PuTTY alternatives are SSH clients, terminal apps and file transfer tools for connecting to remote servers. Not all of them are SSH clients: some are terminals that host local shells, and some move files over SFTP. Pick by what you do after you connect and which system you're on. Ten options follow in no particular order.
Tabs, saved sessions and a Mac version are the usual reasons people go looking for PuTTY alternatives. The ten tools below cover Windows, macOS and cross-platform use, and they do very different jobs once you're logged in.
They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from each developer's own website, read as of Oct 2026.
PuTTY alternatives compared at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each vendor's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names a free plan, a free version or an open source edition. Trial only means it names a time-limited free trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, so check the vendor's own site before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitvise | SSH client and server for Windows | Admins who also need an SSH server on Windows | Not stated |
| iTerm2 | macOS terminal replacement | Mac users who want more than the built-in Terminal | Yes |
| MobaXterm | Tabbed SSH client and X server | Every remote tool for Windows in one portable app | Yes |
| Royal TS | Connection manager | Managing RDP, VNC, SSH and SFTP connections together | Yes |
| SecureCRT | SSH and Telnet client | Professionals who live in terminal sessions all day | Not stated |
| Termius | Modern cross-platform SSH client | SSH from desktop and phone with shared hosts | Not stated |
| Warp | Agentic development terminal | Developers mixing terminal work with AI agents | Not stated |
| Windows Terminal | Shell host app (Microsoft) | Running PowerShell, Command Prompt and WSL bash in tabs | Not stated |
| WinSCP | SFTP and FTP client for Windows | Copying files between your PC and servers | Yes |
| Xshell | SSH terminal for Windows | Session management with buttons, triggers and RDP tabs | Not stated |
Ten SSH clients, terminals and transfer tools
Bitvise
Best for: Windows admins who want an SSH client and a matching SSH server for secure remote access, file transfer and tunnelling.
iTerm2
Best for: Mac users who want a free, open source replacement for Terminal on macOS 10.14 or newer, packed with modern terminal features.
MobaXterm
Best for: Windows users who want an X server, tabbed SSH and Unix commands in one app, with an SFTP browser that opens when you connect and a free Home Edition.
Royal TS
Best for: Admins juggling RDP, VNC, SSH and S/FTP connections who want them organised in one place, with SSH tunnelling and a free Lite edition.
SecureCRT
Best for: Network engineers and admins on Windows, macOS or Linux who want advanced session management and scripting to automate repetitive tasks.
Termius
Best for: Teams who want one SSH client on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, with a shared vault, SFTP, port forwarding and snippets.
Warp
Best for: Developers who want a terminal tied into AI agents, with runs they can watch, steer and hand off from web, mobile, terminal or IDE.
Windows Terminal
Best for: Anyone on Windows who mostly works in local shells like PowerShell, Command Prompt and bash through WSL, and wants a modern host for them.
WinSCP
Best for: Anyone who needs to copy files between a Windows PC and remote servers over SFTP, SCP, FTPS, WebDAV or S3.
Xshell
Best for: Power users who want quick-command buttons, triggers on terminal patterns, a compose pane and RDP sessions alongside their SSH tabs.
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Not every PuTTY replacement is an SSH client
Here's what stood out reading the developer pages. Microsoft's own docs describe Windows Terminal as a host application for shells like Command Prompt, PowerShell and bash, so it's a terminal rather than a remote connection tool. WinSCP's title reads free SFTP and FTP client for Windows: it moves files rather than giving you a shell.
At the other end, MobaXterm packs SSH, X11, RDP, VNC, FTP and MOSH into a single portable file, and Warp's title now talks about cloud software factories rather than a terminal.
Shell, file transfer or connection manager?
- Full SSH clients. Tabs, saved sessions, key management and scripting for people who work on servers all day.
- Terminals. Modern hosts for local shells. Pair them with a command-line SSH client and you've got most of what a classic client does.
- File transfer tools. Drag-and-drop copying over SFTP, SCP or FTP when you only need files moved.
- Connection managers. One place for SSH alongside RDP, VNC and web consoles, useful when you look after a mix of Windows and Linux machines.
What to check before you replace PuTTY
- Which systems do you use? Several tools are Windows-only, one is Mac-only, and a few run everywhere.
- Can you import your saved sessions and keys? Moving dozens of hosts by hand gets old fast.
- Do you need X11 forwarding or RDP as well as SSH?
- Does your team need shared, synced connections, or is it just you?
- Is the licence right for work use? Some tools offer a free home or lite edition, so check what work use needs.
If you also need to reach a desktop rather than a shell, my comparison of TeamViewer alternatives covers remote access.
Do you make an SSH client or terminal app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice for anyone ditching PuTTY
Work out what you do after you log in. If you live in SSH sessions all day on Windows, a full SSH suite with tabs and saved sessions will feel like a big upgrade. If you mostly copy files, a dedicated SFTP client is simpler. On a Mac, a terminal replacement plus the command-line client does the job. And if you manage a mix of RDP, VNC and SSH, a connection manager keeps everything in one window. Start with a free edition where there is one, and move your sessions over gradually.
Running a site rather than a fleet of servers? My guide on how to choose a hosting provider for your blog is the easier place to start.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free alternative to PuTTY?
It depends on your system and the job. Several tools on this list name a free edition, including an open source Mac terminal, a free SFTP client for Windows and a free home edition of a Windows SSH toolbox.
Is there a PuTTY alternative for Mac?
Yes. A few clients here run on macOS, and one is a free, open source terminal replacement built only for macOS.
Is a terminal the same as an SSH client?
No. A terminal hosts shells such as PowerShell or bash, while an SSH client makes the secure connection to a remote server. Many people use a terminal with a separate command-line SSH client.
What's the difference between SFTP and SSH?
SSH gives you a secure shell on a remote machine. SFTP uses that same secure connection to transfer files, which is why some tools here are built only for moving files.
Can I manage RDP and SSH connections in one app?
Yes. A few tools on this list combine SSH with RDP, VNC and file transfer, so you can keep Windows and Linux machines in one place.
