Xshell AlternativesTerminal Emulators & SSH Clients like Xshell

Xshell is described as 'Powerful SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, TELNET, RLOGIN and SERIAL terminal emulator for Windows platforms. It allows users to gain access to Unix/Linux hosts easily and securely on a Windows workstation' and is a terminal emulator in the network & admin category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Xshell for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best Xshell alternative is PuTTY, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Xshell are OpenSSH, Termux, Windows Terminal and mRemoteNG.

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Xshell alternatives are mainly Terminal Emulators but may also be SSH Clients or Remote Desktop Tools. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Xshell.
Xshell iconXshell
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Xshell is a powerful SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, TELNET, RLOGIN and SERIAL terminal emulator for Windows platforms. It allows users to gain access to Unix/Linux hosts easily and securely on a Windows workstation.

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Xshell alternatives page was last updated Apr 10, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. PuTTY icon

    PuTTY

     1429 likes
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    Free and open-source terminal emulator for connecting to remote systems via SSH, Telnet, and SCP. Portable with no installation required, providing lightweight functionality. Ideal for secure connections with features like command line support and customizable settings. Works offline effortlessly.

    112 PuTTY alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • ReactOS
    PuTTY screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Built-in SSH client
    3.  Telnet client
    4.  Host management
    5.  Graphical User Interface
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Serial terminal
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Support for SFTP
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Command line interface
    12.  Portable

    PuTTY VS Xshell

     
    Comments about PuTTY as an Alternative to Xshell
    Guest
    Negative •Nov 28, 2019
    2

    No post-login script per profile/session

    Xshell Icon
    PuTTY icon

    • This alternative is disputed. PuTTY is a legitimate Xshell alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • PuTTY is the most popular Windows & Linux alternative to Xshell.

    • PuTTY is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Xshell.

    • PuTTY is Free and Open SourceXshell is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • PuTTY is LightweightXshell is not according to our users
  2. OpenSSH icon

    OpenSSH

     377 likes
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    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.

    61 OpenSSH alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • Cygwin
    • Haiku

    OpenSSH Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Support for SFTP
    3.  Cross-Platform
    4.  Jailbreak required
    5.  Bundled with macOS

    OpenSSH VS Xshell

     

    • Most users think OpenSSH is a great Xshell alternative.

    • OpenSSH is the most popular Mac & iPhone alternative to Xshell.

    • OpenSSH is Free and Open SourceXshell is Free Personal and Proprietary
  4. Termux icon

    Termux

     102 likes
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    Experience a powerful Unix terminal on Android without the need for rooting. Customize with packages via Apt, run command-line tools, SSH, and program in C, Python, and more. Enjoy a full Unix environment with bash, zsh, mouse support, and external display compatibility.

    97 Termux alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • zsh
    • GNU Bourne Again SHell
    Termux screenshot 1
    Termux screenshot 2
    Termux screenshot 3

    Termux Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Support for scripting
    3.  Integrated into iOS
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No registration required

    Termux VS Xshell

     

    • Termux is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Xshell.

    • Termux is Free and Open SourceXshell is Free Personal and Proprietary
  5. Windows Terminal icon

    Windows Terminal

     81 likes
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    Windows Terminal is a new, modern, feature-rich, productive terminal application for command-line users. It includes many of the features most frequently requested by the Windows command-line community including support for tabs, rich text, globalization, configurability...

    98 Windows Terminal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    White and dark theme showcase

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Tabbed interface
    2.  Multiple shells
    3.  WSL integreation
    4.  Background transparency
    5.  Configured in JSON
    6.  Command line interface
    7.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    8.  Multiple window layouts
    9.  Multi-tabs
    10.  Support for scripting
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Ad-free

    Windows Terminal VS Xshell

     
  6. mRemoteNG icon

    mRemoteNG

     222 likes
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    Manage remote connections efficiently with this open-source tool, featuring a tabbed interface supporting RDP, VNC, SSH, Telnet, HTTP, and more protocols, without any ads.

