# FileZilla

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/filezilla-pro/

7 people recommended FileZilla in Hacker News comments, 4 had mixed feelings and 19 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 12 months, in 5 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** More people criticize it than recommend it. Easy-to-use FTP and SFTP client that people find fast, especially for Windows users. Critics object that paid Pro buyers may be unable to re-download the version they purchased.

Summary written by Claude from the comments below.

## What people warn about

- Old installers and purchased versions unavailable (6 comments in the sample): "Since it would cost them roughly nothing to keep old installers around forever for paid users, it's really hard to imagine a justification." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46073906)) "given they said they refuse to allow downloads it doesn't sound like they lost the data" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074586)) "FileZilla refused to give me a copy of the version I purchased for 'security reasons" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074400))
- Developer's practices seen as unethical (5 comments in the sample): "Good faith ended at sale and support." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074100)) "I just don't want to do business with people who think that's an ethical way to do things." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074302)) "it does confirm some concerns I already had about the developer’s questionable practices" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46075240))
- Installer bundled with adware (2 comments in the sample): "FileZilla author was caught red handed, shipping app with IronCore adware downloader" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074733)) "FileZilla now contains adware if you download from the official homepage" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48579978))

## Why people recommend it

- Low-cost license with long-term updates (2 comments in the sample): "The lifetime license purchased today is not a perpetual license. FileZilla says that it will update it for life." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074628)) "The license itself is ~$13 for a perpetual license and a year of support and updates." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074629))

## Other file transfer apps people recommend

- [LocalSend](https://hackerapproved.com/p/localsend/): 65 recommend, 14 mixed, 23 criticize
- [Magic Wormhole](https://hackerapproved.com/p/magic-wormhole/): 17 recommend, 3 mixed, 5 criticize
- [Kermit](https://hackerapproved.com/p/c-kermit/): 13 recommend, 1 mixed, 4 criticize
- [croc](https://hackerapproved.com/p/croc/): 12 recommend, 1 mixed, 2 criticize

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://filezilla-project.org/)

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "FileZilla", https://hackerapproved.com/p/filezilla-pro/ (7 recommend, 4 mixed, 19 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.