Whether you know it or not, SSH or Secure Shell is slowly becoming an important remote connection protocol in today’s time. Several network administrators and systems use it to connect to their remote cloud computing resources.
It can help them build an SSH tunnel and resolve the issues while protecting the resources. The SSH client makes the key element in providing flexible and secure SSH tunnel connection to a remote resource.
It gives you access to the remote source and allows you to execute any command to fix or monitor issues. You will come across many SSH clients online. Today, we are here to share some of the best SSH clients for Windows and Mac.
Also read: 9 Best FTP/SFTP Clients for Windows & Mac
List of Best SSH Clients for Windows & Mac
1. MobaXterm
It is a light application that serves as the ideal toolbox for remote computing. It comes with an improved terminal for Windows with a tabbed SSH client, X11 server, network tools, and a lot more. Compared to other tools, MobaXterm provides various functions customized for webmasters, programmers, and IT administrators.
2. Termius
Termius is a paid SSH client that is compatible with Mac, Windows, and even Linux. If you are looking for a reliable commercial tool, this could be the best choice for you. It allows you to organize hosts into different groups, and each group can share settings. With Termius, it becomes easier to sync all the data across devices as it uses end-to-end encryption. It will collect commands from all severs and give suggestions while you are typing.
3. Solar-PuTTY
With the help of Solar-PuTTY, you can manage the remote sessions using a console with a tabbed interface. This makes it easier for you to manage multiple sessions from just one console. It is a free tool that allows you to automate all scripts after securing the connection. The good thing is it doesn’t have to be installed. Also, it allows you to save private keys or credentials to any session.
4. Mac Terminal
You can use the inbuilt terminal on your mac to connect to ssh server using the simple command you use in Linux. Open your Mac Terminal and type “ssh username@ipaddress”. Replace “username” with the username of the user you want to log in as and “ipaddress” with the address of the server. Upon clicking enter, you will be asked to enter the password. If you are using ssh key-based login, then you can also do it using the -i flag. For more information, you should refer to the documentation of ssh command. The only downside of using Mac Terminal is that you won’t get an intuitive user interface like other third-party applications.
5. PuTTY
This is open-source and free software that comes with all the features you need. It has telnet client, SSH, and SFTP client. This tool is compatible with Windows and Linux. It has features that allow remote access to server computers over a network. It uses an SSH protocol that provides authentication for file transfer utility.
6. iTerm 2
If you are looking for a reliable SSH client for Mac, iTerm 2 could be the best option. You can work this tool with Mac OS 10.10 and higher. It has an interface that displays different terminal sessions using the split-screen method. This allows you to see sessions side by side. To make things more convenient, you can set up keyboard shortcuts to browse through the different functions quickly.
7. WinSCP
The next best option is WinSCP which is popular among users because of its secure file transfer capabilities. It is not only easy to handle but also everything you need to connect remotely and transfer files smoothly. If you are using an SSH client for the first time, you will find it easy to use. It has file synchronization and file manager functionality. Last but not least, it allows you to save public key, password, and other.
8. Hyper
Hyper is an open-source tool compatible with all three major platforms, including Mac, Linux, and Windows. It is designed for command-line interface users and is built on top of open web standards. It comes with a scriptable command-line SFTP client. The best thing about this tool is that it is stable, fast, powerful, and simple. It is written in typeScript language and is licensed under MIT license.
9. Bitvise
This is yet another popular SSH client tool available for Windows. It has SFTP client capabilities. This tool is free to use and supports a large number of connections. Unlike other tools, it is easy to use and set up. Not just that, but it also comes with a user-friendly interface that is compliant with HIPAA, FIPS, and PCI requirements.
10. OpenSSH
This is yet another reliable, open-source tool that you can use for remote login with SSH protocol. The best thing about this tool is that it can encrypt all traffic to eliminate connection hijacking, eavesdropping, and other attacks. It comes with a large suite of tunneling capabilities along with configuration options and authentication methods.
11. Secure Shell App
Secure Shell App is developed by Google. This is an efficient tool that is suitable for users who work with the Google Chrome browser. It is an xterm-compatible terminal emulator and standalone SSH client designed for Chrome. It uses Native-client to establish a connection to SSH servers. It can do so without needing external proxies. Besides that, it also comes with an SFTP command-line tool.
12. XSHELL
If you want a powerful SSH client, then XSHELL could be the best bet for you. With the help of this tool, you can easily edit, create, and launch sessions. It comes with different authentication protocols, methods, and algorithms, enabling it to handle any situation with ease. It also gives you access to tools such as WSL, CMD, and Powershell. It has an intuitive and tabbed interface that allows you to create quick commands.
13. mRemoteNG
It is an open-source, multi-protocol, and tabbed remote connections tool. This is one of the best SSH clients you will find for Windows. It can easily export and import connections, which are then organized in an XML file. The good thing about this tool is that it has support for many remote connection protocols. This includes VNC, ICA, RDP, SSH, HTTPS, etc. It features a neat interface with connections that can be placed in folders.
14. SecureCRT
Lastly, we have SecureCRT, a commercial tool designed for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It makes data tunneling and file transfer easier. Besides that, it also gives you secure remote access. With the help of this tool, you can manage, configure, and organize all of your sessions with ease. It also allows you to access all of your network devices with a single client with SSH.
Our Take: Due to the minimalistic usage of SSH, we prefer MobaXTerm for our Windows machines and the Inbuilt Mac Terminal for our Mac devices.
With the help of these SSH clients, you can easily connect to remote servers and enable smooth file transfer. You can choose an SSH client based on the platform you need it for.
Also read: 10 Best Notepad++ Alternatives for macOS
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an SSH Client?
An SSH client is a software or program that allows you to establish an authenticated and secure SSH connections to SSH servers.
Is SSH Client a Server?
SSH is based on the client-server model. An SSH client program is used for establishing connections to an SSH remote server. It is present on most operating systems, including macOS, Linux, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and OpenVMS.
Is SSH Safe?
The SSH protocol is an encrypted protocol that is designed to provide a secure connection over an insecure network.
What is the Best SSH Client for Windows?
You can rely on these SSH clients for your Windows: MobaXterm, WinSCP, and Solar PuTTY.
Does Windows have an SSH client?
Windows 10 comes with a built-in SSH client that can be used in Windows Terminal.
What is PuTTY?
PuTTY is a terminal emulator application that serves as a client for the telnet, SSH, rlogin, and raw TCP computing protocol.
What is Better than MobaXterm?
OpenSSH makes a better and a secure alternative to MobaXterm. With OpenSSH, you can launch remote commands and also transfer entire files or directories.
What Are Some of the Best SSH Clients for Mac?
You can trust SSH clients such as iTerm 2, Termius, Hyper, and OpenSSH for Mac OS.
What is the Best Alternative to PuTTY?
You will find several alternatives to PuTTY for various platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, and Android. However, the best alternative is OpenSSH, which is both free and open source. Other tools you can trust are MobaXterm and mRemoteNG.
Is Solar-PuTTY Free?
Solar-PuTTY is a free tool from SolarWinds. It allows you to manage remote sessions using a console with a tabbed interface.
