Xshell Alternatives for Linux

Xshell is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is PuTTY, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Xshell and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Xshell are OpenSSH, Alacritty, Terminator and Termius.

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...

More about Xshell
More about Xshell
Xshell alternatives page was last updated Mar 1, 2023
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  1. PuTTY icon

    PuTTY

     1435 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

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    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. Alacritty icon

    Alacritty

     66 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.

    85 Alacritty alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    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

     
  5. Terminator icon

    Terminator

     164 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.

    90 Terminator alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    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

     
  6. Termius icon

    Termius

     35 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.

    55 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
  7. WindTerm icon

    WindTerm

     18 likes
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    A professional SSH/Telnet/Serial/Shell/Sftp client for DevOps.

    60 WindTerm alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    WindTerm screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for SFTP
    2.  SSH
    3.  X server
    4.  Portable
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Cross-Platform
    7.  Command palette
    8.  Outliner

    WindTerm VS Xshell

     
  9. SecureCRT icon

    SecureCRT

     34 likes
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    SecureCRT combines rock-solid terminal emulation with the strong encryption, data integrity, and authentication options of the Secure Shell protocol. SecureCRT provides secure remote access, file transfer, and data tunneling for everyone in your organization.

    59 SecureCRT alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    SecureCRT Features

    1.  Support for scripting
    2.  SSH
    3.  Auto-login

    SecureCRT VS Xshell

     

    • SecureCRT is the most popular commercial alternative to Xshell.

    • SecureCRT is Paid and ProprietaryXshell is Free Personal and Proprietary
  10. PAC Manager icon

    PAC Manager

     41 likes
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    PAC is a Perl/GTK Gnome replacement for SecureCRT/Putty/etc... It provides a GUI to configure SSH/Telnet connections: users, passwords, EXPECT regular expressions, macros, etc.

    51 PAC Manager alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • ES flagSpain
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    PAC Manager screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The project seems to be no longer developed. Last version, 4.5.5.7, released in November 2015, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    PAC Manager Features

    1.  Tabbed interface
    2.  VNC Support
    3.  RDP
    4.  Support for Multiple protocols
    5.  Group connections
    6.  Gtk
    7.  SSH

    PAC Manager VS Xshell

     
    Comments about PAC Manager as an Alternative to Xshell
    Guest
    Positive Oct 20, 2019
    0

    Even though it's discontinued, it still offers a huge load of features and is highly customizable.

    Xshell Icon
    PAC Manager icon
    • PAC Manager is Free and Open SourceXshell is Free Personal and Proprietary
  11. foot icon

    foot

     9 likes
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    Fast, lightweight and minimalistic Wayland terminal emulator. Supports daemon mode, Sixel, and scrollback search.

    71 foot alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Minimalistic
    3.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Wayland Support

    foot VS Xshell

     
  12. Asbru Connection Manager icon

    Asbru Connection Manager

     20 likes
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    Ásbrú Connection Manager is a user interface that helps organizing remote terminal sessions and automating repetitive tasks.

    15 Asbru Connection Manager alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Asbru Connection Manager screenshot 1

    Asbru Connection Manager Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Tabbed interface
    3.  Debian package
    4.  Remote shell
    5.  SSH Tunnel

    Asbru Connection Manager VS Xshell

     
  13. PortX icon

    PortX

     3 likes
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    PortX is a lightweight cross-platform (Windows/Mac/Linux) SSH Client, as well as local shell/terminal emulator. Beautiful tabbed UI for managing multiple sessions. Google Drive syncing session files across devices and OSes is a very handy tool.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    PortX screenshot 1

    PortX Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Session Management
    3.  Xterm emulation
    4.  Tabbed interface

    PortX VS Xshell

     
  14. FireSSH icon

    FireSSH

     16 likes
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    FireSSH is a free, cross-platform SSH terminal client for Mozilla Firefox. Written entirely in Javascript!

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Waterfox
    • Pale Moon
    • Firefox
    FireSSH screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The extension is not working on Firefox 57 and later. The developer ended support and development of FireSSH. The extension still works on XUL-based Firefox forks like Waterfox icon Waterfox and Pale Moon icon Pale Moon

    FireSSH Features

    1.  Legacy Firefox Addon
    2.  SSH
    3.  Browser-based

    FireSSH VS Xshell

     
12 of 22 Xshell alternatives