PuTTY

The classic free SSH and Telnet client for Windows, also available for Unix.

Verified facts: 0 of 0
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About PuTTY

PuTTY is a free implementation of SSH and Telnet, with an xterm-compatible terminal, written and maintained mainly by Simon Tatham since the late 1990s. For many years it was the standard way to reach Linux servers from Windows, and it is still widely used and deployed. It saves sessions with their host, port and settings, supports SSH keys through its own PPK format and the Pageant agent, port forwarding, serial connections and raw sockets, and ships companion tools such as PSCP and PSFTP for file transfer and PuTTYgen for generating keys. It is small, needs no installation beyond a single executable and is distributed under the MIT licence. The interface has barely changed in decades, there are no tabs, and Windows now includes OpenSSH, so many people pair the built-in ssh command with Windows Terminal instead.

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

What works

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

Why people leave

Dated interface with no tabs
Uses its own PPK key format
Built-in Windows OpenSSH covers many basic needs

Top PuTTY alternatives

See all 5

1
Windows Terminal
Pair it with Windows' built-in OpenSSH for tabs and a modern interface.
66.5
2
MobaXterm
Tabs, SFTP browser and an X server in one Windows app.
62.6
3
Tabby (terminal)
Modern open-source terminal with saved SSH and serial profiles.
59.6
4
SecureCRT
Commercial client with advanced session management and scripting.
57.2
5
Termius
Synced SSH hosts and keys across desktop and mobile.
55.3

Why people left PuTTY

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from PuTTY, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of PuTTY

Your rating of PuTTY

Name

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

Title

Your review

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

Did you switch from another app?

Why did you leave it?

How can we verify you use it? (optional)

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

I received money, credit or a gift for writing this review. (Incentivized reviews are shown but don't count toward rankings.)

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

PuTTY: common questions

Is PuTTY free?

Yes. PuTTY is free, open-source software.

Is PuTTY open source?

Yes.

What platforms does PuTTY run on?

PuTTY is available for Windows and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to PuTTY?

The highest-ranked PuTTY alternatives right now are Windows Terminal, MobaXterm and Tabby (terminal). See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 PuTTY alternatives