Believe it or not, Secure Shell [SSH] is becoming one of the most important remote connection protocols today.
Here is our list of the six best SSH clients for Windows:
- Solar-PuTTY EDITOR'S CHOICE FREE TOOL This free tool, provided by SolarWinds, that builds on the functionality of the original PuTTY. This system offers a better interface that integrates file transfers with SFTP as well as SCP. The interface connects to remote computers with SSH and Telnet. Download 100% free tool.
- PuTTY This very old terminal emulator is an inspiration for all subsequent remote access systems. This tool offers Telnet, SSH, Rlogin, and raw socket connections plus SFTP and SCP for file transfers.
- SecureCRT This remote access system is available for macOS, Linux, and iOS as well as Windows. It offers terminal emulation and file transfer through an SSH tunnel.
- SmarTTY A free SSH client that has a multi-tabbed interface to allow multiple simultaneous connections. This tool also includes SCP capabilities for file transfers.
- mRemoteNG This popular, free remote desktop system includes a tabbed interface for multiple simultaneous connections. The system offers access with RDP, Telnet, Rlogin, VNC, and SSH.
- MobaXterm This easy-to-use remote access system is available in free and paid versions and is built for Unix and Linux, and well as Windows. The tool SSH and SFTP.
SSH is used by many systems and network administrators to connect to their remote cloud computing resources.
It can help them create an SSH tunnel and solve problems while avoiding putting the resources at risk.
The SSH client is the key element to providing this secure and flexible SSH tunnel connection to any remote resource.
It provides access through the command line of the remote resource and lets you execute any command to monitor or fix issues.
There are many SSH clients available for free, but most of them do not fulfill the standards for serious everyday users.
We'll go over the Top SSH clients for Windows in the following list and show all the different options and flexibility they have.
It all depends on what you need, but going with one or the other will certainly give you a good head start.
What should you look for in secure SSH clients?
We reviewed the market for SSH clients for Windows that enable session and password saving and analyzed the tools based on the following criteria:
- A secure remote terminal utility
- An encrypted password storage system
- A system for storing connection settings to enable point-and-click immediate contact
- The ability to maintain multiple sessions open
- Session pause and resume functions
- A free trial or a free tool
- A free tool that is worth using or a paid tool that offers value for money
With these selection criteria in mind, we located a range of options for secure SSH clients that are written for Windows.
Here are the Best SSH Clients for Windows of 2021:
1. SolarPuTTY FREE TOOL
SolarPuTTY is a 100% free SSH client for Windows, developed by SolarWinds.
Although SolarPuTTY carries the name PuTTY, it does a lot more than just open SSH sessions to remote devices.
It also supports SCP, SFTP, and Telnet and comes with additional features.
Key Features:
- Save credentials and private keys for auto-login.
- Open multiple sessions through tabs.
- Access to frequently used sessions.
- Reconnect automatically.
- SFTP file transfer Graphical User Interface.
- Support of automation of post-connections scripts.
SolarPuTTY integrated a modern interface that is easy to use.
This interface lets you work on simultaneous sessions through its multi-tabbed single console, and allows you quick access to previous sessions.
But one of the best and most popular features is its tabbed interface.
With PuTTY, you had to open the interface multiple times, and swap between applications which made it difficult to navigate through.
But the SolarPuTTY can establish multiple sessions within the same console and lets you switch back and forth between them.
The homepage includes quick access Single-click logging of each session with saved credentials and private keys.
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Price: Free
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Solar-PuTTY is our top pick for an SSH client on Windows because it is a reliable tool that offers both SSH and Telnet connections and best of all, it is completely free to use. This free system allows you to store login credentials securely and if your connection gets dropped mid-session, the service will automatically re-establish your session. This is a secure, efficient, and trust-worthy tool with a tabbed interface that lets you work on multiple sessions simultaneously.
Download: Start 30-day Free Trial
OS: Windows Server
Related Post: What Is SFTP?
2. PuTTY
PuTTY is one of the more popular and widely used SSH clients for Windows platforms.
This lightweight, free and open-source terminal emulator, can be found in all network and systems administrator toolboxes.
It is easy to use and can support multiple network protocols such as SSH, Serial, Telnet, SCP, SFTP, Rlogin, and Raw Socket connections.
Preferably, PuTTY is used as a way to establish remote shell access to UNIX or Linux-based end-points like network devices, servers, systems, virtual machines, etc.
It provides you with a text user interface to these remote end-systems.
It is also often used as a serial console application, as it can be configured to open serial connections.
PuTTY is an agile application. It can let you save session configuration, session logging, proxy settings, and screen customizations.
Key Features:
- Manage the SSH encryption key and protocol version.
- File transfer with command-line SCP and SFTP clients.
- Port forwarding over SSH.
- Supports IPv6.
- Supports public-key authentication.
- Supports local serial port connections.
PuTTY is a very basic tool.
Although it provides what it promises, a secure SSH connection, it lacks additional functionality.
