Xshell
Tabbed SSH and Telnet client for Windows with session, command and RDP management.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows
Is Xshell free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
- Starting price:
- $119 perpetual, single user
Checked on Xshell's site Nov 8, 2026
Switch from Xshell to
All 6
Tabby (terminal)Open source
Bitvise SSH ClientStarting price: $39.95 per installation or user (optional licence)
MobaXtermStarting price: $69 per user one-time (Professional)
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Xshell
Xshell is a Windows terminal client from NetSarang for working on remote servers over SSH, SFTP, Telnet and similar protocols. It is built around managing many connections: a session manager, tab manager and file manager sit in dockable panels, and reusable authentication profiles let one credential change update many saved sessions. For repetitive work it offers quick-command buttons, triggers that react to terminal output, a compose pane for drafting multi-line input and script recording. RDP sessions can open in tabs next to terminal sessions, so remote desktop and shell work live in one window. Themes, per-session colour schemes and highlight rules help surface errors in long logs. Xshell is free for personal and educational use; companies need a paid perpetual licence that includes a year of updates, and it is also sold bundled with Xftp or the wider Xmanager suite. It is popular with sysadmins and developers on Windows, especially in Asia, who want more structure than PuTTY offers.
Best for: Windows users juggling many SSH sessions who want tabs, saved commands and scripting.
Xshell pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Xshell's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $119 perpetual, single user | Nov 8, 2026 | netsarang.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Free licence for personal, home and school use
- Session, tab and file managers make large host lists manageable
- Triggers, quick commands and script recording cut repetitive typing
- RDP sessions open in tabs alongside terminals
Why people leave
- Business use needs a paid licence, unlike Bitvise or PuTTY
- Windows only; no macOS or Linux build
- SFTP file transfer is a separate product (Xftp) or bundle
Xshell vs Tabby (terminal), Bitvise SSH Client and MobaXterm
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Xshell | Tabby (terminal) | Bitvise SSH Client | MobaXterm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Open source | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | $119 perpetual, single user | — | $39.95 per installation or user (optional licence) | $69 per user one-time (Professional) |
| Free plan | Yes | Free app | Yes, free in all environments | Yes, Home Edition (max 12 sessions) |
| Open source | No | Yes | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Windows | Windows |
Top Xshell alternatives
See all 6- 1Tabby (terminal)64.0
Open-source, cross-platform terminal with built-in SSH profiles and tabs.
- 2Bitvise SSH Client61.8
Free even for business use and includes a graphical SFTP client and tunneling.
- 3MobaXterm56.8
Similar tabbed Windows toolbox that also bundles an X server and SFTP browser in one app.
- 4
SecureCRT54.4Paid client with comparable session management that also runs on macOS and Linux.
- 5
Termius51.2Cross-platform with synced hosts and keys, including iOS and Android apps.
Why people left Xshell
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Xshell: common questions
What is Xshell?
Xshell: Tabbed SSH and Telnet client for Windows with session, command and RDP management. Best for windows users juggling many SSH sessions who want tabs, saved commands and scripting. Available for Windows.
Is Xshell free?
Xshell has a free plan and paid plans.
How much does Xshell cost?
Xshell is free with paid plans. Starting price: $119 perpetual, single user. Checked on Xshell's own site, November 2026.
Is Xshell open source?
No, Xshell is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Tabby (terminal) and PuTTY.
What platforms does Xshell run on?
Xshell is available for Windows.
What are the best alternatives to Xshell?
The highest-ranked Xshell alternatives right now are Tabby (terminal), Bitvise SSH Client and MobaXterm. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Xshell vs Tabby (terminal): what's the difference?
Xshell is free with paid plans; Tabby (terminal) is free and open source. Tabby (terminal) is open source and Xshell is not. Only Tabby (terminal) runs on macOS, Linux and Web.