GoAnywhere MFT vs Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct comparison

Fortra and IBM are both solutions in the Managed File Transfer (MFT) category. Fortra is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.7, while IBM is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.0. Fortra holds a 9.8% mindshare in MFT, compared to IBM’s 7.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Fortra users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 72% of IBM users who would recommend it.

GoAnywhere MFT

Read 56 GoAnywhere MFT reviews

2,754 Views
2,561 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Sterling Commerce Connect:D...

Read 11 Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct reviews

1,974 Views
1,974 Comparison Views

72% willing to recommend

GoAnywhere MFT

Sterling Commerce Connect:D...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 8, 2025

Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct and GoAnywhere MFT compete in the Managed File Transfer market. GoAnywhere MFT seems to have the upper hand in terms of flexibility and advanced integration capabilities.

Features: Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct offers secure point-to-point file transfers, large data handling capabilities, and strong reliability. GoAnywhere MFT provides extensive protocol support, automation features, and an intuitive management console.

Room for Improvement: Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct could enhance deployment simplicity and reduce initial setup complexity. GoAnywhere MFT may improve on offering more detailed integration documentation and expanding its protocol support for niche industry needs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct involves a more complex deployment process but benefits from strong support channels. GoAnywhere MFT offers easier cloud and on-premises deployment with user-friendly tools and excellent customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct generally comes with higher initial costs, impacting short-term ROI but promising long-term value. GoAnywhere MFT offers a more cost-effective entry point with flexible pricing models, potentially providing faster ROI through operational efficiency.

To learn more, read our detailed GoAnywhere MFT vs. Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

GoAnywhere MFT vs. Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct

July 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

GoAnywhere MFT

Ranking in Managed File Transfer (MFT)

2nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Sterling Commerce Connect:D...

Ranking in Managed File Transfer (MFT)

8th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Managed File Transfer (MFT) category, the mindshare of GoAnywhere MFT is 9.8%, up from 6.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is 7.7%, down from 8.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Managed File Transfer (MFT)

Featured Reviews

Vidyasagar Gupta

File Transfer Analyst at IG Group

Enables secure and efficient file transfers with customizable automations

The biggest improvement I've seen since using GoAnywhere MFT for three to four years is in security; control over our network security is the biggest factor to consider, and the solution automatically identifies and blocks attempts to attack our system. Additionally, the transfer speed is impressive; even if files are in GBs, it doesn't take much time to transfer, increasing our organization's efficiency significantly. In my opinion, the best feature of GoAnywhere MFT is its user-friendly UI; it's very simple to use compared to other managed file transfer tools such as MOVEit and Axway, which are a bit more complicated. While we don't use any connectors for services such as Salesforce, SharePoint Online, or MS365, GoAnywhere MFT does have the capability of connecting to these systems either through SFTP, HTTPS protocols, or API-based connections. The way it works here is different; we set up a resource-based connection to connect to various services such as SAP or Salesforce. The range of connectors that GoAnywhere MFT provides out of the box is quite extensive; it covers everything from legacy tools that support AS2 connections to the latest services such as AWS and Azure Blobs. I'm very satisfied with the connectivity options available in GoAnywhere MFT; they include everything you can think of, and as long as the system you want to connect to accepts connections, we can connect using AS2, AS4, and other cloud connectors. In relation to the agents, they are crucial for extending MFT automation to remote systems. I've noticed that in my previous organization, agents were not used as we connected via network shares, which led to occasional connectivity issues. Now, using agents increases the file transfer speed by about 20 to 30%, and they provide a more stable connection compared to legacy network shares.

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Sumit Mundik

Application Development Senior Analyst at Accenture

Has good file transfer speed, but licensing cost is too high

The initial setup of the solution is not straightforward because it's not GUI-based. If you are installing the solution on a UNIX server, you should have a basic understanding of UNIX. You should know how to go from one directory to another, what the config files are, how to edit those files, and how to get the backup of those files. You need a little technical knowledge for it. The developers working on the solution are very costly for the organization. Also, the complexity of having this kind of setup is very difficult. This solution is only used by giant financial companies like BNY Mellon, Barclays, and JPMorgan Chase. They cannot replace the solution because they have several files transferred internally using it. It is very difficult and cost-consuming for them to change, migrate, or upgrade their system. That's the reason they are not able to do it very easily.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"This is a very good product for managing file transfers."

"It has saved significant time on both the security aspect and data transfers."

"The SFTP and encryption functionality works well, and SFTP is the bulk of what we use."

"The most valuable feature is customer data transfers for traditional SFTP. Some of our biggest customers are on the platform, and it works out very well for us as a big selling point."

"Scheduling is valuable. You can schedule a transfer for any time you want. It can be hourly, daily, monthly, or yearly. You can transfer the file on AWS, Azure, or SharePoint."

"The solution provides secure, customized forms where users can input values and share details, which is very important for internal data sharing."

