filezilla

filezilla [OPTION...]

--help
    Displays a help message with available command-line options and exits.

--version
    Outputs the FileZilla program's version number and exits.

--verbose
    Enables verbose logging output, useful for debugging.

--debug
    Enables debug output, often providing more detailed information than verbose mode.

--config-dir=
    Specifies an alternative directory to load and save configuration files, allowing for portable or separate configurations.

FileZilla is a free, open-source, cross-platform graphical user interface (GUI) FTP, FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS), and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) client. It provides a user-friendly interface for transferring files between a local computer and remote servers. Key features include a site manager for storing connection details, a tabbed interface, powerful queue management for uploads and downloads, directory comparison, transfer speed limits, filename filters, and support for IPv6. While primarily a GUI application, the `filezilla` command on Linux launches this powerful desktop client, enabling users to manage file transfers visually rather than through a command-line interface. It's widely used by web developers, system administrators, and anyone needing a reliable way to interact with remote file systems securely.

FileZilla is fundamentally a GUI application; its command-line functionality is very limited and primarily for launching or debugging. It does not provide command-line arguments to directly connect to a specific site, initiate transfers, or automate tasks without user interaction, unlike CLI-centric tools such as `sftp` or `ftp`. All significant operations are performed through its graphical interface. When storing credentials in its Site Manager, ensure your operating system's security practices are robust.

The vast majority of FileZilla's functionality, including site management, file transfer queues, directory comparisons, and settings configurations, is accessed and managed exclusively through its intuitive graphical user interface. Users typically interact with remote servers by adding them to the Site Manager and then connecting through the GUI.

FileZilla is available across major operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. This cross-platform compatibility contributes significantly to its popularity and allows users to maintain a consistent file transfer experience regardless of their preferred operating system.

While FileZilla supports plain FTP, it strongly encourages and facilitates the use of secure protocols like FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS) and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) for encrypting data in transit. Users are advised to always use these secure options to protect sensitive information during file transfers, especially over untrusted networks.

FileZilla was initiated in 2001 by Tim Kosse and a few classmates as a computer science project. It is a free, open-source project licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Since its inception, it has undergone continuous development, with regular updates introducing new features, improvements, and security fixes. Its cross-platform availability and robust feature set quickly led to its widespread adoption, making it one of the most popular FTP clients globally for Windows, macOS, and Linux users.

sftp(1), ftp(1), lftp(1), scp(1), ncftp(1)