Supported Transfer Protocols

Despite SSH in its name, it is designed to work over any reliable data stream, but WinSCP supports only operation over SSH, which is also by far its most common usage.

Being operated over SSH, it is secure protocol. In its basic functionally it is similar to old FTP, while having better designed advanced functionality. Unfortunately not all SFTP server implementation takes advantage of the advanced features, yet.

Especially in its later versions (from 4 upwards), it is more platform independent, compared to both FTP and SCP.

Unlike SCP, for connection with an SFTP server you do not need access to shell (although some implementations may still require that).

= SCP scp SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) =

   copies files between hosts on a network.  It uses ssh(1) for data
   transfer, and uses the same authentication and provides the same security
   as ssh(1).  Unlike rcp(1), scp will ask for passwords or passphrases if
   they are needed for authentication.

   Any file name may contain a host and user specification to indicate that
   the file is to be copied to/from that host.  Copies between two remote
   hosts are permitted.

FTP, being the oldest of the three, is most widespread transfer protocol of nowadays. It is inherently insecure, sending all data (including passwords) unencrypted. Although there exist secure variants (FTP over SSL), they are not supported by WinSCP. Functionally it is inferior to SFTP. Also it is less platform independent than later versions of SFTP, mainly in respect to directory listing.

The list below shows only those features which differ between the protocols, so it is not complete listing.