Best Free Ssh Client For Mac

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SSH is a multi-purpose protocol for secure system administration and file transfers. It is included in every Linux and Unix system. PuTTY is the most popular SSH Connection Client, however, it is a very basic SSH Client.

  1. Hello, looking for some good SSH/telnet client for MAC. Using Termius but it doesn't support telnet. I know something about vSSH, but it's unavailable in our country so I can't buy it. I'm managing about 30-40 switches so I need client with bookmarks.
  2. Chrome Secure Shell. For those looking for one of the best PuTTY alternatives for Mac, Chrome Secure Shell is the right choice It’s a terminal emulator and SSH client designed for Chrome. It’s compatible with x-term that uses the built-in client to connect to the SSH servers right away without needing any outer proxies.

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If you are searching for SSH with more features, here are some of the best and free SSH Clients for both Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows. Download away!

↓ 01 – Solar-PuTTY | Windows

Manage remote sessions in a professional way. Connect to any server or device in your network with Solar-PuTTY for Windows.

  • Manage multiple sessions from one console with a tabbed interface
  • Save credentials or private keys to any session for easy login
  • Automate all scripts you’re using when connection is established
  • Find your saved session easily thanks to Windows Search integration

↓ 02 – OpenSSH | Windows | macOS | Linux

OpenSSH is a free version of the SSH connectivity tools that technical users rely on. OpenSSH encrypts all traffic (including passwords) to effectively eliminate eavesdropping, connection hijacking, and other attacks. Additionally, OpenSSH provides secure tunneling capabilities and several authentication methods, and supports all SSH protocol versions. The OpenSSH suite consists of the following tools:

  • Remote operations are done using ssh, scp, and sftp.
  • Key management with ssh-add, ssh-keysign, ssh-keyscan, and ssh-keygen.
  • The service side consists of sshd, sftp-server, and ssh-agent.
  • Strong cryptography (AES, ChaCha20, RSA, ECDSA, Ed25519…) – Encryption is started before authentication, and no passwords or other information is transmitted in the clear. Encryption is also used to protect against spoofed packets. A number of different ciphers and key types are available, and legacy options are usually phased out in a reasonable amount of time.
  • Strong authentication (public keys, one-time passwords) – Strong authentication protects against several security problems: IP spoofing, fakes routes and DNS spoofing. Some authentication methods include public key authentication, one-time passwords with s/key and authentication using Kerberos (only in -portable).

↓ 03 – MobaXterm Home Edition | Windows

Enhanced terminal for Windows with X11 server, tabbed SSH client, network tools and much more. MobaXterm is your ultimate toolbox for remote computing. In a single Windows application, it provides loads of functions that are tailored for programmers, webmasters, IT administrators and pretty much all users who need to handle their remote jobs in a more simple fashion.

  • Full X server and SSH support
  • Remote desktop (RDP, VNC, Xdmcp)
  • Remote terminal (SSH, telnet, rlogin, Mosh)
  • X11-Forwarding
  • Automatic SFTP browser

↓ 04 – KiTTY | Windows

KiTTY is an open source terminal emulator, forked from Small PuTTY iconPuTTY , that adds many extra features to the original software. Some of these extra features are automatic password, automatic command, running a locally saved script on a remote session, ZModem integration and more.

↓ 05 – mRemoteNG | Windows

mRemoteNG is a fork of mRemote: an open source, tabbed, multi-protocol, remote connections manager. mRemoteNG adds bug fixes and new features to mRemote. It allows you to view all of your remote connections in a simple yet powerful tabbed interface. mRemoteNG supports the following protocols:

  • RDP (Remote Desktop/Terminal Server)
  • VNC (Virtual Network Computing)
  • ICA (Citrix Independent Computing Architecture)
  • SSH (Secure Shell)
  • Telnet (TELecommunication NETwork)
  • HTTP/HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
  • rlogin
  • Raw Socket Connections

↓ 06 – Hyper | Windows | macOS | Linux

Hyper is a beautiful and extensible, cross-platform terminal built on open web standards. It provides an elegant command-line experience that is consistent across all supported platforms which includes macOS, Windows and various Linux distributions like Fedora and Debian.