To discover more comprehensive SSH clients for Windows, keep reading.
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Price:
Free
Download:
PuTTY from its official website: //www.putty.org/
Related Post: Best Alternatives to PuTTY
3. SecureCRT
SecureCRT by VanDyke Software, is another popular SSH, Telnet client, and terminal emulator for Windows systems.
The main difference with previous tools is that SecureCRT is offered over a commercial license.
Key Features:
- Advanced session management.
- Advanced Scripting: Automate and streamline repetitive tasks.
- Secure remote access, file transfer, and data tunneling.
- Change the look of the workspace with predefined color schemes.
- Compare the output of two sessions or organize your sessions with tab groups.
- Drag and drop multiple live sessions.
- Quick access to sessions with the Recent Session List
But being commercial has tons of advantages, for example, their tool is also supported by macOS and Linux systems, and their tech support can help you resolve issues related to the software.
Out-of-the-box, SecureCRT has tons of functionalities. For example, similar to SolarPuTTY, you can access and manage different remote sites from a single place.
It also comes with the quick connect option that lets you connect to previous sessions without any additional configuration.
SecureCRT supports various remote protocols as well, including SSH1, SSH2, Telnet, Telnet/TLS Rlogin, Serial, and TAPI.
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Price:
For one SecureRT license, the price starts at $99.00 with one year of updates.
Download:
SecureCRT is supported by Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
For Windows, it comes in two versions, the 64-bit, and 32-bit Windows PC Installer.
You can download a free trial version of SecureCRT.
4. SmarTTY
SmarTTY is another free multi-tabbed SSH client with SCP support for Windows.
As most tools mentioned in this list, SmarTTY can also replace PuTTYs functionality.
You can open multiple tabs for a single SSH sub-session, and also copy files and directories with SCP file transfer protocol.
Key Features:
- Transfer files.
- Edit files in the app.
- Built-in terminal for COM ports.
- Support to public key authentication.
- Built-in Xming to run graphics.
SmarTTY is updated frequently. Their latest SmarTTY version 3.0 provides new functionalities such as the Smart Terminal with auto-completion, a file panel, and a package management GUI.
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Download
free SmarTTY client for Windows from their official site.
5. mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG is a fork of the open-source and remote connections manager, mRemote.
mRemoteNG or mRemote Next Generation is also open source, but they fixed bugs and included new features to the traditional mRemote.
Key Features:
- Import/Export and share connections.
- Multiple sessions through its tabbed interface.
- Organize connections through folders and icons.
- Inheritance from folder properties.
Similar to SolarPuTTy, the mRemoteNG interface allows you to view all your remote simultaneous connections from a single tabbed interface.
Of course, mRemoteNG supports SSH connections, but you can also connect through RDP, VNC, ICA, Telnet, HTTP/HTTPS, Rlogin, and Raw Sockets Connections.
mRemoteNG can also store credentials, something not possible with traditional PuTTY.
Pros:
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Price:
Free and open source.
Download:
free mRemoteNG from its official website.
6. MobaXterm
MobaXterm is another tabbed SSH client for Windows systems.
It is a popular terminal among systems and network admins that want to access UNIX-based systems, like AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, etc., and Linux [Ubuntu, RedHat, etc], from Windows.
MobaXterm, is also another improved version of the traditional PuTTY. Aside from fully supporting SSH, it also supports other remote protocols such as VNC, RDP, XDMCP, Telnet, rlogin, FTP, SFTP, etc.
MobaXterm provides similar features such as previous tools, but it includes a couple of unique functionalities.
For example, MobaXterm includes the embedded X Server based on X.org., which allows remote applications to be displayed on the Windows computer.
Key Features:
- X-11 forwarding capability.
- Extend capabilities with Plugins and add-ons.
- Encrypted file transfers.
- SSH Gateway.
- SSH tunnels for port forwarding.
This tool makes it easy to navigate through UNIX servers through your Windows systems.
It provides basic UNIX commands and tools like PS, AWK, Bash, find, and more.
It can highlight syntax and use different colors on specific keywords.
In fact, most systems admins have replaced the popular CygWin for MobaXterm.
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Price:
The MobaXterm Home Edition is free, and the Professional Edition starts at $69 per user.
Download the MobaXterm Home Edition for free or subscribe to try the MobaXterm Professional Edition.
Final Words & Conclusion
If you are looking for a good SSH client for Windows, you dont have to search anymore.
Any of the tools shown in this list can provide you with secured SSH tunnels at a decent price, and in most cases, for free.
One of the preferred features, found in the new SSH clients, of many system admins is the ability to use multiple tabs to work with simultaneous SSH connections.
Admins also love to have the ability to save credentials and use the quick access to remote connections. Unfortunately, these are features not available in the common PuTTY.
Although PuTTY is still the number one in popularity in this list, things are changing.
There are many far superior new tools out there, such as SolarPuTTY which lets you save the most frequently used sessions, and also export/import settings and share with other team members.