WinSCP Alternative for Windows: SSHFS drives instead of copying files

Two approaches: file transfer or network drive

WinSCP is a classic transfer client: the local PC on the left, the server on the right, and you copy files back and forth or synchronize folders. It supports SFTP, SCP, FTP/FTPS, WebDAV and Amazon S3, has a built-in text editor and can be automated with scripts and a .NET assembly.

NeoSSHWinManager takes a different route: using SSHFS-Win, it mounts the server as a drive letter. Files are no longer copied first – every Windows program opens and saves them directly on the server. For the moments when you do want to copy, the app has a dual-pane file browser for SFTP, FTP and FTPS with drag & drop, a transfer queue that resumes interrupted transfers, and folder sync.

Where the drive wins

• IDEs and editors: VS Code, PhpStorm or Notepad++ open project files directly on the server, without an upload step after every save.
• Any Windows program: image editors, Office, log viewers or build tools work with server files just like local ones.
• A stable routine: drives are reconnected after a connection drop and restored when Windows starts.
• Several people on one PC: every app user has their own connections with separately encrypted credentials.
• Terminal included: the SSH terminal of the same connection is one click away – built in, Windows OpenSSH or PuTTY.

Where WinSCP remains the better tool

• Automated transfers via scripts or the .NET assembly, for example scheduled uploads.
• Protocols beyond SSH and FTP, such as WebDAV or Amazon S3.
• Copying very large amounts of data in one go – a direct transfer is faster than going through a mounted drive.
• Keeping local and remote folders in sync with fine-grained comparison rules.

Switching from WinSCP: what to take with you

Host, port, user name and remote path carry over one to one into a new connection in NeoSSHWinManager. The only hurdle is SSH keys: WinSCP and PuTTY store them in .ppk format, while SSHFS needs the OpenSSH format. Convert the key once:

1. Open PuTTYgen and load the .ppk file (Load).
2. Choose Conversions → Export OpenSSH key and save the file, for example as id_ed25519 in %USERPROFILE%\.ssh.
3. Select this file as the key of the connection in NeoSSHWinManager. You can additionally add the .ppk file in the “PuTTY Key (.ppk)” field for the PuTTY terminal.

You don't have to choose one or the other: many admins mount their servers as drives for daily work and keep WinSCP for the occasional bulk transfer.