Transmit (Panic)

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Transmit (Panic)

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to Transmit (Panic).

macOS file transfer client for connecting to FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3 and other cloud/storage services. Provides file browsing, transfers, syncing, multi-connection transfers, bookmarks and remote file management.

Alternatives List

#1
FileGator

FileGator

Self-hosted, open-source web file manager with multi-user access, roles, and chunked uploads. Manage local files or connect external storage like S3 via adapters.

FileGator screenshot

FileGator is a self-hosted, open-source web application for managing files and folders through a modern browser UI. It supports multiple users with roles and permissions and can work with local storage or external providers via storage adapters.

Key Features

  • Multi-user accounts with roles, permissions, and per-user home folders
  • Core file operations: upload, download, copy, move, rename, delete, create, edit, and preview
  • Chunked, resumable uploads with drag-and-drop and progress indication
  • Bulk download and on-the-fly ZIP/unzip support
  • Pluggable storage backends (local filesystem and third-party storage via adapters)
  • Designed to run without a mandatory database (depending on chosen adapters)

Use Cases

  • Provide a simple web-based alternative to FTP/SFTP for teams
  • Collect uploads from students, clients, or field workers into controlled folders
  • Manage and transfer files across local and supported cloud/object storage backends

Limitations and Considerations

  • Symlinks and file ownership changes (chown) are not supported in typical local adapter usage
  • Very large numbers of files in a single directory can reduce performance

FileGator is a practical solution for browser-based file administration and sharing with access control. It fits well for small to mid-sized deployments that need a lightweight, extensible file manager with optional external storage integration.

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#2
OpenSSH SFTP server

OpenSSH SFTP server

The sftp-server subsystem in OpenSSH provides SFTP file-transfer services over SSH with support for internal-sftp, chroot jails, public-key and certificate authentication, and protocol extensions.

OpenSSH SFTP server screenshot

OpenSSH's sftp-server is the server-side SFTP subsystem that runs under sshd to provide secure file-transfer operations over the SSH transport. It is distributed as part of the OpenSSH suite and is available as an external sftp-server binary or via the internal-sftp implementation inside sshd. (openssh.com)

Key Features

  • Implements the server side of the SFTP protocol (invoked via sshd Subsystem or ForceCommand internal-sftp). (man.openbsd.org)
  • Provides both a standalone sftp-server binary and internal-sftp (in-process) mode for chrooted and restricted sessions. (openssh.com)
  • Supports modern SSH authentication methods (public-key, certificate support and protocol extensions such as FIDO/U2F) and a range of key-exchange and cipher algorithms. (cvsweb.openbsd.org)
  • Server-side protocol extensions are implemented (examples include server-side copy/corp-data extensions tracked in the sftp-server tree). (cvsweb.openbsd.org)
  • Designed with OpenSSH's privilege separation, logging options, and portability across Unix-like systems; crypto implementations include both dedicated algorithms (e.g., ChaCha20-Poly1305 sources) and links to OpenSSL/crypto APIs in the tree. (cvsweb.openbsd.org)

Use Cases

  • Providing secure SFTP access for remote users or automated backup clients over SSH with configurable chroot jails and restricted shells. (unitedbsd.com)
  • Embedding secure file-transfer into existing SSH-based infrastructure (system accounts, authorized_keys, certificates, and server-side policy). (openssh.com)
  • Offering server-side copy and protocol-extension features for efficient remote file operations (reducing client-side data movement). (cvsweb.openbsd.org)

Limitations and Considerations

  • Chroot configuration is strict: the chroot path must be owned by root and have strict permissions, which often causes confusing permission errors for administrators if not set up exactly. (reddit.com)
  • Platform/packaging variations (e.g., Windows ports or distro-packaged builds) have historically exhibited differences or bugs (notably reported issues with some Windows builds' ChrootDirectory handling). Administrators should test the exact packaged build used in production. (reddit.com)

OpenSSH's sftp-server is the canonical, widely used SFTP implementation for SSH-based file transfer. It is actively maintained inside the OpenSSH/OpenBSD source tree, supports protocol extensions and modern authentication methods, and is intended for integration with system-level account and chroot configurations.

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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running