An sftpcloud alternative with an API and a lower entry price
sftpcloud and CloudFile both give you hosted SFTP and FTP servers with your own storage behind them. CloudFile starts cheaper, doesn't cap SFTP users above Starter, and lets you automate everything over a REST API.
CloudFile and sftpcloud, side by side.
| Feature | CloudFile | sftpcloud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €19 / €59 / €179 a month (Starter / Pro / Business), excl. VAT. Yearly billing gives two months free. | €39 / €49 / €99 / €219 / €419 / €799 a month (Lite to Agency Pro) |
| Servers | 1 / 5 / 20 servers per plan | 1 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 30 servers per plan |
| SFTP users | 10 on Starter, unlimited from Pro | 5 / 15 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 800 per plan |
| Protocols | SFTP, FTPS, FTP and WebDAV | SFTP, FTPS and FTP |
| Included storage | 10 GB / 250 GB / 1 TB included, or your own bucket | 10 GB to 4 TB, or your own storage |
| Bring your own bucket | Any S3-compatible bucket (S3, R2, B2, Wasabi, Hetzner, GCS, MinIO and more), on every plan | Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Azure Blob Storage, Cloudflare R2, an external SFTP server and more |
| Hosting | Hetzner, Germany (EU) | "Multiple parts of the world"; locations aren't listed on their site |
| API | REST API at /api/v1 with an OpenAPI 3.1 spec and API keys | No API in their documentation |
| Webhooks | HMAC-signed webhooks with retries and a presigned download link, plus email | Webhooks and email notifications |
| Static IP and custom domain | Dedicated IP with ports 22 and 21, and your own domain, on Pro and up | Static IPs and your own domain, listed from the Lite plan |
| Team members | Unlimited members with owner, admin and member roles, 2FA | Unlimited dashboard users |
| Free trial | 7 days of Pro, no card | 7 days, no card |
sftpcloud details are from their public website and docs as of October 2026. Prices exclude VAT and taxes.
Why teams switch from sftpcloud.
From €19 a month
Starter costs €19 with 10 SFTP users. Pro at €59 gives you 5 servers and unlimited users.
No per-user ceiling
From Pro up, add as many SFTP logins as you have partners or devices. You don't move up a plan because you hit 15 or 50 users.
A REST API for everything
Create servers, SFTP users, listeners and files from code with API keys and an OpenAPI spec. Useful when every customer of your app needs their own login.
Webhooks you can trust
Each delivery is signed with HMAC-SHA256 and a timestamp, retried with backoff, and carries a fresh download link. Resend any event from the last 30 days.
In Germany, on Hetzner
Servers, files and the dashboard database run in Germany. You know where your data is without asking sales.
Audit log and 2FA
See who changed what in the dashboard or over the API, and protect every account with TOTP two-factor authentication.
When sftpcloud is the better choice.
Your files have to live in Azure Blob Storage, which isn't S3-compatible, or on another SFTP server.
You need a static IP or your own domain on the cheapest plan. With CloudFile those start on Pro.
You need servers outside the EU. CloudFile runs in Germany only for now.
You need several terabytes of hosted storage included in the plan instead of using your own bucket.
Questions about switching from sftpcloud.
Can I move my users from sftpcloud?
Yes. Create the users in the dashboard or over the API, and copy existing files into your bucket or CloudFile storage, for example with rclone. If you used your own bucket with sftpcloud, point CloudFile at the same bucket under <folder>/<username>/.
Do my partners need to change anything?
They need the new host name, port and credentials. With a dedicated IP on Pro or Business, they can keep using ports 22 and 21, and with your own domain you can switch DNS instead of telling every partner.
Is there a limit on SFTP users?
Starter includes 10 SFTP users. Pro and Business have no limit.
Can I keep using my own S3 bucket?
Yes, on every plan. Any S3-compatible service works, and storage in your bucket doesn't count towards your plan.
More in the docs: Quickstart · Your own bucket · API
How CloudFile compares with other options.
AWS Transfer Family alternative
AWS Transfer Family is solid, but an SFTP endpoint costs $0.30 an hour for each enabled protocol, around $216 a month before any data moves. CloudFile gives you SFTP, FTPS and FTP for a flat monthly price, and can still write straight into your S3 bucket.
CompareCouchdrop alternative
Couchdrop connects SFTP to SharePoint, Google Drive and many other systems, with prices on request above its first plan. CloudFile does one thing: SFTP, FTPS and FTP servers on S3-compatible storage, with every price on the website and no transfer metering.
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