The goal of the project is to create a beautiful and extensible experience for command-line interface users, built on open web standards. In the beginning, our focus will be primarily around speed, stability and the development of the correct API for extension authors.

↓ 07 – Bitvise SSH Client | Windows

SSH client supports all desktop and server versions of Windows, 32-bit and 64-bit, from Windows XP SP3 and Windows Server 2003, up to the most recent – Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. As for encryption, it provides state-of-the-art encryption and security measures suitable as part of a standards-compliant solution meeting the requirements of PCI, HIPAA, or FIPS 140-2 validation.

  • one of the most advanced graphical SFTP clients
  • State-of-the-art terminal emulation with support for the bvterm, xterm, and vt100 protocols
  • Support for corporation-wide single sign-on using SSPI (GSSAPI) Kerberos 5 and NTLM user authentication, as well as Kerberos 5 host authentication
  • Support for RSA and DSA public key authentication with comprehensive user keypair management
  • Powerful SSH port forwarding capabilities, including dynamic forwarding through integrated SOCKS and HTTP CONNECT proxy
  • Powerful command-line parameters which make the SSH client highly customizable and suitable for use in specific situations and controlled environments
  • An advanced, scriptable command-line SFTP client (sftpc)

↓ 08 – Termius Basic | Windows | macOS | Linux

Termius is more than a mere SSH client – it’s a complete command-line solution that’s redefining remote access for sysadmins and network engineers. Securely access Linux or IoT devices and quickly fix issues from the comfort of your couch via laptop or phone.

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Are you looking for the best SSH client for Windows?

Then you’re in the right place.

An SSH client is a program that uses secure shell to connect to a remote system, it is most commonly used for remote command line login and execution.

Two SSH clients to consider for the iPad. Prompt is only an SSH client; if you need the VNC and X server, the ability to telnet and so forth, you definitely want iSSH. Best of the Week. What makes Cyberduck a candidate for best FTP client is easy integration of external editors, which allows for instantaneous file editing. Like FileZilla, Cyberduck is open-source and multi-platform, but there is currently no Linux version unfortunately. I thought I was pretty happy with PuTTY as my Windows SSH client but these 10 best SSH clients made me rethink. And I am no longer using PuTTY for SSH on Windows 10 machine. Linux based systems are becoming more and more common. As examples, DD-WRT router administration, ASUS router hacks, and Raspberry Pi management, all require SSH work. SSH or Secure Shell, in simple terms, provides commandline access to a remote system running SSH server.

I use an SSH client on a daily basis to securely access switches, routers, servers and other systems.

There are many SSH programs available most of them are free but there are also some commercial programs that include advanced features.

In this article, I will share the best SSH clients for Windows.

Check it out.

1. Putty

Putty is a lightweight and simple terminal program for Windows. It supports SSH client, telnet, SFTP, and rlogn.

Putty is useful for administrations that need to establish an SSH connection to remote systems such as network switches, routers, unix systems, vmware and so on. It allows you to save session configurations, session logging, and screen customization.

Additional features include a 32 bit and 64 bit client, supports SSH2 and SSH1 protocols, it does allow for screen customization but it’s a bit cumbersome.

Putty has a simple interface and is very easy to use. You can save sessions which allows for quick ssh access but unfortunately, it doesn’t save credentials.

Putty is a good starter SSH client, if you are a power user that needs more features then move on.

2. Solar Putty

Download Putty For Mac

Solar Putty is a new SSH client that has a multi tab interface to support multiple sessions from one console.

Solar Putty has many features that are missing in Putty such as saved credentials, support for multiple sessions, quick access to the most recent sessions and integration of Windows search.

In addition to SSH, Solar Putty supports telnet, SCP, SFTP TFP protocols.

The tabbed interface makes it easy to establish multiple sessions and switch back and forth between them. The browser like homepage provides quick and intuitive access to sessions and with the ability to save credentials you can establish an SSH session in one simple click.

I really like this tool and I’ve been using it to connect to Cisco switches and various servers. Another feature worth mentioning is the ability to customize colors, this helps to organize sessions and group similar types together.

This is a Free tool, you can download your copy here.

3. SecureCRT

SecureCRT is an SSH client that supports SSH1, SSH2, Telnet, Rlogin, serial and TAPI protocol.

