SFTP vs. SCP: What's the Difference?

SCP is built for quick, direct file copies over SSH. SFTP also runs over SSH, but adds remote file browsing, rename, delete, permission changes, and better recovery for interrupted transfers. If you need more than a one-shot copy, SFTP is usually the better default.

SFTP vs SCP is one of those comparisons that seems simple until you’re the person responsible for a workflow that has to run every day without surprises. Both are used to move files securely over SSH, both commonly use port 22, and both show up in real jobs like backups, exports, vendor handoffs, and scheduled transfers. But they are not interchangeable.

SCP is a secure copy method. It focuses on moving bytes from one place to another with minimal ceremony. SFTP is a file transfer protocol that also supports file operations on the remote system. That difference matters as soon as you need repeatable workflows, predictable permissions, or recovery when a transfer fails halfway through.

In this post, we’ll explain the differences between the two and point you in the right direction when choosing a protocol.

Be sure to check out our SFTP vs. SCP Feature-By-Feature comparison as well for a more technical deep dive.

Let’s begin with a few words about each protocol:

What is SFTP?

SFTP is a secure file transfer protocol that emerged in the late 1990s and is a successor to the original file transfer protocol, FTP. It is based upon SSH (Secure Shell), which is the standard way to connect to UNIX/LINUX servers. Once the SSH session is established, SFTP runs inside it, using that encrypted channel for both commands and file data.

In practical terms, SFTP is used when you need to transfer files and also interact with the remote filesystem in a controlled way. SFTP operates in a client-server architecture where a client connects to a server and downloads or uploads files to and from it and manages the files and directories on it.

Common SFTP capabilities include:

• Uploading and downloading files
• Listing directories and navigating paths
• Renaming and deleting files (if permitted)
• Creating and removing directories (if permitted)
• Changing permissions and attributes (if permitted)
• Resuming an interrupted transfer (client and server dependent)

What is SCP?

SCP is a secure file transfer method that is best described as a combination of SSH (Secure Shell) and RCP (Remote Copy Protocol). SSH provides the secure channel (encryption and authentication), while the copy behavior follows the older remote copy model. If you have ever used the scp command to push a file to a server, that is the classic SCP workflow.

SCP is popular because it’s straightforward. You point at a source and a destination, and the copy happens. But SCP is not designed to be an interactive file workflow. It does not provide the same remote file management command set as SFTP, and that shows up quickly when you need directory browsing, predictable server-side operations, or safer recovery behavior.

Now that we’ve covered the definition segment, it’s time to compare the two protocols with respect to security, speed, functionality and file size limitations.

Key differences between SFTP and SCP

1. SFTP vs. SCP security

Both SCP and SFTP are commonly used because they ride on SSH, which can encrypt data in transit, authenticate servers using host keys, and authenticate clients using passwords, SSH keys, or both. So at a basic level, both can be “secure” in the sense that the transfer channel is encrypted and authenticated.

The more important question is what your workflow needs to prove and control. SFTP tends to be the better default in modern environments because it has clearer protocol semantics for file operations and better support for managed, least-privilege file workflows. OpenSSH, for example, changed scp to use the SFTP protocol by default in newer releases, with an option to force legacy SCP protocol behavior.

What matters most in practice is configuration and operations:

• Prefer SSH keys for automation and higher-risk workflows
• Avoid password-only access where it does not belong
• Restrict accounts to the minimum paths and actions they need
• Separate admin access from transfer-only accounts
• Log authentication attempts and transfer activity
• Remove keys and accounts when roles change

If you need audit evidence, the story is about identity, permissions, logging, review, and retention working together, which is best done through a managed file transfer solution like SFTP To Go.

2. SCP vs. SFTP performance

You’ll see “SCP is faster” repeated a lot, and sometimes it’s true in simple cases. SCP can be very efficient for a quick, direct copy when you already know the exact source and destination and you do not need file operations beyond the transfer itself.

But performance is usually dominated by other factors. Network latency, packet loss, client settings, and file layout (one large file versus thousands of small files) can matter more than the protocol choice. In many real deployments, the “faster” protocol on paper is not the faster workflow in production.

A realistic way to think about speed is:

• SCP can win for one-shot, straightforward copies
• SFTP can win for repeatable workflows where you need structured operations and fewer “start over” failures

3. SFTP vs. SCP functionality

This is where SFTP is clearly ahead. SFTP gives you a full set of remote file operations, not just a transfer. That changes how you build workflows, because you can list directories, confirm filenames, move or rename files as part of a handoff pattern, and manage directories without needing separate remote shell commands.

SFTP is usually the better fit for:

• Partner / vendor / client handoffs that rely on specific folder conventions
• Batch exports where files must be moved into “processed” folders
• Integrations where you need to confirm what exists before sending or pulling

SCP is still useful, but it’s basically copy-in and copy-out.

4. SCP vs. SFTP reliability for large files and unstable links

This is the difference you care about after a transfer fails halfway through. In many common setups:

• An interrupted SCP transfer typically needs to restart from the beginning
• An interrupted SFTP transfer often can resume (client and server dependent, but SFTP To Go’s transfers are resumable)

That resume behavior is a big deal for large files, long-distance links, and anything that runs unattended overnight. Even if raw throughput is similar, resuming can be the difference between “the job finished” and “someone has to re-run it.”

5. SCP vs. SFTP file size limits and concurrency limits

Neither SCP nor SFTP have a built-in file size limit. If you see file size “limits” in the wild, they’re usually coming from the server, the filesystem, client defaults, or policy.

Concurrency is also not a protocol limit. It depends on SSH server configuration (connection limits, per-user limits), client behavior (parallel transfers), and available system resources.

When to use SCP vs. SFTP

If you’re choosing for a single task, SCP can be a good fit when the job is truly “copy this file there” and you’re done. It’s simple, predictable, and widely available.

SFTP is the better choice when the transfer is part of a workflow. The moment you need directory visibility, remote file operations, predictable access boundaries, or better recovery behavior, SFTP is usually the safer default.

Use SCP when you need:

• A quick, direct copy of a file or directory
• A simple command for a one-off task
• A narrow script where file management is not required

Use SFTP when you need:

• A “drop here and pick up there” workflow
• Vendor or partner file exchange without shell-style access
• Directory browsing, rename, delete, and folder operations
• Better recovery behavior for interrupted transfers
• A protocol that fits managed, multi-user environments

Verdict: SFTP vs. SCP, which is better?

While both protocols offer secure file transfer via SSH, SFTP is the more versatile, future-proof option for most teams. It supports directory management, file renaming, and permission changes, and it aligns better with least-privilege file workflows where you want file access without broader remote access.

SCP can still be useful for quick copies, but it is limited by design, and parts of the ecosystem have been steering toward SFTP semantics in modern implementations. If you are building anything beyond the simplest file copy task, SFTP is usually the better default.

If you want that SFTP workflow without running and patching your own SSH server, SFTP To Go gives you a managed SFTP endpoint with cloud storage built in, plus practical controls that matter in day-to-day transfers like multiple user access, separate credentials per partner, and audit-friendly activity history. It also supports FTPS, HTTPS, and S3 access methods, so you can standardize on one service even when different partners and tools prefer different protocols.

Does SFTP To Go support SFTP or SCP?

SFTP To Go supports the SFTP protocol, which is the protocol that offers more functionality out of the two. It also supports FTPS, S3 and HTTPS as file access protocols.

Frequently Asked Questions