Ever tried moving a file from one computer to another and wondered why there are so many different ways to do it? Maybe you've seen acronyms like FTP, SFTP, HTTP, or WebDAV and thought "aren't they all just... transferring files?" You're not wrong, but each protocol has its own strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. Some are blazing fast but insecure. Others are rock-solid secure but painfully slow for large files. And then there's BitTorrent, which throws the entire concept of traditional file transfer out the window.

In this guide, we'll break down the most common file transfer protocols, explain how they actually work, and help you figure out which one you should use for your specific needs.

Understanding File Transfer Protocols: The Basics

Before we dive into specific protocols, let's get clear on what we're talking about. A file transfer protocol is essentially a set of rules that two computers follow to send files back and forth. Think of it like a language—both sides need to speak the same one, or nothing gets transferred.

The key differences between protocols come down to:

Security: Is your data encrypted in transit?

Speed: How efficiently can it move large files?

Reliability: What happens if the connection drops mid-transfer?

Authentication: How do you prove who you are?

Use case: Is it built for web browsing, server management, or something else?

Now let's look at each major protocol.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol): The Classic That Won't Die

FTP has been around since 1971—yes, before the internet as we know it even existed. It's the granddaddy of file transfer protocols, and despite its age, it's still everywhere.

How FTP Works

FTP uses two separate connections: one for commands (port 21) and one for actual data transfer (port 20 by default). You connect to an FTP server with a username and password, navigate directories just like you would on your own computer, and upload or download files.

bash
Connecting to an FTP server via command line

ftp ftp.example.com
Enter username and password when prompted

Common commands:

ls          # List files
cd folder   # Change directory
get file    # Download file
put file    # Upload file

The Good

Universal compatibility: Nearly every platform supports FTP

Simple to set up: Most web hosting providers still offer FTP access out of the box

Efficient for transfers: Once connected, it's reasonably fast

The Bad

Zero encryption: Your username, password, and all file data are sent in plain text. Anyone sniffing network traffic can see everything.

Firewall headaches: The dual-connection design doesn't play nice with modern firewalls and NAT routers

No built-in resume: If a transfer fails halfway, you often have to start over

When to Use FTP

Honestly? Almost never for anything important. The security risks are too high in 2026. The only valid use case is transferring non-sensitive files within a completely trusted local network. If you're exposing FTP to the public internet, you're asking for trouble.

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol): FTP's Secure Successor

SFTP sounds like "secure FTP," but it's actually a completely different protocol built on top of SSH (Secure Shell). It was designed to solve FTP's glaring security problems.

How SFTP Works

SFTP runs entirely over a single SSH connection (typically port 22). Everything—authentication, commands, and file data—is encrypted from end to end. You authenticate using either a password or SSH keys.

bash
Connecting to an SFTP server

sftp username@example.com
Or with an SSH key

sftp -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa username@example.com
Same commands as FTP once connected

ls
get file.zip
put backup.tar.gz

The Good

End-to-end encryption: All data is encrypted using strong SSH cryptography

Single connection: Works much better with firewalls than FTP

Built-in resume: Transfers can pick up where they left off if interrupted

Key-based authentication: More secure than passwords alone

The Bad

Slightly more overhead: Encryption adds some computational cost (though it's negligible on modern hardware)

More complex setup: SSH keys and permissions can be confusing for beginners

When to Use SFTP

This should be your default choice for server-to-server file transfers, website deployments, or any scenario where you need secure, reliable file access over the internet. It's what system administrators use daily.

HTTP/HTTPS: The Web's File Transfer Method

You use HTTP every day—it's how your browser loads web pages. But it's also perfectly capable of transferring files, and HTTPS adds encryption on top.

How HTTP/HTTPS Works

HTTP wasn't originally designed for file transfers, but it turns out to be pretty good at them. When you click a download link on a website, you're using HTTP. The protocol is simple: your client sends a GET request, and the server responds with the file data.

bash
Downloading a file via HTTP using curl

curl -O https://example.com/large-file.zip
With resume support

curl -C - -O https://example.com/large-file.zip

The Good

Ubiquitous: Works everywhere, through every firewall

HTTPS provides encryption: Modern HTTPS (TLS 1.3) is extremely secure

CDN-friendly: Can leverage content delivery networks for global distribution

Range requests: Supports resuming downloads

The Bad

One-way by design: Great for downloading, but uploads require additional server-side handling (web forms, APIs)

No directory browsing: Unlike FTP/SFTP, you can't navigate a file tree (unless the server implements it separately)

Authentication can be clunky: Basic auth isn't great; proper authentication requires API tokens or OAuth

When to Use HTTP/HTTPS

Perfect for distributing files to end users—software downloads, media files, public datasets. If you're serving files to people who just need to click and download, HTTPS is the way. It's also ideal for API-based file transfers in modern web applications.

