details
- No
- Self-service password recoveryRecover a forgotten password through the web login page. SFTPPlus users can change a known password but must contact an administrator to reset a forgotten one. Details
- No
- Native user disk quotasTrack and limit a user's total storage usage within the application. SFTPPlus file size limits and operating system quotas are different controls.
- No
- Upload/download ratiosGive users download credits based on how much they upload. Serv-U supports ratios by file count or byte count.
- No
High availability and audit
- Active-active server deploymentRun multiple active file servers behind a load balancer. Additional active instances need licensing; the SFTPPlus cluster controller is also separately licensed. Details
- Additional licences
- Detailed logsRecord server and transfer activity for troubleshooting and audit review. Details
- Yes
Support
- Email supportVendor email support with the compared support contract or subscription. Details
- Yes
- Phone supportSFTPPlus provides telephone support during UK office hours and limited on-call support. Serv-U's edition comparison includes phone support with MFT. Details
- Yes
- Standard 24/7 phone supportRound-the-clock telephone support in the compared offering. SFTPPlus requires an extended support agreement for 24/7 coverage; SolarWinds advertises it for Serv-U MFT. Details
- No
Serv-U FTP Server
- First year
- ~$660
- Following years
- ~$165
Licensing
- Perpetual licenceContinue using the purchased version without renewing a product subscription. Details
- Yes
- Included non-production instancesSFTPPlus includes development, one testing or pre-production instance, and cold disaster recovery. Details
- No
- Included cold disaster recovery instanceSFTPPlus includes a cold recovery instance. Details
- No
- Unlimited usersNo licence limits on users or simultaneous connections. Details
- no (250)
- Unlimited connectionsNo licence limits on users or simultaneous connections. Details
- no (100)
Runtime and deployment
- Windows ServerInstall on Windows Server 2019 or 2022. Details
- Yes
- LinuxInstall on supported Linux distributions. Serv-U 2026.3 includes RHEL 8 and 9, Ubuntu 20.04 and 22.04, and Debian 12. Details
- Yes
- Docker & KubernetesDocumented container deployment. Serv-U's system requirements describe Windows and Linux installations without a supported container deployment procedure. Details
- No
- MacOSRun the server on macOS. Serv-U lists Windows and Linux as its supported operating systems. Details
- No
File transfer protocols
- FTPAccept connections from clients using unencrypted FTP. Details
- Yes
- FTP with TLS (FTPS)Accept encrypted FTP transfers using explicit or implicit TLS. Details
- Yes
- SFTPAccept file transfers over SSH. Serv-U requires the MFT edition for this protocol. Details
- No
- SCPAccept connections using the legacy SCP protocol over SSH. Serv-U's SSH listener supports SFTP, not SCP. Details
- No
- HTTP(S) web clientProtect browser file transfers with TLS. Serv-U FTP Server includes HTTP access, while HTTPS requires its MFT edition. Details
- No
- AS2 receivingReceive AS2 messages from trading partners. Sending AS2 messages with SFTPPlus requires a client licence. Details
- No
- WebDAV serverExpose files through the WebDAV protocol. WebDAV is not among Serv-U's supported listener protocols. Details
- No
Administration and integration
- Remote web administrationAdminister the server remotely through a browser. Serv-U's edition comparison reserves remote web administration for MFT. Details
- No
- HTTP APIIntegrate file transfers, user authentication, and event delivery over HTTP. Configuration and management use admin-shell through the JSON-RPC management interface. Details
- No
- Single INI configuration fileManage application settings through one editable INI file. Serv-U keeps configuration across its archive, user files, and server identity data. Details
- No
- Command-line administrationSFTPPlus provides admin-shell for configuration and operations. Details
- no (only user import/export)
- Configuration as codeSFTPPlus supports declarative INI deployments. Details
- No
Automation
- Event actionsReact to uploads, failed logins, and other server events using configurable conditions and actions. Details
- No
- Email notificationsSend email alerts in response to file transfer or access events. Details
- No
- External commands on eventsRun an external executable when a selected server event occurs. Details
- No
- Compress/decompress filesCompress files into GZIP or ZIP archives and extract GZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, or ZIP content. Details
- No
- Built-in PGP processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files without an external PGP tool. Details
- No
Security and identity
- LDAP and Active DirectoryAuthenticate using directory accounts. Serv-U requires MFT, and its Windows authentication integration requires a Windows host. Details
- No
- Entra ID, Okta & Google web SSOSign in through a cloud identity provider using OpenID Connect. This is different from LDAP or Windows domain authentication. Details
- No
- RADIUS authenticationAuthenticate file transfer users through a RADIUS service, including an external MFA provider. Details
- No
- TOTP for web usersRequire a password and an authenticator code for browser sessions. Details
- Yes
- TOTP for SFTP and FTPSRequire authenticator codes for protocol clients. Serv-U documents TOTP MFA for web sessions only; this row does not compare SSH key and password combinations. Details
- No
- IP allow/deny lists & automatic blockingRestrict source addresses and block repeated connection or authentication attempts. Details
- Yes
- Password policiesConfigure password requirements and account access limits. Details
- Yes
- Custom identity integrationIntegrate an existing user system. SFTPPlus can call a custom HTTP authentication service; Serv-U MFT supports custom authentication libraries and ODBC user databases. Details
- No
Other features
- Virtual directories, users & groupsMap selected folders into user accounts and control access through group permissions. Details
- Yes
- File retention policiesAutomatically archive or delete old files. Both Serv-U editions run file management rules hourly; MFT adds success and failure events for those rules. Details
- Yes
- Ad hoc guest sharingSend or request files using expiring links for recipients without a regular server account. This is on the SFTPPlus roadmap. Details
- No
- Self-service password recoveryRecover a forgotten password through the web login page. SFTPPlus users can change a known password but must contact an administrator to reset a forgotten one. Details
- Yes
- Native user disk quotasTrack and limit a user's total storage usage within the application. SFTPPlus file size limits and operating system quotas are different controls.
