Why Zapier Can't Connect to SFTP Directly
Zapier runs on shared infrastructure. Every time a Zap fires, the request might come from a different IP address. That's fine for most APIs — but SFTP servers typically require IP whitelisting. If you can't predict the IP, you can't whitelist it. Connection refused.
PushFTP solves this by acting as a relay. All outbound connections go through a single fixed IP address. Whitelist that one IP on your SFTP server, point Zapier at PushFTP, and you're done.
What You Need
- A PushFTP account (sign up free)
- A Zapier account (Free tier works)
- An SFTP server with credentials (host, port, username, password or key)
- The SFTP server's IP whitelist updated with PushFTP's static IP
Step 1: Create a PushFTP Connection
Log into your PushFTP dashboard. Go to Connections and click New Connection.
Fill in your SFTP details:
Host: sftp.yourcompany.com
Port: 22
Username: deploy
Auth: Password or SSH Key
Hit Test Connection to verify. If it fails, double-check that you've added PushFTP's IP address to your server's firewall allow list. You'll find the IP on your dashboard.
Step 2: Install the PushFTP Zapier App
In Zapier, search for PushFTP in the app directory. Click Connect and you'll be asked for your API key.
Grab your API key from the PushFTP dashboard under Settings → API Keys. Paste it into Zapier and authorize. For more detail, check out the Zapier integration docs.
Step 3: Build Your First Zap
Now wire things up. Here's a common example — uploading a file to SFTP whenever a new row appears in Google Sheets:
- Trigger: Google Sheets → New Spreadsheet Row
- Action: PushFTP → Upload File
In the PushFTP action step, select your connection and configure the upload:
Connection: My SFTP Server
Remote Path: /uploads/{date}-{original}
File URL: (map from trigger)
PushFTP supports filename templates like {date}, {uuid}, and {original} so you can dynamically name files without collisions.
Step 4: Test and Turn On
Click Test in Zapier. PushFTP will attempt the upload through its fixed IP. Check your SFTP server — the file should be there.
If the test passes, turn on the Zap. Every new row will now trigger a file upload to your SFTP server.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Connection timeout
Your SFTP server's firewall is probably blocking PushFTP's IP. Add the static IP shown on your dashboard to the allow list.
Authentication failed
Double-check username and password. If you're using key-based auth, make sure you pasted the full private key including the header and footer lines.
File not appearing
Verify the remote path exists. PushFTP won't auto-create parent directories unless you add a Create Folder step first. You can create folders via Zapier as a preceding action.
Beyond Upload: What Else Can You Do?
Once Zapier is connected to your SFTP server through PushFTP, you unlock all the file operations:
- Download File — pull files from SFTP into your Zap
- List Files — check what's in a directory
- Delete File — clean up after processing
- Move/Rename — organize files on the remote server
- Run SSH Command — execute scripts remotely
- Find File — search for a specific file before acting
You can also set up triggers like New File Detected to watch folders for incoming files, or Transfer Failed to get alerts when something breaks.
PushFTP vs. Doing It Yourself
You could spin up a VPS with a static IP and run your own SFTP proxy. But then you're maintaining infrastructure, handling security patches, monitoring uptime, and building the Zapier integration yourself. PushFTP handles all of that — the free plan gives you 1 connection and 50 transfers per month to get started.
If you need more, the Starter plan at €9/month covers unlimited transfers on a single connection. That's a fraction of what competitors like EasyFTP charge ($39/month).
FAQ
Do I need to install anything on my SFTP server?
No. PushFTP connects to your existing SFTP server as a client. The only change you need to make is adding PushFTP's IP to your firewall whitelist.
What protocols does PushFTP support?
SFTP, FTP, and S3. You can mix and match — upload from S3, download to SFTP, whatever your workflow needs.
Can I use PushFTP with Make or n8n instead of Zapier?
Yes. PushFTP has a REST API with Bearer token auth. Any automation tool that can make HTTP requests can use it. Check the API docs for endpoints.
Is the free plan enough to test with?
The free plan includes 1 connection and 50 transfers per month with 7-day log retention. That's enough to build and test your Zaps before upgrading.
What's Next
You've got Zapier connected to your SFTP server through a fixed IP relay. From here, you can build multi-step Zaps that move files between systems, trigger workflows on new uploads, or automate your entire file pipeline. Check out the getting started guide for more ideas on what to automate.