"The automation capabilities are amazing. They help to reduce manual transfer tasks and handle the daily repetitive tasks that we do. It also ensures overall efficiency."

"GoAnywhere MFT has saved me time in connecting securely with third parties that I need to collaborate with."

More GoAnywhere MFT pros

"Connect Direct offers Check Point functionality to ensure data integrity during transfers."

"Offers secure file transfers with a fast and efficient protocol for very large files."

"The Security Plus feature of this solution is excellent, and allows you to send encrypted files very securely to remote destinations."

"Connect Direct offers Check Point functionality to ensure data integrity during transfers."

"For Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct, my overall rating is ten out of ten."

"Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is a solution that is on the market for a very long time. There is an integrator that has been developed and evolves every year. On the roadmap, there is always a new integration. For example, it's one of the solutions in the market that out of the box can handle EBICS protocol. The file processing is done very well. By default, there are a lot of configurations that can be customized."

"The product has been very stable."

"Security is the most valuable feature of this product."

More Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct pros

Cons

"In some scenarios, when you are in a cluster environment, the load-balancing capabilities of the gateway need to be improved a little. This functionality needs some improvement."

"The support could be enhanced a little bit... If the first echelon of support could say, 'Okay, you are trying to create a variable,' and could tell you what you have to do, that would be good."

"The application uses resources such as network connections to shared directories or SFTP connections. I would appreciate seeing utilization metrics for these resources."

"The technical support response time has room for improvement."

"would like to see GoAnywhere MFT integrating with more connectors or rather more integration with third-party tools. I feel there is still room for improvement in that area, but I'm quite satisfied overall."

"The UI of GoAnywhere MFT could be a bit crisper because sometimes it gets tricky to find where to look for information."

"I tried to copy a file from an S3 bucket to another storage class. I don't know if it is a limitation from AWS, not the MFT. If I copy a file from the AWS S3 bucket to that storage class, it can't be transferred. It says that I can't remember the exact error, but it cannot be processed. I want MFT to be more compatible with cloud-based applications or services like AWS."

"Everything works fine, but I feel that the user interface can be improved, especially the layout. They can make the dashboards more customizable."

More GoAnywhere MFT cons

"The initial setup could be simpler and better."

"Sometimes we face issues and can't figure out the cause of failures."

"The resources required for this tool are costly and not easily available in the market."

"User interface is not user friendly."

"I do not have any notes for improvement."

"This solution cannot be deployed on a root_squash NFS, which limits superuser privileges."

"They have File Agent, which is an additional utility and a component of Connect:Direct, for automated file transmission. In that utility, there is some issue with the file name. There is a limitation on the file name, and that is being fixed by IBM."

"Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct could improve by adding some of the functionality that some other vendors have. For example, GoAnywhere has call agents, which are small clients that can be installed on the endpoints and can be handled by the central point on the server. If I want to do this with the IBM solution, I have to sell a lot of account addresses. The price could be unprofitable for the customer. There is some small functionality that could be implemented and could be easily done to improve this solution."

More Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost of GoAnywhere versus the value it brings to our data transfer operations is reasonable... The cost is relatively expensive but, back to the car analogy, that's to be expected with a Ferrari."

"To have a solution like this for the price we're paying makes it cheap. Considering the time that it has saved us, and considering the development that we don't need to do, such as connectors and handling servers, the price is really affordable."

"Pricing is based on a one-time license."

"Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT carries a higher price tag than other MFT solutions."

"It is moderately priced. If I compare it with other products that we have been using, its price is moderate. There are approximately 30% to 40% savings."

"It has flexible and affordable pricing because of custom quotes. The prices depend on the modules one needs and the volume of data being transferred. Overall, they offer custom and flexible pricing with an annual subscription, where you pay for specific features and functionality required."

"Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT is an inexpensive solution."

"The pricing for GoAnywhere MFT seems reasonable when compared to other similar services, especially cloud services. Azure is significantly more expensive."

More GoAnywhere MFT pricing and cost advice

"Annual licensing fee."

"The price and licensing of Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is expensive."

"The solution's licensing cost is too high."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

41%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT?

GoDrive eliminates the need to use the exchange server for file sharing.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT?

After evaluating other solutions, we found the pricing they offered to be genuinely competitive. Compared to other competitors, they are highly recommended and have provided good pricing. I would r...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT?

The speed could be better, and the user interface could be more user-friendly. In some areas, it's a bit complex and the learning trajectory is steep, so they can definitely improve on these aspects.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct?

Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is an expensive platform.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct?

I do not find anything that needs improvement in Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct as a product. I have been supporting this solution, and it serves billions of customers well. Capgemini, in collabo...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct?