    81 mRemoteNG alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Config Connections

    Top mRemoteNG Features

    1.  RDP
    2.  SSH
    3.  RDP Functionality
    4.  Tabbed interface
    5.  Tree view
    6.  Support for Multiple protocols
    7.  Built-in SSH client
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Connect via RDP
    10.  Secure Copy (SCP)
    11.  Supports SSL Certificates
    12.  VNC Support

    mRemoteNG VS Xshell

     
  7. MobaXterm icon

    MobaXterm

     221 likes
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    MobaXterm is an enhanced terminal app that brings the advanced features of a Unix-like command-line to Windows. It takes the power of Cygwin and wraps it in a sleek, visual interface that's super easy to use, lightweight and portable.

    110 MobaXterm alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    MobaXterm tabbed terminal

    Top MobaXterm Features

    1.  X server
    2.  Support for SFTP
    3.  SSH
    4.  Tabbed interface
    5.  Embedded Xserver
    6.  Portable
    7.  RDP Functionality
    8.  Multiple Terminal
    9.  Support for Multiple protocols
    10.  Built-in File Manager
    11. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    12.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions

    MobaXterm VS Xshell

     
  9. ReTerminal icon

    ReTerminal

     13 likes
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    ReTerminal is a sleek, Material 3-inspired terminal emulator designed as a modern alternative to the legacy Jackpal Terminal. Built on Termux's robust TerminalView.

    51 ReTerminal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    ReTerminal screenshot 1
    ReTerminal screenshot 2
    ReTerminal screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Material design

    ReTerminal VS Xshell

     
  10. Alacritty icon

    Alacritty

     65 likes
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    Alacritty is a blazing fast, GPU accelerated terminal emulator. It’s written in Rust and uses OpenGL for rendering to be the fastest terminal emulator available. Alacritty is available on GitHub in source form.

    82 Alacritty alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Alacritty screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Optimal performance
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  GPU Support
    2.  No input delay
    3.  Portable
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Support for scripting
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions

    Alacritty VS Xshell

     
  11. Terminator icon

    Terminator

     163 likes
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    Terminator enables the user to run and manage multiple terminal emulators side-by-side in the same window. The main focus is arranging terminals in a grid. (Tabs is the most common default method, which Terminator also supports.

    85 Terminator alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    Terminator is running Vim, Bash, and Python side by side.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Split-screen view
    4.  Function Key Shortcuts
    5.  Tiling Layouts
    6.  Split windows
    7.  Multiple Terminal

    Terminator VS Xshell

     
  12. KiTTY icon

    KiTTY

     186 likes
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    KiTTY is an opensource terminal emulator, forked from PuTTY , that adds many extra features to the original software.

    91 KiTTY alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    transparency settings

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Session Management
    3.  Portable
    4.  SSH Tunnel
    5.  Auto-login
    6.  Multiple Browser Tabs
    7.  Command line interface
    8.  VPS
    9.  Auto-saving
    10.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    11.  Built-in editor

    KiTTY VS Xshell

     
  13. ConnectBot icon

    ConnectBot

     101 likes
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    ConnectBot is a Secure Shell client for the Android platform. Its ultimate goal is to create a secure connection through which you can use a shell on a remote machine and transfer files back and forth to your phone.

    43 ConnectBot alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    ConnectBot screenshot 1

    ConnectBot Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No registration required
    3.  SSH
    4.  Telnet client

    ConnectBot VS Xshell

     
  14. Termius icon

    Termius

     34 likes
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    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.

    54 Termius alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • NZ flagNew Zealand

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    Termius screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Support for SFTP
    2.  Mosh client
    3.  Keychain
    4.  Port Forwarding
    5.  Unix-like
    6.  SSH
    7.  User Session Recording
    8.  Cloud Sync
    9.  FTP Server Migration
    10.  Server Monitoring
    11.  Secure Copy (SCP)

    Termius VS Xshell

     

    • Termius is the most popular iPad alternative to Xshell.

    • Termius is Freemium and ProprietaryXshell is Free Personal and Proprietary
12 of 53 Xshell alternatives