Portable Cyberduck is a free, open source FTP and cloud storage client for macOS that was packaged for portability by the FreeSMUG / OSXPortableApps project. Based on the popular Cyberduck application, this portable edition was designed to run directly from a USB flash drive or external storage device without a traditional installation.
Important: This portable build is now considered legacy software and is no longer maintained. It remains useful for archival purposes or older Mac systems, but it is not recommended for modern macOS versions.
Portable Cyberduck | Mac OS X FTP Client (Legacy)
Cyberduck itself is a widely trusted FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and cloud storage browser for macOS. The portable version created by FreeSMUG made it possible to carry Cyberduck on removable media, keeping bookmarks and preferences stored locally on the portable device rather than the host system.
This made Portable Cyberduck especially useful for shared computers, lab environments, and temporary workstations where installing software was not permitted.
Key Features
- Portable macOS FTP Client: Designed to run from a USB drive without installation.
- Multiple Protocol Support: FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and early cloud integrations.
- No Local Installation: Settings and bookmarks stored on the portable drive.
- Open Source: Based on the Cyberduck project.
- Secure Transfers: Supports encrypted connections available at the time of release.
Specifications | Download
- Official Cyberduck Site: cyberduck.io
- Portable Build Author: FreeSMUG / OSXPortableApps
- License: Open Source (GPL)
- Rating: Star
- Latest Known Portable Version: Cyberduck 3.0.1 r3.0
- Download: PortableCyberduck.dmg
Installation Instructions
- Download the PortableCyberduck.dmg file.
- Double click the DMG to mount it.
- Drag the Portable Cyberduck folder to your USB flash drive or external storage device.
- Launch Cyberduck directly from the portable drive.
Note: Once copied to your portable drive, the DMG file can be safely deleted.
Legacy Status and Limitations
- This portable build is no longer updated or supported.
- Not compatible with modern macOS security requirements.
- Does not include newer features or cloud integrations.
- Not optimized for Apple Silicon systems.
Windows Portable Availability
There is no official portable version of Cyberduck for Windows. The Windows edition of Cyberduck requires installation and writes data to the local system.
Portable Cyberduck Alternatives
- WinSCP Portable: A modern, full featured SFTP and SCP client for Windows.
- FileZilla Portable: Cross platform FTP, FTPS, and SFTP client.
- Rclone Portable: Advanced command line cloud storage synchronization tool.
Final Thoughts
Portable Cyberduck represents an early and well executed attempt at making a powerful macOS FTP client fully portable. While it is no longer suitable for modern systems, it remains an interesting archival release for users maintaining older Macs or researching portable application history.
For current and secure file transfers, users are encouraged to choose actively maintained portable FTP clients or the latest official Cyberduck release.