AWS Transfer Family vs GoAnywhere MFT

by Gralio Feb 28, 2025

AWS Transfer Family and GoAnywhere MFT offer secure file transfer solutions. AWS Transfer Family is ideal for businesses heavily invested in the AWS ecosystem, prioritizing seamless integration and scalability. GoAnywhere MFT caters to businesses requiring broader protocol support, customization, and diverse integrations, but may involve a steeper learning curve.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 244 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 hour, 51 minutes of reading.

AWS Transfer Family

Website LinkedIn Twitter

GoAnywhere MFT

Website LinkedIn Twitter

About

AWS Transfer Family is a secure and scalable service designed for businesses to exchange files with partners. Using familiar protocols like SFTP and FTP, it seamlessly integrates with AWS storage services, eliminating the need to manage your own file transfer infrastructure. It simplifies recurring file transfers, offering a reliable solution for various business needs, particularly in handling large volumes of data.

GoAnywhere MFT is a software solution designed to help your company securely and efficiently transfer large files. It allows you to automate file transfers, improving security and reducing the risk of human error. GoAnywhere can handle various transfer methods and complies with industry security standards, giving you peace of mind. It integrates with cloud services and offers flexible deployment options to fit your needs.

Summary

Main difference

AWS Transfer Family excels in direct integration with AWS services, simplifying file management within the AWS ecosystem. GoAnywhere MFT offers broader protocol support and more customization options, catering to diverse integration needs beyond AWS.

Relative strengths of AWS Transfer Family (compared to GoAnywhere MFT)

Seamless integration with AWS services like S3 and EFS.
Simplified setup and management within the AWS ecosystem.
Scalable to handle large data transfers efficiently.

Relative weaknesses of AWS Transfer Family (compared to GoAnywhere MFT)

Limited protocol support compared to GoAnywhere MFT.
Can be expensive for high-volume transfers.
Advanced configurations can be complex.

Who should use AWS Transfer Family VS. GoAnywhere MFT

AWS Transfer Family offers secure, scalable file transfers using SFTP, FTPS, and FTP, integrating seamlessly with AWS storage. Users praise its ease of setup and efficient handling of large data transfers, but some find pricing complex and advanced configurations challenging.

GoAnywhere MFT helps organizations securely automate file transfers, improving security and reducing errors. Users praise its ease of use, comprehensive features, and reliable transfers, while some note occasional troubleshooting challenges and the need for better documentation. It integrates with various systems and cloud services and offers flexible deployment options.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes needing secure file transfer to AWS storage.
Suitable for various industries handling large data volumes and partner file exchange.

Best fit for medium to large businesses (100+ employees).
Ideal for finance, healthcare, and software companies needing secure file transfers.

AWS Transfer Family and GoAnywhere MFT features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

FTP support

Supported

AWS Transfer Family supports FTP for internal transfers, but requires FTPS or SFTP for external transfers.

Supported

GoAnywhere MFT fully supports standard FTP, including secure variants like FTPS and SFTP.
FTP Integration

Partially supported

AWS Transfer Family supports FTP, but only for connections within a VPC or via Direct Connect/VPN.

Supported

GoAnywhere MFT supports data exchange via FTP, including secure FTP options like FTPS, SFTP, and SCP.
FTPS support

Supported

AWS Transfer Family supports FTPS for secure file transfers.

Supported

GoAnywhere MFT supports FTPS as both client and server.
SFTP Integration

Supported

AWS Transfer Family supports SFTP data exchange.

Supported

GoAnywhere MFT supports SFTP data exchange via its client and server components.
Performance analysis reports

Not supported

Transfer Family offers monitoring via CloudWatch, but not pre-formatted performance reports.

Supported

GoAnywhere MFT supports performance analysis reports, including file transfer activity.
HTTPS support

Not supported

AWS Transfer Family does not support HTTPS as a standalone file transfer protocol.

Supported

GoAnywhere MFT supports HTTPS for secure file transfers.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

No data

-0.33

Rather negative sentiment
Customer Service

No data

+0.6

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Use

No data

+0.83

Strongly positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

No data

+1

Strongly positive sentiment
Ease of Implementation

No data

+0.29

Neutral sentiment
Scalability

No data

+0.5

Rather positive sentiment

AWS Transfer Family and GoAnywhere MFT Pricing

No data

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.33

See full Pricing page

AWS Transfer Family and GoAnywhere MFT review insights

212 reviews analysed from

Users love

Easy setup of secure file transfers to S3 and EFS.
Seamless integration with AWS services.
Supports multiple protocols (SFTP, FTPS, FTP).
Handles large data transfers efficiently.
Simplifies file transfer management.

Easy to use and implement.
Excellent sales and customer support (generally).
Comprehensive features for various business needs.
Secure and reliable file transfers.
Flexible and customizable workflows.
Good logging and auditing capabilities.
Integrates well with other systems and cloud services.
Cost-effective for its capabilities.

