PuTTY is great — but it's 25 years old. Discover modern SSH clients with better UX, security, and features. We compared them all so you don't have to.
SSH (Secure Shell) is the standard protocol for securely connecting to remote servers, routers, and devices. Your SSH client is the tool you use to make that connection.
SSH is an encrypted network protocol that lets you securely log into remote machines and execute commands as if you were sitting in front of them. It's the backbone of server administration, DevOps, and network management.
An SSH client is the software on your local computer that initiates the connection. PuTTY is the oldest and most famous, but it was designed for Windows in 1999 — long before modern UX and security expectations.
PuTTY still works, but lacks tabbed sessions, modern UI, built-in SFTP, session management, and cross-platform support. Modern alternatives offer all of this out of the box while maintaining rock-solid SSH compatibility.
Tabbed sessions, SSH key management, SFTP file transfer, port forwarding UI, session saving, dark mode, and cross-platform support. The best tools handle all of these without complexity.
An honest, feature-by-feature comparison of every major SSH client available in 2025.
| Client | Platform | Tabbed Sessions | Built-in SFTP | Still Maintained | Open Source | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PuTTYAltRecommended | Win, Mac, Linux | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Active 2025 | ✓ | Free |
| PuTTY | Windows, Linux | ✗ | ~ Via psftp | ~ Slow updates | ✓ | Free |
| KiTTY | Windows only | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Irregular | ✓ | Free |
| SuperPuTTY | Windows only | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ Abandoned | ✓ | Free |
| MobaXterm | Windows only | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ Proprietary | Free / $69+ |
| Termius | Win, Mac, Linux, Mobile | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ Proprietary | $10/mo |
SSH clients aren't just for sysadmins. Here's who uses them and why.
Manage Linux servers, VPS instances, and cloud infrastructure. Run commands, monitor logs, restart services, and configure systems remotely.
Deploy applications, manage Docker containers, configure Kubernetes nodes, and automate pipelines through secure SSH connections.
Configure routers, switches, and firewalls from Cisco, MikroTik, and other vendors. SSH replaced Telnet as the standard for network device management.
Connect to Raspberry Pi, home servers, NAS devices, and local VMs. SSH is essential for anyone running their own infrastructure at home.
Use SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) to securely move files between machines. Much safer than FTP and supported by all modern SSH clients.
Forward local ports to remote services, bypass firewalls securely, and create encrypted tunnels for other protocols through SSH.
After testing every major SSH client in 2025, one tool consistently impressed us as the best balance of features, simplicity, and active development.
The modern SSH client · Cross-platform · Actively maintained · Open source
PuTTYAlt was built for users who love PuTTY's reliability but need modern features. It keeps everything that made PuTTY great — rock-solid SSH implementation, lightweight footprint, keyboard-driven workflow — while adding the features that 2025 demands.
Tabbed sessions, a proper session manager, integrated SFTP, SSH key generation and management — all in a clean, cross-platform interface that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Manage multiple SSH connections in one window with proper tab support.
Works identically on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Transfer files securely without a separate client or plugin.
Generate, import, and manage SSH keys from within the app.
Save, organize, and quickly connect to your servers.
Regular updates, bug fixes, and security patches in 2025.