Alternatives · Remote Desktop
MobaXterm alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded MobaXterm alternative is Tabby (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.
MobaXterm compared with 6 alternatives: PuTTY, SecureCRT, Xshell, Termius, Royal TS and 1 more.
MobaXterm has a free plan. Paid plans start at $69 per user, one-time, with 12 months of updates. 5 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a MobaXterm sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| MobaXtermThis tool | Free plan · from $69 one-time | Yes | Windows |
| PuTTY | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
| SecureCRT | Free trial · from $119/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS |
| Xshell | Free plan · from $119/yr | Yes | Windows |
| Termius | Free plan · from $10/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Royal TS | Free plan · from €49 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Tabby | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
How each one differs from MobaXterm
PuTTY
Free SSH and Telnet client for Windows with file-copy utilities
- PuTTY is free.
- PuTTY also lists a Linux app.
Suits: Windows users who want a small, free SSH client with no account
SecureCRT
SSH, Telnet and serial terminal for Windows, macOS and Linux
- SecureCRT starts at $119 per user, with 1 year of updates.
- SecureCRT has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike MobaXterm.
- SecureCRT also lists macOS, Linux and iOS apps.
- SecureCRT can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SecureCRT also covers workflow automation.
Suits: Network and systems admins who script repetitive terminal tasks
Xshell
SSH terminal for Windows with session, tab and file managers
- Xshell starts at $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance.
- Xshell can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Xshell also covers workflow automation.
- Xshell does not cover file sharing, which MobaXterm does.
Suits: Windows users who want SSH, SFTP and RDP tabs in one app
Termius
SSH and SFTP client for desktop and mobile with a synced vault
- Termius starts at $10 per month, billed annually.
- Termius also lists macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Termius does not cover file sharing and remote desktop, which MobaXterm does.
Suits: Engineers who want one SSH client on a laptop and a phone
Royal TS
Connection manager for RDP, SSH, VNC and web sessions
- Royal TS starts at €49 one-time per user for Windows or macOS.
- Royal TS also lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Royal TS also covers workflow automation.
- Royal TS does not cover file sharing, which MobaXterm does.
Suits: IT staff managing many servers over RDP, SSH and VNC
Tabby
Configurable terminal with built-in SSH, Telnet and serial clients
- Tabby is free.
- Tabby also lists a web app and macOS and Linux apps.
- Tabby is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Tabby does not cover remote desktop, which MobaXterm does.
Suits: People who want one free terminal for local shells, SSH and serial ports
Limits worth knowing in MobaXterm
- Runs on Windows only; the vendor describes it as a Windows application.
- The Home Edition caps sessions at 12, SSH tunnels at 2 and macros at 4.
- The Professional price includes 12 months of updates; the page does not state the price of later updates.
- For use inside a company, the vendor says to consider the Professional Edition; it mentions volume discounts.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to MobaXterm?
The alternatives to MobaXterm in this directory are PuTTY, SecureCRT, Xshell, Termius, Royal TS and Tabby. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with MobaXterm.
Is there a free alternative to MobaXterm?
Yes. PuTTY and Tabby are free to use. Xshell, Termius and Royal TS have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which MobaXterm alternatives work on macOS?
The MobaXterm listing does not include a macOS app. SecureCRT, Termius, Royal TS and Tabby list one.
Which MobaXterm alternatives work on Linux?
The MobaXterm listing does not include a Linux app. PuTTY, SecureCRT, Termius and Tabby list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to MobaXterm?
Tabby is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Nov 12, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.