SecureCRT is a commercial product that has a traditional Windows style interface.

Features in the latest release include color customization, line rewrapping, paste confirmation, drag and drop multiple sessions, sessions management, encryption enhancements, and recent session list.

If you don’t need to manage a session you can use the quick connect option, no configuration required.

Although it has similar features to other programs it is still a popular choice by system admins.

4. MremoteNG

mRemoteNG is another SSH client that supports multiple protocols and handles connection details.

It supports the following protocls: RDP, VNC, ICA, SSH, telnet, http/https, rlogin and raw sockets.

Just like Solar Putty it has the ability to open multiple sessions in a tabbed interface. You can create folders to organize sessions and store credentials.

mRemoteNG is not loaded with a lot of bells and whistles, it’s a very basic connection manager that works very well.

5. MobaXterm

MobaXterm provides support for SSH, telnet, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, FTP, and SFTP.

MobaXterm contains similar features to the other clients but has some interesting additional features.

Additional features include x server, plugin support, macro support, multi-execution, ssh gateway, ssh tunnels (port forwarding), text editor and more.

MobaXterm embedded terminal can highlight syntax or use different colors on keywords. You can even build your own syntax to define what keywords get color (pretty cool).

Compared to other products this one does have a busy interface but I did find it easy to use. It might be overwhelming for those that just need a simple SSH client, for those that need an advanced SSH client this is a great choice.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for an SSH client then you can’t go wrong with any on this list. Each has its pros and cons and some have additional features than others.

It all depends on what you need.

Personally, I use multiple SSH clients.

On my main workstation, I will use Solar Putty, it has all my saved information for most frequently used sessions for quick access. I can also import and export settings to share with other team members.

I use putty on remote servers or VMs where I just need it from time to time. This is used for specific use cases such as connecting to a single system.

To find what fits best for your needs I suggest you download and try them out for yourself.

Enjoy.

Laptop

See Also

Recommended Tool: SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor (SAM)

This utility was designed to Monitor Active Directory and other critical applications. It will quickly spot domain controller issues, prevent replication failures, track failed logon attempts and much more.

What I like best about SAM is it’s easy to use dashboard and alerting features. It also has the ability to monitor virtual machines and storage.

Secure Shell, SSH for short, is a network protocol which is used to connect to Linux, UNIX servers, network equipment and any other SSH protocol supported devices over the network. We can use SSH protocol in Linux and Mac but Windows does not have a native SSH client since it is based on DOS. If you want to connect to a remote server through SSH protocol, then PuTTY is the best SSH client for Windows 10, 8.1 and Windows 7. Even then, PuTTY does not have many features its alternatives provide. So this article is to list down the best SSH clients and best free and paid PuTTY alternatives for Windows 8.1 and 10.

We have earlier mentioned a few alternatives for Evernote (note-taking apps). If you are in the networking field and doing SSH and telnet tasks on a daily basis with Fortigate firewall devices, then you can check our guides about Fortigate network device here.

Alternatives for PuTTY, 10 Best SSH Clients for Windows 10, 8.1

1) PuTTY Tray

PuTTY Tray is a free, open-source and the best SSH client alternative for PuTTY for Windows 8.1 and 10. PuTTY Tray is based on PuTTY and extends the functionalities of through add-ons to make the user experience much better than the original PuTTY. PuTTY Tray has the following features:

● Can be minimized to the system tray.
● Customizable icons and windows transparency.
● Session configurations can be stored as files for portability.
● Always On Top setting for easy access.

2) KiTTY

KiTTY is a very simple alternative for PuTTY SSH client for Windows 8.1 and 10. KiTTY is simply a fork of the original PuTTY and has all the features with and adds some. KiTTY’s user interface is much the same as PuTTY’s, so it is very familiar and easy to learn. Some of the features included in KiTTY are:

● Shortcuts for pre-defined commands.
● Automatic password entry.
● Running a locally saved script on a session.
● Storing a script to local storage for portability.
● A different icon for every session.