- Yes
- Upload/download ratiosGive users download credits based on how much they upload. Serv-U supports ratios by file count or byte count.
- Yes
High availability and audit
- Active-active server deploymentRun multiple active file servers behind a load balancer. Additional active instances need licensing; the SFTPPlus cluster controller is also separately licensed. Details
- No
- Detailed logsRecord server and transfer activity for troubleshooting and audit review. Details
- Yes
Support
- Email supportVendor email support with the compared support contract or subscription. Details
- Yes
- Phone supportSFTPPlus provides telephone support during UK office hours and limited on-call support. Serv-U's edition comparison includes phone support with MFT. Details
- No
- Standard 24/7 phone supportRound-the-clock telephone support in the compared offering. SFTPPlus requires an extended support agreement for 24/7 coverage; SolarWinds advertises it for Serv-U MFT. Details
- No
Serv-U MFT Server
- First year
- ~$4,020
- Following years
- ~$965
Licensing
- Perpetual licenceContinue using the purchased version without renewing a product subscription. Details
- Yes
- Included non-production instancesSFTPPlus includes development, one testing or pre-production instance, and cold disaster recovery. Details
- No
- Included cold disaster recovery instanceSFTPPlus includes a cold recovery instance. Details
- No
- Unlimited usersNo licence limits on users or simultaneous connections. Details
- Yes
- Unlimited connectionsNo licence limits on users or simultaneous connections. Details
- Yes
Runtime and deployment
- Windows ServerInstall on Windows Server 2019 or 2022. Details
- Yes
- LinuxInstall on supported Linux distributions. Serv-U 2026.3 includes RHEL 8 and 9, Ubuntu 20.04 and 22.04, and Debian 12. Details
- Yes
- Docker & KubernetesDocumented container deployment. Serv-U's system requirements describe Windows and Linux installations without a supported container deployment procedure. Details
- No
- MacOSRun the server on macOS. Serv-U lists Windows and Linux as its supported operating systems. Details
- No
File transfer protocols
- FTPAccept connections from clients using unencrypted FTP. Details
- Yes
- FTP with TLS (FTPS)Accept encrypted FTP transfers using explicit or implicit TLS. Details
- Yes
- SFTPAccept file transfers over SSH. Serv-U requires the MFT edition for this protocol. Details
- Yes
- SCPAccept connections using the legacy SCP protocol over SSH. Serv-U's SSH listener supports SFTP, not SCP. Details
- No
- HTTP(S) web clientProtect browser file transfers with TLS. Serv-U FTP Server includes HTTP access, while HTTPS requires its MFT edition. Details
- Yes
- AS2 receivingReceive AS2 messages from trading partners. Sending AS2 messages with SFTPPlus requires a client licence. Details
- No
- WebDAV serverExpose files through the WebDAV protocol. WebDAV is not among Serv-U's supported listener protocols. Details
- No
Administration and integration
- Remote web administrationAdminister the server remotely through a browser. Serv-U's edition comparison reserves remote web administration for MFT. Details
- Yes
- HTTP APIIntegrate file transfers, user authentication, and event delivery over HTTP. Configuration and management use admin-shell through the JSON-RPC management interface. Details
- No
- Single INI configuration fileManage application settings through one editable INI file. Serv-U keeps configuration across its archive, user files, and server identity data. Details
- No
- Command-line administrationSFTPPlus provides admin-shell for configuration and operations. Details
- no (only user import/export)
- Configuration as codeSFTPPlus supports declarative INI deployments. Details
- No
Automation
- Event actionsReact to uploads, failed logins, and other server events using configurable conditions and actions. Details
- Yes
- Email notificationsSend email alerts in response to file transfer or access events. Details
- Yes
- External commands on eventsRun an external executable when a selected server event occurs. Details
- Yes
- Compress/decompress filesCompress files into GZIP or ZIP archives and extract GZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, or ZIP content. Details
- No
- Built-in PGP processingEncrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify files without an external PGP tool. Details
- No
Security and identity
- LDAP and Active DirectoryAuthenticate using directory accounts. Serv-U requires MFT, and its Windows authentication integration requires a Windows host. Details
- Yes
- Entra ID, Okta & Google web SSOSign in through a cloud identity provider using OpenID Connect. This is different from LDAP or Windows domain authentication. Details
- No
