The Best Hatchet Alternatives for Secure File Transfer
Hatchet is a popular paid macOS software designed for editing and transferring remote files over secure shell connections. While Hatchet offers a streamlined experience, many users are seeking Hatchet alternatives that might offer more multifaceted features, different pricing models, or the added transparency of open-source development. Given that Hatchet deals with secure data transfer across multiple locations, the emphasis on security often leads users to prefer free and open-source options, allowing them to understand the underlying mechanisms of their file transfer tools.
Top Hatchet Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a free solution, cross-platform compatibility, or a specific set of features, there are numerous excellent alternatives to Hatchet that can meet your secure file transfer needs.

FileZilla
FileZilla is a powerful, freemium and open-source FTP client available across Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, and PortableApps.com. It's an excellent Hatchet alternative for those needing robust file transfer capabilities, offering support for firewalls, proxy connections, SSL, and Kerberos GSS security. Its features include ad-free usage, dedicated server hosting, and SFTP support, making it a comprehensive choice for secure data movement.

WinSCP
WinSCP is a popular free and open-source SFTP and FTP client primarily for Windows and PortableApps.com users (also compatible with Wine). As a Hatchet alternative, it stands out with its multi-functional capabilities, allowing file copying between local and remote computers using FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, or WebDAV protocols. Its features include file-sync, directory sync, Sudo shell, command-line support, Windows Explorer integration, and the ability to import sites from FileZilla, providing a highly productive environment.

Cyberduck
Cyberduck is a free and open-source FTP client available for Mac and Windows. It's a strong Hatchet alternative due to its easy-to-use interface and support for a wide array of protocols including FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Google Storage, Windows Azure, and Rackspace Cloud Files. Key features include a bookmark manager, S3 storage support, cloud sync, Dropbox and Google Drive integration, and secure file sharing.

Transmit
Transmit is a commercial macOS-exclusive file transfer application. Considered a gold standard, it's a premium Hatchet alternative that excels in uploading, downloading, and managing files across numerous servers with a powerful UI. Transmit 5 connects to 11 new cloud services like Backblaze B2, Box, Google Drive, and also handles classic protocols such as FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and S3, offering robust file-sync and SSL capabilities.

FireFTP
FireFTP is a free, secure, and open-source cross-platform FTP client available as a Mozilla Firefox add-on for Mac, Windows, Linux, Waterfox, and Pale Moon. It provides easy and intuitive access to FTP servers and can be a good Hatchet alternative for users who prefer an integrated browser experience for their file transfers.

SmartFTP
SmartFTP is a commercial client for Windows that supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, SSH, and Terminal connections. This Hatchet alternative offers secure, reliable, and efficient transfers with many basic and advanced features, suitable for website publishing, maintenance, and managed file transfers of various media types. It also supports FXP for direct server-to-server transfers.

DPLOY
DPLOY is a free and open-source FTP/SFTP deployment tool built in Node.js, available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD. It's a specialized Hatchet alternative that uploads the latest changes by comparing the version on your server with your Git repository, making it ideal for developers and those managing website deployments.

CuteFTP
CuteFTP is a commercial utility for transferring files between your computer and remote FTP servers, available for Mac and Windows. As a Hatchet alternative, it offers a blend of ease-of-use and performance, making it suitable for home or personal FTP users. It handles publishing web pages, downloading digital images, music, software, and large file transfers with efficiency, even for beginners.

Truck
Truck is a commercial macOS application that offers a significantly faster alternative to traditional FTP, boasting up to 30x faster data transfer thanks to its modern rsync engine. This Hatchet alternative compresses, de-duplicates, and encrypts data for higher performance and security, making it a compelling choice for Mac users seeking efficiency and simplicity in their file transfers.

sFTP Client
sFTP Client is a freemium application for Mac, Windows, and Linux, designed for transferring files with FTP, FTPS, FTPIS, FTPES, and SFTP (including SSH Terminal). This Hatchet alternative prioritizes simplicity and modern design while offering extensive features like support for standard FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS), and SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), ensuring secure and efficient file transfers.
Ultimately, the best Hatchet alternative for you will depend on your specific needs, whether that's cross-platform compatibility, open-source transparency, advanced features, or a particular pricing model. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your secure file transfer requirements.