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PuTTY alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave PuTTY: dated interface with no tabs, and uses its own PPK key format. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces PuTTY, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Windows Terminal currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Windows Terminal logoWindows TerminalOpen sourceYesWindows4 of 466.5
2MobaXterm logoMobaXtermFree plan + paidNoWindows4 of 462.6
3Tabby (terminal) logoTabby (terminal)Open sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +13 of 359.6
4Termius logoTermiusFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, Linux +24 of 455.3
  1. Windows Terminal logo

    1. Windows TerminalTop pick

    Best for: Windows users who switch between PowerShell, Command Prompt and WSL

    Open sourceWindows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from PuTTY

    Pair it with Windows' built-in OpenSSH for tabs and a modern interface.

    Pros

    • Free, open source and preinstalled on recent Windows 11
    • Profiles for every shell, including WSL distributions
    • Tabs, panes and GPU-accelerated rendering

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • No saved SSH hosts or file transfer like dedicated clients
    • Advanced settings still mean editing JSON
    Visit Windows 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 Windows Terminal a good PuTTY alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Shells
    Command Prompt, PowerShell, WSL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tabs and panes
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    GPU rendering
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. MobaXterm logo

    2. MobaXterm

    Best for: Windows admins and researchers who need SSH with X11 forwarding and SFTP

    Free plan + paidWindows

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from PuTTY

    Tabs, SFTP browser and an X server in one Windows app.

    Pros

    • Built-in X server for remote graphical apps
    • SFTP browser opens automatically with SSH sessions
    • Many protocols and Unix tools in one app

    Cons

    • Windows only and closed source
    • Free edition limits saved sessions and tunnels
    • Cluttered interface
    Visit MobaXterm Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 MobaXterm a good PuTTY alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Home Edition
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Free limits
    Max. 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Professional price
    $69 per user
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    SSH, X11, RDP, VNC, FTP, Mosh
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Tabby (terminal) logo

    3. Tabby (terminal)

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from PuTTY

    Modern open-source terminal with saved 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 ×0.377
    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 Tabby (terminal) a good PuTTY 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)
  4. Termius logo

    4. Termius

    Best for: People who manage servers over SSH from several devices, including phones

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from PuTTY

    Synced SSH hosts and keys across desktop and mobile.

    Pros

    • Same client on desktop and mobile
    • Encrypted vault sync and team sharing on paid plans
    • Free plan allowed for commercial use

    Cons

    • Sync and sharing require a subscription
    • Closed source
    • Not a full replacement for a local terminal
    Visit Termius Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 Termius a good PuTTY alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Starter, free for commercial use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $10/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Team price
    $20 per seat/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business price
    $30 per seat/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best PuTTY alternative for…

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

Windows Terminal logo

Best PuTTY alternative for most people

Windows Terminal

Pair it with Windows' built-in OpenSSH for tabs and a modern interface.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best PuTTY alternative for a free option

Tabby (terminal)

Modern open-source terminal with saved SSH and serial profiles.

MobaXterm logo

Best PuTTY alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

MobaXterm

Tabs, SFTP browser and an X server in one Windows app.

Windows Terminal logo

Best PuTTY alternative for open source

Windows Terminal

Pair it with Windows' built-in OpenSSH for tabs and a modern interface.

SecureCRT logo

Best PuTTY alternative for Mac

SecureCRT

Commercial client with advanced session management and scripting.

Termius logo

Best PuTTY alternative for Windows

Termius

Synced SSH hosts and keys across desktop and mobile.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best PuTTY alternative for Linux

Tabby (terminal)

Modern open-source terminal with saved SSH and serial profiles.

Termius logo

Best PuTTY alternative for iPhone and Android

Termius

Synced SSH hosts and keys across desktop and mobile.

Tabby (terminal) logo

Best PuTTY alternative for working in the browser

Tabby (terminal)

Modern open-source terminal with saved SSH and serial profiles.

PuTTY alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to PuTTY?

Windows Terminal ranks first right now. Pair it with Windows' built-in OpenSSH for tabs and a modern interface. MobaXterm and Tabby (terminal) follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to PuTTY?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to PuTTY?

Yes: Windows Terminal and Tabby (terminal).

Which PuTTY alternatives work on Linux?

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

Why do people switch from PuTTY?

The complaints we hear most: dated interface with no tabs; uses its own PPK key format; built-in Windows OpenSSH covers many basic needs.

How is this list ranked?

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