- RADIUS authenticationAuthenticate file transfer users through a RADIUS service, including an external MFA provider. Details
- No
- TOTP for web usersRequire a password and an authenticator code for browser sessions. Details
- Yes
- TOTP for SFTP and FTPSRequire authenticator codes for protocol clients. Serv-U documents TOTP MFA for web sessions only; this row does not compare SSH key and password combinations. Details
- No
- IP allow/deny lists & automatic blockingRestrict source addresses and block repeated connection or authentication attempts. Details
- Yes
- Password policiesConfigure password requirements and account access limits. Details
- Yes
- Custom identity integrationIntegrate an existing user system. SFTPPlus can call a custom HTTP authentication service; Serv-U MFT supports custom authentication libraries and ODBC user databases. Details
- Yes
Other features
- Virtual directories, users & groupsMap selected folders into user accounts and control access through group permissions. Details
- Yes
- File retention policiesAutomatically archive or delete old files. Both Serv-U editions run file management rules hourly; MFT adds success and failure events for those rules. Details
- Yes
- Ad hoc guest sharingSend or request files using expiring links for recipients without a regular server account. This is on the SFTPPlus roadmap. Details
- Yes
- Self-service password recoveryRecover a forgotten password through the web login page. SFTPPlus users can change a known password but must contact an administrator to reset a forgotten one. Details
- Yes
- Native user disk quotasTrack and limit a user's total storage usage within the application. SFTPPlus file size limits and operating system quotas are different controls.
- Yes
- Upload/download ratiosGive users download credits based on how much they upload. Serv-U supports ratios by file count or byte count.
- Yes
High availability and audit
- Active-active server deploymentRun multiple active file servers behind a load balancer. Additional active instances need licensing; the SFTPPlus cluster controller is also separately licensed. Details
- Additional licences
- Detailed logsRecord server and transfer activity for troubleshooting and audit review. Details
- Yes
Support
- Email supportVendor email support with the compared support contract or subscription. Details
- Yes
- Phone supportSFTPPlus provides telephone support during UK office hours and limited on-call support. Serv-U's edition comparison includes phone support with MFT. Details
- Yes
- Standard 24/7 phone supportRound-the-clock telephone support in the compared offering. SFTPPlus requires an extended support agreement for 24/7 coverage; SolarWinds advertises it for Serv-U MFT. Details
- Yes
Comparison criteria
Prices are annual amounts in USD for one production server. If a capability or price has changed, send us the updated source so we can correct this comparison.
It compares the Serv-U FTP and MFT server products with perpetual licence. Serv-U also provides subscription based pricing.
This compares SFTPPlus MFT server licence only. SFTPPlus offers a separate client licence. The client runs as an automated service to monitor directories, initiate remote push and pull transfers, and retry failed transfers without custom scripting.
Why SFTPPlus MFT can be the better choice
SFTPPlus MFT Server includes SFTP and SCP, HTTPS, AS2 receiving, and WebDAV in one server licence. Its PGP processing can protect received files without installing a separate encryption tool. These capabilities are useful when a server must accept files from partners using different protocols and process them after arrival.
OpenID Connect integrations, RADIUS, and TOTP for SFTP and FTPS cover identity requirements beyond browser-only MFA. Teams managing deployments as code can use the INI configuration, command-line administration, and documented container deployments.
At the published rates, three years of SFTPPlus MFT Server with standard support cost $3,325, compared with an estimated $5,950 for Serv-U MFT Server.
Why Serv-U can be the better choice
Serv-U FTP Server has a lower initial cost and includes both Windows and Linux deployment, virtual folders, and automated file retention. For a small FTP or FTPS installation that fits its licence limits, its estimated $1,980 over three years is also below SFTPPlus MFT Server with support.
Serv-U MFT Server provides guest file sharing for sending and requesting files through expiring links. Both Serv-U editions support password recovery and user quotas and transfer ratios. SFTPPlus MFT currently lacks these features, although guest sharing is on our roadmap.
SolarWinds advertises 24/7/365 telephone support for Serv-U MFT; SFTPPlus requires an extended agreement for equivalent availability.