The primary use case of Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is to transmit data. It offers two modes of transfers: SFTP, which is straightforward, and FTPS, which provides secure file transfer. A sign...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 11% of the time

Control-M vs GoAnywhere MFT

Compared 6% of the time

Automic Automation vs GoAnywhere MFT

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Compared 36% of the time

IBM Sterling File Gateway vs Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct

Compared 25% of the time

BMC Control-M Managed File Transfer vs Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct

Compared 8% of the time

Axway AMPLIFY Managed File Transfer vs Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct

Compared 6% of the time

Aspera On Demand vs Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

GoAnywhere MFT

July 2025

Download GoAnywhere MFT product report

Buyer's Guide

Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct

June 2025

Download Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct product report

Also Known As

HelpSystems GoAnywhere MFT, GoAnywhere MFT, GoAnywhere Managed File Transfer,

No data available

Overview

GoAnywhere MFT offers user-friendly workflow features, advanced security, and seamless integrations. Its intuitive interface supports streamlined operations and rapid project creation, making it suitable for managing secure file transfers.

GoAnywhere MFT provides sophisticated automation through Advanced Workflows, enabling reduced manual tasks and improved efficiency. With centralized data exchange, file monitoring, and comprehensive security protocols, it supports scalability, encryption, and IP filtering for enhanced protection. Users appreciate its adaptability with systems including IBM and Epic, contributing to improved process management and significant time savings. While beneficial, enhancements in DNS support, user interface intuitiveness, and customer service responsiveness are potential growth areas. License costs are noted as high, with demands for better documentation, cloud service integrations, and improved scalability and load-balancing functionalities.

What are the key features of GoAnywhere MFT?

User-Friendly Workflows: Intuitive interface streamlines operations.
Advanced Security: Includes encryption, IP filters, and monitoring.
Seamless Integrations: Adapts to systems like IBM and Epic.
Automation: Simplifies processes with reduced manual tasks.
Scalability: Grows with business needs.

What are the benefits and ROI of using GoAnywhere MFT?

Improved Efficiency: Reduces workload through automation.
Time Savings: Accelerates project delivery.
Enhanced Security: Protects data with advanced protocols.
Adaptability: Supports multiple platforms and integrations.
Process Management: Simplifies and streamlines data exchange.

GoAnywhere MFT is deployed by organizations for secure file transfers across systems like financial, healthcare, and corporate sectors. It supports SFTP, FTP, and HTTPS for data exchanges and is highly effective in automating processes and managing large file movements efficiently. It integrates well with cloud platforms like Azure and accommodates environments such as Windows, Linux, and IBM iSeries.

Fortra

IBM's Sterling Connect:Direct is a software product that offers security-hardened, point-to-point file transfers to reduce reliance on insecure File Transfer Protocol (FTP) transmissions. It is designed for high-volume file distribution within and between businesses. The solution guarantees more reliable file movement, from batch integration and movement of large images or catalogs to synchronization with distant sites. Sterling Connect:Direct also enables hybrid cloud deployment through certified containers, allowing for simple and consistent deployment lifecycle management.

Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct Features

Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Performance capabilities such as extraordinary scalability and low latency.

Automated, dependable file transmission that permits unattended, round-the-clock operations.

Designed to run on a variety of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, UNIX, Linux, IBM z/OS, OpenVMS, i5/OS, and HP NonStop.

Advanced security features with cutting-edge encryption to meet regulatory and industry standards.

IBM certified containers for Sterling Connect:Direct are enterprise-grade, secure product editions that are scalable, secure, easy to install, and manage update and rollback processes. They also have integrated common software services for consistent deployment lifecycle management.
Boosts transfer speed for large files over high-speed networks by up to four times the previous speed while reducing latency.
Gives existing FTP transfers the ability to retry, checkpoint, and compress existing transfers.
Supports a variety of network protocols, including TCP/IP, Systems Network Architecture (SNA), and an optional high-speed add-on based on Aspera FASP technology.

Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

High performance: Takes care of your most demanding workloads, including multi-gigabyte files to large volumes of small files.

Reliable file delivery: To help ensure predictable, assured file delivery, it offers automated scheduling, checkpoint restart, and automatic recovery.

Secure transmission of files: Maintains the confidentiality of customer information and supports regulatory compliance measures.

Speed up patching and installation: By deploying your solution with a certified container that contains all necessary components, you can drastically cut installation and patch time from hours to minutes.

Reviews from Real Users

Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its robust file processing and its security for file transfers. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:

Michele I., Business Unit Manager at Innovery, writes of the solution, “The file processing is done very well. By default, there are a lot of configurations that can be customized. Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is one of the stronger MFT solutions in the market, it is available in each type of installation, and offers SaaS, PaaS, YaaS, on-premise.”

Camilo M., Pre-sales Engineer at Dell EMC, mentions, “It's a great tool because it offers secure file transfers and it has a fast and efficient protocol for very large files.”

IBM

Sample Customers

McKesson City of Modesto, California Kwik Trip Northwestern University Charter Communications

HZMO, Bank of Communications

Buyer's Guide

GoAnywhere MFT vs. Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct

July 2025

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