3) SuperPuTTY

SuperPuTTY is a very popular SSH alternative client for Windows Operating System to connect network devices over the network. SuperPuTTY, like other PuTTY clients, tries to improve what PuTTY already does but it needs a PuTTY installation on the system on which SuperPuTTY is intended to be used. SuperPuTTY allows multiple tabbed sessions included file transfers between the remote server and local storage. Following are some of the features included in SuperPuTTY:

● Export or import session configuration for portability.
● Customizable layouts for session views.
● Supports SSH, Telnet, and RAW protocols.
● Multiple sessions can be docked on the screen to allow easy workspace management.
● Upload files to a remote server securely using SCP or SFTP protocols.

4) Bitvise SSH client

Bitvise SSH client is a good free alternative for PuTTY as SSH client for Windows 8.1 and 10 if you want to automate a connection to SSH servers. Bitvise is free for personal use and paid for commercial use. Bitvise SSH client provides claims to have an advanced graphical interface for SFTP clients and terminal emulators.

5) MobaXterm

MobaXterm is the most positively received and widely regarded alternative for PuTTY for Windows 8.1 and 10, it has both free and paid versions. It is targeted for all types of users like programmers, webmasters, IT administrators or anyone who wants to manage a system remotely. MobaXterm is most popular for having a lot of features and support for plugins to extend those features. MobaXterm has no ads in both free and paid versions. Following are some of the features in MobaXterm:

● You can use UNIX commands in Windows.
● Support for a long list of protocols like SSH, FTP, and SFTP.
● Tabbed SSH sessions.
● GUI text editor.
● Portable version is also available.

Ssh On Mac

6) SmarTTY

SmarTTY is the most popular, free, widely used and complete alternative for PuTTY for Windows 8.1 and 10. SmarTTY is updated regularly by its developers. SmarTTY is also known for combining several features in other PuTTY alternatives into one application. Some features include:

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● Multiple tabs inside one SSH session.
● Transfer files and complete directories to and from a remote server.
● Edit files on the remote server.
● Ability to run graphical applications through built-in Xming addon.

7) FireSSH Addon for Firefox and Chrome

Mac Terminal Ssh

The FireSSH addon for Firefox and Chrome is the best SSH client if you don’t want to install a separate SSH client or if you don’t have administrative rights on the Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 PC you are using. FireSSH is written in JavaScript and is platform independent because it is available as an add-on for both Firefox and Chrome browsers which are easily available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Through FireSSH, you will be able to remotely connect to a remote SSH server through your browser and you will be able to open multiple SSH sessions in separate tabs. FireSSH is available in the add-ons page of Firefox and the Web Store in Chrome.

8) Terminals

Terminals is one of those SSH clients with a polished user interface for making use of tabbed SSH sessions. Terminals is open-sourced and combine many features which are included in both free and paid SSH clients mentioned in this article. Following are the features included in Terminals:

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● Session screenshot capture.
● SSH session connection history.
● Support for multiple protocols like Windows RDP, SSH, Telnet, FTP, SFTP.
● Network tools like Ping, DNS tools, Wake On LAN, etc.
● Multi-tab interface.
● Use the current terminal in fullscreen.

9) mRemoteNG

mRemoteNG is the best open-sourced best system administration tool with multiple protocols support. It can work as one of the best alternatives to PuTTY for Windows 8.1 and 10. mRemoteNG’s main focus is to provide support for multiple protocols and the best user interface for an SSH client under one software. mRemoteNG has support for tabbed sessions. Some of the different protocols supported by mRemoteNG are:

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● SSH
● Telnet
● HTTP/HTTPS
● Remote Desktop (RDP)
● Virtual Network Computing (VNC)
● RAW socket connections

10) Dameware SSH client

Dameware SSH client is a really nice alternative to PuTTY on Windows environment if you are looking for an SSH client with an easy to use and polished interface. Dameware has an easy to use the console and allows multiple Telnet and SSH connections in multiple tabs. Some useful features of Dameware:

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● Save favorite session configurations to your Windows PC.
● Access remote servers using multiple saved credentials.
● Manage multiple Telnet or SSH sessions with multiple tabs.

Best Tab Ssh Client For Macbook

We included some of the top 10 best SSH clients for Windows 8.1 and 10 in this list. You can use them as alternatives for PuTTY as well. This was to help you know which different SSH clients you can choose from if you either want to use something other than PuTTY or you are new to handling remote servers through SSH clients in Windows. In the end, it will be a matter of personal preference to choose whichever SSH client you want to use.