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MobaXterm alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave MobaXterm: windows only and closed source, and free edition limits saved sessions and tunnels. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces MobaXterm, 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
2SecureCRT logoSecureCRTPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 459.6
3electerm logoelectermOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows +23 of 357.2
4PuTTY logoPuTTYOpen sourceYesWindows, Linux0 of 052.1
  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 MobaXterm

    Free open-source terminal with saved SSH profiles and SFTP, on every OS.

    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 MobaXterm 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. SecureCRT logo

    2. SecureCRT

    Best for: Network engineers who manage many devices and automate sessions with scripts

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MobaXterm

    Commercial SSH client with strong scripting and session management.

    Pros

    • Excellent session management for hundreds of hosts
    • Python scripting and send-to-all command window
    • One licence across Windows, macOS and Linux

    Cons

    • Paid licence with renewals for updates
    • Traditional, dense interface
    • More than casual SSH users need
    Visit SecureCRT Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 SecureCRT a good MobaXterm alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026vandyke.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    Every release can be evaluated free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026vandyke.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting
    Python and ActiveX
    Checked Oct 25, 2026vandyke.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence price
    $119 with 1 year of updates (single user)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026vandyke.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. electerm logo

    3. electerm

    Best for: People who want one free client for SSH, SFTP and remote desktop connections

    Open sourceLinux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from MobaXterm

    Free cross-platform SSH, SFTP, RDP and VNC client.

    Pros

    • SSH, SFTP, Telnet, serial, RDP and VNC in one app
    • Free and open source on desktop and mobile
    • Bookmark sync through gists

    Cons

    • Electron app with high memory use
    • Interface less polished than paid clients
    • Breadth means some features are basic
    Visit electerm Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 electerm a good MobaXterm alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    SSH, SFTP, Telnet, serial, RDP, VNC, Spice, FTP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026electerm.html5beta.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, Mac, Windows, Android, iOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026electerm.html5beta.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. PuTTY logo

    4. PuTTY

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

    Open sourceWindows, Linux

    52.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from MobaXterm

    Free and lightweight if you only need SSH or Telnet.

    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 ×0.387
    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 MobaXterm alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best MobaXterm alternative for…

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

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for most people

Tabby (terminal)

Free open-source terminal with saved SSH profiles and SFTP, on every OS.

electerm logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for a free option

electerm

Free cross-platform SSH, SFTP, RDP and VNC client.

Windows Terminal logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for open source

Windows Terminal

Free modern terminal for local shells and plain SSH on Windows.

SecureCRT logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for Mac

SecureCRT

Commercial SSH client with strong scripting and session management.

PuTTY logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for Windows

PuTTY

Free and lightweight if you only need SSH or Telnet.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for Linux

Tabby (terminal)

Free open-source terminal with saved SSH profiles and SFTP, on every OS.

electerm logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for iPhone and Android

electerm

Free cross-platform SSH, SFTP, RDP and VNC client.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best MobaXterm alternative for working in the browser

Tabby (terminal)

Free open-source terminal with saved SSH profiles and SFTP, on every OS.

MobaXterm alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to MobaXterm?

Tabby (terminal) ranks first right now. Free open-source terminal with saved SSH profiles and SFTP, on every OS. SecureCRT and electerm follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to MobaXterm?

Yes. Tabby (terminal) (open source), electerm (open source), Windows Terminal (open source) and PuTTY (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to MobaXterm?

Yes: Tabby (terminal), electerm, Windows Terminal and PuTTY.

Which MobaXterm alternatives work on Linux?

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

Why do people switch from MobaXterm?

The complaints we hear most: windows only and closed source; free edition limits saved sessions and tunnels; cluttered interface.

How is this list ranked?

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