Users dislike

Pricing can be expensive, especially for high-volume transfers.
Advanced configurations can be complex.
Limited built-in monitoring features, reliance on separate AWS tools.
Occasional performance issues during peak times.
Limited protocol support.

Occasional errors require time-consuming troubleshooting.
Support documentation could be improved.
Limited inbound trigger conditions for AS2 connections.
SaaS version lacks features of the licensed version.
Google Cloud connector cannot transfer multiple files at once.
UI needs modernization.
Workflows can be complex to design from scratch.
Limited training resources; learning curve for advanced features.
Application logging needs more detail.
NAS permissions management is lacking.
High pricing, especially for additional modules.
Slow customer support response times (up to 3 months in some cases).

AWS Transfer Family and GoAnywhere MFT Ratings

G2

4.8/5

(32)
Glassdoor

3.7/5

(206324)

G2

4.7/5

(221)

Company health

Employee growth

11% increase in the last year

No data

Web traffic

10% increase in the last quarter

No data

Financing

No data

How do AWS Transfer Family and GoAnywhere MFT compare in ease of setup and ongoing administration?

AWS Transfer Family is generally easier to set up, especially for users already within the AWS ecosystem, due to its direct integration with other AWS services. However, its advanced configurations can be complex. GoAnywhere MFT's setup can be more involved, potentially requiring more IT expertise. For ongoing administration, AWS Transfer Family benefits from its integration with AWS management tools, while GoAnywhere MFT offers a dedicated management console which some users find easier, though others find its UI outdated. Both offer automation capabilities that can simplify ongoing tasks.

Which product, AWS Transfer Family or GoAnywhere MFT, offers better integration with existing cloud storage solutions outside of AWS?

GoAnywhere MFT offers better integration with existing cloud storage solutions outside of AWS. While AWS Transfer Family excels at integrating with AWS storage services, its focus is primarily within the AWS ecosystem. GoAnywhere MFT, on the other hand, is designed to connect with a broader range of cloud and on-premise storage solutions, providing more flexibility for organizations with diverse infrastructure.

What are the advantages of AWS Transfer Family?

AWS Transfer Family offers seamless integration with existing AWS infrastructure and services, simplifying management and leveraging the scalability and security of the AWS ecosystem. It supports common file transfer protocols (SFTP, FTPS, FTP) making it easy to connect with partners and automate transfers. This eliminates the need for managing your own file transfer infrastructure, reducing operational overhead.

What are the disadvantages of AWS Transfer Family?

AWS Transfer Family's pricing can become expensive for high-volume transfers, potentially exceeding budgets. Users have reported that advanced configurations can be complex, increasing the administrative overhead. It has limited built-in monitoring, requiring reliance on other AWS tools, which can fragment workflows. Some users experience occasional performance issues, especially during peak usage, impacting reliability. Finally, the service has limited protocol support compared to other solutions, potentially restricting interoperability with certain systems.

Alternatives to AWS Transfer Family and GoAnywhere MFT

MOVEit

MOVEit is business software that helps you send and receive large files securely. It keeps your transfers safe with encryption and tracking, which helps you follow data privacy rules. You can control who accesses files and automate tasks to save time. MOVEit is a good choice for businesses handling sensitive information and needing a reliable way to share large files.

AWS Transfer for SFTP

AWS Transfer for SFTP lets your company securely send and receive files directly to your Amazon cloud storage using the familiar SFTP method. It removes the need to manage your own file transfer servers, saving you time and IT resources. This service is ideal for businesses already invested in the Amazon ecosystem and seeking a straightforward way to handle file transfers securely.

Masv

MASV is a cloud-based file transfer service designed for media professionals who regularly send large files. It offers fast, reliable transfers with no file size limits. MASV is secure and easy to use, with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It integrates with popular cloud storage services and offers features like password protection and file expiry. While primarily aimed at the media industry, any business needing to send large files could find MASV useful.

Google Cloud Storage

Google Cloud Storage is a secure platform to store large amounts of various data for your business. Use it to organize and analyze documents, images, videos, audio files, and more. Google Cloud Storage offers flexible storage options, allowing you to choose the geographic location of your data and control access. It is a scalable solution suitable for data lakes, AI data storage, and web hosting. New customers get $300 free credit to try the platform.

Syncplify

Syncplify Server! is a secure file transfer platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It lets you share and transfer files internally and externally with robust security features like SFTP, SSH2, and HTTPS. Syncplify offers high availability, ensuring your file transfers continue even if one server component fails. You can automate tasks and customize workflows using its scripting feature. The platform is known for its speed, efficiency, and user-friendly design.

SFTPCloud

SFTPCloud provides businesses with a secure and reliable way to share files with employees and external partners. It offers a simple way to set up and manage your own secure file transfer servers without needing extensive technical expertise. SFTPCloud keeps your data safe and compliant by leveraging your existing cloud storage providers like Amazon S3, Google Cloud, or Wasabi.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

How are we doing?

Is this information helpful to you? Is there anything we are missing?

Did this help you select your product?

Other issues? Vote & Let us know