If you’re familiar with managing websites or backing up files, you’ll be familiar with needing to use an FTP client. In a nutshell, FTP clients allow the upload and downloads of data between a server and your computer. When using Windows I used to use FileZilla, but it quickly became increasingly more and more difficult to use because of annoying bugs. I liked that it was freeware, but I will always pay for something if the thing I’m paying for is a better alternative.

After I switched to OSX, I asked friends and colleagues of mine which FTP Client for Mac I should use. The vast majority of them recommended Transmit. After using freeware I was a little skeptical of paying for a piece of software when there are free versions available, but what I came to learn after using a Mac for four years, is that developers for the Mac care about what they create.

I generally do the same tasks with Transmit. I transfer files to and from servers, but it’s capable of doing so much more – use Amazon S3? You’ll love Transmit. On its fourth version, this FTP client for Mac continues to innovate and improve. In Transmit 4 alone there are 45 new features. How much does it cost? Only $34.

Do you use Transmit? What do you think? What’s the best alternative available?