Free Xshell alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

5 of the 6 Xshell alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). Tabby (terminal), Bitvise SSH Client and MobaXterm rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Tabby (terminal)	Open source	—	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	3 of 3	64.0
2	Bitvise SSH Client	Free plan + paid	$39.95 per installation or user (optional licence)	No	Windows	8 of 8	61.8
3	MobaXterm	Free plan + paid	$69 per user one-time (Professional)	No	Windows	5 of 5	56.8
4	Termius	Free plan + paid	$10 a month, billed annually (Pro)	No	macOS, Windows, Linux +2	7 of 7	51.2
5	PuTTY	Open source	—	Yes	Windows, Linux	0 of 0	39.5

1. Tabby (terminal)Top pick
Best for: People who want saved SSH and serial connections inside a modern terminal
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web
64.0
score / 100
Why switch from Xshell
Open-source, cross-platform terminal with built-in SSH profiles and tabs.
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 ×0.334
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Tabby (terminal) a good Xshell 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 Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Web version
Tabby Web
Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Bitvise SSH Client
Best for: Windows admins who want SSH, SFTP and tunnels in one free client, including at work
Free plan + paidWindows
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from Xshell
Free even for business use and includes a graphical SFTP client and tunneling.
Pros
Free for commercial use, not just personal use
Graphical SFTP plus SFTP drive mapping for any Windows app
Strong tunneling: SOCKS/HTTP proxy, RDP forwarding, jump hosts
Scriptable command-line clients for unattended transfers
Cons
Windows only; no macOS, Linux or mobile versions
Tabbed multi-session management is weaker than Xshell or MobaXterm
Some console features only work against Bitvise's own server
Visit Bitvise SSH Client Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Bitvise SSH Client a good Xshell alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Free plan
Yes, free in all environments
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
Optional licence
$39.95 per installation or user
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows (11 back to XP SP3)
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
Post-quantum key exchange
Yes
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
SFTP drive mapping
Yes
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$39.95 per installation or user (optional licence)
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
Site License plan
$3,000
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
Area License plan
$4,500
Checked Nov 8, 2026bitvise.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. MobaXterm
Best for: Windows admins and researchers who need SSH with X11 forwarding and SFTP
Free plan + paidWindows
56.8
score / 100
Why switch from Xshell
Similar tabbed Windows toolbox that also bundles an X server and SFTP browser in one 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 ×0.360
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is MobaXterm a good Xshell alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
Yes, Home Edition (max 12 sessions)
Checked Nov 8, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
Free limits
Max. 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels
Checked Nov 8, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
Professional price
$69 per user
Checked Nov 8, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
Protocols
SSH, X11, RDP, VNC, FTP, Mosh
Checked Nov 8, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$69 per user one-time (Professional)
Checked Nov 8, 2026mobaxterm.mobatek.net(opens source in a new tab)
4. Termius
Best for: People who manage servers over SSH from several devices, including phones
Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
51.2
score / 100
Why switch from Xshell
Cross-platform with synced hosts and keys, including iOS and Android apps.
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 ×0.341
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Termius a good Xshell alternative?
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified
Free plan
Yes, Starter, free for commercial use
Checked Nov 8, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
Pro price
$10/month, paid annually
Checked Nov 8, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
Team price
$20 per seat/month, paid annually
Checked Nov 8, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
Business price
$30 per seat/month, paid annually
Checked Nov 8, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$10 a month, billed annually (Pro)
Checked Nov 8, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
Team plan
$20 per seat/month, billed annually
Checked Nov 8, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
Business plan
$30 per seat/month, billed annually
Checked Nov 8, 2026termius.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. PuTTY
Best for: Windows users who need a small, dependable SSH or serial client
Open sourceWindows, Linux
39.5
score / 100
Why switch from Xshell
Free, open-source and minimal if you only need a reliable terminal.
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 ×0.338
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1530
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is PuTTY a good Xshell alternative?
Verified facts
0 of 0 verified
No sourced facts yet.

Quick comparison

1. Tabby (terminal)Top pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Bitvise SSH Client

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. MobaXterm

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Termius

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. PuTTY

Pros

Cons

Verified facts