WebDAV: HTTP With File Management Superpowers

WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) is an extension of HTTP that adds file management capabilities like uploading, deleting, moving files, and managing directories.

How WebDAV Works

WebDAV adds new HTTP methods beyond GET and POST—things like PUT (upload), DELETE, MOVE, and COPY. It essentially turns your web server into a network drive you can mount on your computer.

bash
Mounting a WebDAV share on Linux

mount -t davfs https://example.com/webdav /mnt/webdav
On macOS (via Finder > Go > Connect to Server)

https://example.com/webdav
On Windows (via Map Network Drive)

https://example.com/webdav

The Good

Full file management: Upload, download, rename, delete, move files

Works over HTTPS: Encrypted and firewall-friendly

Can be mounted as a drive: Appears as a local folder in your file manager

Built into many platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux support it natively

The Bad

Performance can be sluggish: Not optimized for large files or high-speed transfers

Inconsistent implementations: Different servers and clients sometimes don't play nicely together

Complexity: More moving parts than simple HTTP downloads

When to Use WebDAV

Great for cloud storage services and collaborative environments where multiple users need read/write access to shared files. Many cloud providers (like Nextcloud) use WebDAV under the hood. It's also useful when you want to access remote files as if they were local.

BitTorrent: The Distributed Game-Changer

BitTorrent isn't like the other protocols on this list. Instead of downloading from a single server, you download pieces of a file from dozens or hundreds of other users simultaneously.

How BitTorrent Works

When you download a torrent, you connect to a "swarm" of other users who have the file (or pieces of it). Your torrent client downloads different chunks from multiple sources at once, then verifies each piece using cryptographic hashes. As soon as you have a piece, you start sharing it with others—you become part of the swarm yourself.

The Good

Incredibly fast for popular files: The more people sharing, the faster everyone downloads

Decentralized: No single point of failure; files can't be taken offline easily

Efficient bandwidth usage: Distributes load across many users instead of hammering one server

Built-in verification: Hash checking ensures file integrity

The Bad

Requires seeders: If no one is sharing the file, you can't download it

Upload bandwidth required: You're expected to share back (seeding)

Legal stigma: While the protocol is neutral, it's often associated with piracy

Not great for private files: Designed for public distribution, not secure transfers

When to Use BitTorrent

Perfect for distributing large files to many people—Linux ISOs, open-source software, public domain media, game updates. It's also excellent for archiving and preserving data. If you're sharing something publicly and want to save on hosting bandwidth, torrents are unbeatable.

Quick Comparison Table

So Which Should You Use?

Here's the cheat sheet:

For managing files on your server: Use SFTP

For distributing files to the public: Use HTTPS

For collaborative file access: Use WebDAV

For distributing large files to many people: Use BitTorrent

For FTP: Stop using FTP

The right choice depends on your security needs, the size of your files, whether you're uploading or downloading, and who your audience is.

Real-World Scenario: Combining Protocols

In practice, you'll often use multiple protocols together. For example, you might:

Download a torrent to your seedbox (BitTorrent)

Access and manage those files via SFTP

Serve them to your home media server via HTTPS or WebDAV

Sync backups to cloud storage using WebDAV

This is where seedbox services excel—they handle the complexity of supporting multiple transfer methods, giving you fast torrent downloads, secure file access, and flexible transfer options all in one place. Services like SonicBit make this easy by providing built-in support for torrents, SFTP access, and Remote Upload features that let you sync files to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or pCloud with just a few clicks.

Wrapping Up

File transfer protocols aren't one-size-fits-all. FTP had its day but is now a security liability. SFTP is the workhorse for secure server access. HTTPS dominates public file distribution. WebDAV bridges the gap for cloud storage. And BitTorrent remains unbeatable for efficiently sharing large files with the masses.

Understanding these differences helps you choose the right tool for the job—whether you're deploying a website, sharing files with colleagues, or setting up a media server.

Sign up free at SonicBit.net and get 4GB storage. Download our app on Android and iOS to access your seedbox on the go.