Compare/FileFeed vs Couchdrop
A Couchdrop alternative that also reads what is inside the file
Couchdrop moves the file and tells you it arrived. FileFeed takes the same file, maps the columns to your schema, checks every row and pushes clean JSON to your API. Keep Couchdrop for transfer, or move clients to FileFeed hosted SFTP.
Hellora onboards clients from 30+ HR systems on FileFeed, with no engineer per client. Read how
The whole path of a client file
Couchdrop covers the first step. FileFeed covers the path.
Both tools solve transfer. Everything after the file lands is where engineering time goes.
01
Intake
02
Mapping
03
Validation
04
Transforms
05
Delivery
06
Monitoring
Managed SFTP and email
Your code
Your code
File level actions only
Raw file plus a ping
Transfer logs
SFTP and email
Once per client
Every row
Built in
JSON pushed to your API
Run history, reprocess
01Intake
Managed SFTP and email
SFTP and email
02Mapping
Your code
Once per client
03Validation
Your code
Every row
04Transforms
File level actions only
Built in
05Delivery
Raw file plus a ping
JSON pushed to your API
06Monitoring
Transfer logs
Run history, reprocess
Every dashed box is code your team writes per client and fixes when a client changes their export. Early FileFeed customers used Couchdrop first and switched for exactly this reason.
Why teams pick FileFeed
Three things you get that Couchdrop leaves to you
01
Map each client once, without code
Client A calls it Employee_ID and client B calls it Emp No. FileFeed suggests the mapping from the first file, you confirm it, and it replays on every later file. When a client changes their export you edit the mapping, not a script.
Pipeline & Mappings
Map source columns to schema fields.
Map every required schema field: start_date.
02
Every row is checked before it reaches your API
Row 412 has a missing email or a date in the wrong format. FileFeed flags it with the reason, lets the clean rows through and keeps the run. You fix the mapping and reprocess the same file without asking the client to send it again.
Runs
Search files by any word…Reprocess any run after fixing a mapping. No re-upload needed.
03
Keep your Couchdrop endpoint, or retire it
FileFeed can read from an SFTP server you already run, including a Couchdrop endpoint, so clients keep sending files where they do today. Or give each client a folder on FileFeed hosted SFTP and run one tool instead of two.
Connections
Reusing this connection. No new one will be created.
Side by side
FileFeed vs Couchdrop
Hosted SFTP for each client
Files sent by email
Columns mapped to your schema
Every row validated
Values cleaned and normalised
Clean data delivered to your API
Fix a mapping and rerun the file
What the price covers
Couchdrop details from its public documentation and pricing as of August 29, 2026.
What it costs
A published price, on the website
FileFeed Feeds
$90per client connection / month
after a $3,000 pilot with a 30 day money back guarantee
- YesMinimum 5 connections, up to 50
- YesEvery new client feed set up by us
- YesIntake, mapping, validation and delivery included
- YesNo per row pricing, billed annually
- YesEmbeddable importer free forever
Couchdrop
From $50per month, transfer only
- Higher tiers at $300, $450 and $750 and up
- Covers transfer and storage routing
- Mapping, validation and delivery code is yours to build and keep running
Switching
Two ways to move, and clients change nothing
Keep Couchdrop for transfer and point FileFeed at the folder where files land. Or move clients to FileFeed hosted SFTP one at a time. Both paths end in the same mapping, checks and webhook.
- 1
Define your schema once
List the fields your API expects, with types and required flags. Every client maps to this one schema.
- 2
Connect the folder or the client
Point FileFeed at your existing SFTP endpoint, or give the client a FileFeed folder or inbox.
- 3
Confirm the suggested mapping
Drop one recent file. FileFeed suggests the mapping, you confirm it, and it is saved for that client.
- 4
Point the webhook at your API
Set the URL and verify the signature. Delete the parsing script for that client.
Send us one real client file and we set the first feed up with you. Send a file
In production
Hellora runs every client onboarding on FileFeed
Rosters arrive from dozens of HR systems, each in its own layout. Every format is mapped once and then runs on its own.
Read the Hellora story30+
HR systems connected
1
mapping per client format
0
engineers per new client
FAQ
Couchdrop and FileFeed, in plain answers
Is Couchdrop an ETL tool?
No. Couchdrop is a managed SFTP and file transfer platform. It hosts endpoints, gives each client credentials and a folder, routes uploaded files to cloud storage and fires a webhook when a file arrives. It moves and stores files. It does not read the rows inside them, map columns to a schema or transform values. That part is still your code.
Does Couchdrop validate files?
Couchdrop checks that a file arrived and can move, rename or route it. It does not open the file and check rows against a schema. If row 412 has a missing email or a date in the wrong format, the file is delivered as it is. FileFeed checks every row against your schema and reports each failed row with the reason.
Couchdrop vs FileFeed: what is the difference?
Couchdrop solves transfer. FileFeed solves transfer and processing. Both offer hosted SFTP with per client credentials. After the file lands, Couchdrop hands you the raw file in storage. FileFeed maps the columns to your schema once per client, checks every row, applies transforms and pushes clean JSON to your API with an HMAC signature.
Can I keep my SFTP server or keep Couchdrop?
Yes. FileFeed can connect to an SFTP server you already run, including a Couchdrop endpoint, and pick up new files from it. Or move clients to FileFeed hosted SFTP, where each client gets their own credentials and folder. Both paths end in the same mapping, validation and webhook.
How long does switching from Couchdrop to FileFeed take?
Each client is one connection, one confirmed mapping and one webhook URL. You define the target schema once. For each client, drop one recent file and confirm the suggested mapping. It replays on every later file. Because FileFeed can read from your existing SFTP server, clients keep sending files where they do today.
How much does FileFeed cost compared to Couchdrop?
Couchdrop publishes plans from $50 per month, with higher tiers at $300, $450 and $750 and up. That price covers transfer and storage routing. FileFeed is a $3,000 pilot with a 30 day money back guarantee, then $90 per client connection per month, billed annually, with no per row pricing. That price covers hosted SFTP, email intake, mapping, validation, transforms, signed JSON delivery, run history, and setup of every new client feed by us.
Can FileFeed take files by email as well as SFTP?
Yes. Each connection gets its own inbox address with a sender allow list. Clients send the file as an attachment, FileFeed picks it up and runs the same mapping, validation and delivery as a file dropped on SFTP.
What happens when a client file has a bad row?
The row is flagged with the reason it failed. Clean rows go through to your API, and the run shows every error so you or the client can fix the file and reprocess it from the dashboard.
See it on one real client file
Drop a file a client sends you today. You see the mapping, the rows that fail and the clean JSON in about a minute. Nothing is uploaded and you need no account.
Comparing more tools? See all comparisons or read the complete guide to recurring client file feeds.