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electerm alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave electerm: electron app with high memory use, and interface less polished than paid clients. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces electerm, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Tabby (terminal) currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Tabby (terminal) logoTabby (terminal)Open sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +13 of 366.5
2WinSCP logoWinSCPOpen sourceYesWindows3 of 346.8
3PuTTY logoPuTTYOpen sourceYesWindows, Linux0 of 046.7
  1. Tabby (terminal) logo

    1. Tabby (terminal)Top pick

    Best for: People who want saved SSH and serial connections inside a modern terminal

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from electerm

    Similar open-source terminal with SSH and serial profiles.

    Pros

    • SSH, Telnet and serial profiles with SFTP built in
    • Encrypted vault for connection secrets
    • Free, open source and cross-platform

    Cons

    • Electron app with high memory use
    • Slower to start than native terminals
    • Plugin quality varies
    Visit Tabby (terminal) Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Tabby (terminal) a good electerm alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    SSH client
    Built in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Web version
    Tabby Web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. WinSCP logo

    2. WinSCP

    Best for: Windows admins and developers who move files to Linux servers and want to script it

    Open sourceWindows

    46.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from electerm

    If file transfer is the main job, a free Windows SFTP and SCP client with folder sync and scripting.

    Pros

    • SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3 in one free client
    • Scripting, command line and .NET library for automation
    • Portable version and folder sync

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Interface is utilitarian
    • No consumer cloud drives like Google Drive or Dropbox
    Visit WinSCP Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.334
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is WinSCP a good electerm alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL v3 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    SFTP, SCP, S3, FTP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Automation
    Scripting and task automation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
  3. PuTTY logo

    3. PuTTY

    Best for: Windows users who need a small, dependable SSH or serial client

    Open sourceWindows, Linux

    46.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from electerm

    Tiny and dependable for plain SSH on Windows.

    Pros

    • Free, small and dependable
    • Saved sessions, key agent and file transfer tools
    • Serial and Telnet support for network gear

    Cons

    • Dated interface with no tabs
    • Uses its own PPK key format
    • Built-in Windows OpenSSH covers many basic needs
    Visit PuTTY Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PuTTY a good electerm alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best electerm alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best electerm alternative for most people

Tabby (terminal)

Similar open-source terminal with SSH and serial profiles.

WinSCP logo

Best electerm alternative for a free option

WinSCP

If file transfer is the main job, a free Windows SFTP and SCP client with folder sync and scripting.

Termius logo

Best electerm alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Termius

More polished SSH client with encrypted sync and team sharing.

PuTTY logo

Best electerm alternative for open source

PuTTY

Tiny and dependable for plain SSH on Windows.

SecureCRT logo

Best electerm alternative for Mac

SecureCRT

Commercial SSH client with tabbed sessions, scripting and integrated SFTP, for admins who want vendor support.

MobaXterm logo

Best electerm alternative for Windows

MobaXterm

Windows toolbox with an X server for remote graphical apps.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best electerm alternative for Linux

Tabby (terminal)

Similar open-source terminal with SSH and serial profiles.

Termius logo

Best electerm alternative for iPhone and Android

Termius

More polished SSH client with encrypted sync and team sharing.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best electerm alternative for working in the browser

Tabby (terminal)

Similar open-source terminal with SSH and serial profiles.

electerm alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to electerm?

Tabby (terminal) ranks first right now. Similar open-source terminal with SSH and serial profiles. Termius and MobaXterm follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to electerm?

Yes. Tabby (terminal) (open source), Termius (free plan + paid), MobaXterm (free plan + paid) and WinSCP (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to electerm?

Yes: Tabby (terminal), WinSCP and PuTTY.

Which electerm alternatives work on Linux?

Tabby (terminal), Termius, SecureCRT and PuTTY run on Linux.

Why do people switch from electerm?

The complaints we hear most: electron app with high memory use; interface less polished than paid clients; breadth means some features are basic.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces electerm, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.