WinSCP (Windows Secure Copy) is a file manager, SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), WebDAV, Amazon S3, and secure copy protocol (SCP) client for Microsoft Windows. The WinSCP project has released its source code on GitHub under an open source license, while the program itself is distributed as proprietary freeware.
Its main function is secure file transfer between a local computer and a remote server. Beyond this, WinSCP offers basic file manager and file synchronization functionality. For secure transfers, it uses the Secure Shell protocol (SSH) and supports the SCP protocol in addition to SFTP.
Development of WinSCP started around March 2000 and continues. Originally it was hosted by the University of Economics in Prague, where its author worked at the time. Since July 16, 2003, the program and its source code is licensed under the GNU GPL. It is hosted on SourceForge and GitHub.
What is WinSCP?
WinSCP by Martin Prikryl is open-source Windows software in the ftp & file transfer category. It ranks 1st by popularity among ftp & file transfer in this catalogue. It is written in C++.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) and MSI installers for 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 13.2 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 6.7, released on October 14, 2026. The version history goes back to March 30, 2021: 39 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 7 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 3,473,305 times. The source code on GitHub (winscp/winscp) has 3,896 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 22 of our languages. Similar programs include OpenSSH Preview, Far Manager 3 and SFTPGo.
Project description on GitHub: “WinSCP is a popular free file manager for Windows supporting SFTP, FTP, FTPS, SCP, S3, WebDAV and local-to-local file transfers. A powerful tool to enhance your productivity with a user-friendly interface and automation options like .NET assembly.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 7 a year)
- Small download (13.2 MB)
- Large user base
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: WinSCP is an open-source ftp & file transfer tool for 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is WinSCP safe to download?
- The file is served by sourceforge.net; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
C8E603088B608B6620CA8E06846486CFED48969B76B111F05A83A386A829207C· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the winscp/winscp repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Fuzzing10
- Licence declared9
- Code review2
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Security policy0
- Branch protection0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 39 versions ›39 versions over 6 years · about 7 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.7Latest | October 14, 2026 | 26.1 MB | 32-bit MSI32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 6.5.7 | September 9, 2026 | 30.5 MB | 32-bit MSI32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 6.5.6 | March 25, 2026 | 30.5 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit MSI |
| 6.5.5 | November 19, 2025 | 30.5 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit MSI32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 6.5.4 | October 16, 2025 | 30.5 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit MSI |
| 6.5.3 | July 16, 2025 | 30.5 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit MSI32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 6.5.2 | June 18, 2025 | 30.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit MSI |
| 6.5.1 | May 5, 2025 | 30.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id WinSCP.WinSCP -echoco install winscp -yscoop install extras/winscpdownload /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Martin Prikryl
- Category
- FTP & file transfer
- Licence
- GPL-3.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/winscp/winscp
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup), MSI
- Version
- 6.7
- Released
- October 14, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 39
- Updates / year
- 7
- Chocolatey downloads
- 3,473,305
- GitHub stars
- 3,896
- GitHub forks
- 428
- Website
- winscp.net
- winget ID
- WinSCP.WinSCP
- Chocolatey package
- winscp
- Scoop package
- extras/winscp
- MSI product code
- {4AA55A86-5225-4762-B9E9-DB089914BAAE}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is WinSCP free?
Yes. WinSCP is open-source software under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.
Is WinSCP safe to download?
The download comes from sourceforge.net; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install WinSCP with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can WinSCP be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does WinSCP run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of WinSCP?
The versions page lists all 39 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
Can I use WinSCP without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to WinSCP?
OpenSSH Preview, Far Manager 3, SFTPGo, SABnzbd and SSHFS-Win. The alternatives page compares them.
