Alternatives · Remote Desktop
Xshell alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Xshell alternative is Tabby (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Xshell compared with 5 alternatives: SecureCRT, MobaXterm, PuTTY, Termius and Tabby.
Xshell has a free plan. Paid plans start at $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance. 4 of the 5 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 Xshell sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| XshellThis tool | Free plan · from $119/yr | Yes | Windows |
| SecureCRT | Free trial · from $119/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS |
| MobaXterm | Free plan · from $69 one-time | Yes | Windows |
| PuTTY | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
| Termius | Free plan · from $10/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Tabby | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
Price against what you get
Xshell starts at $9.92 a month when paid by the year for each person and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 2 of the 4 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: PuTTY and Tabby.
SecureCRT and Termius score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Xshell
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 Xshell.
- SecureCRT also lists macOS, Linux and iOS apps.
- SecureCRT also covers file sharing.
- SecureCRT does not cover remote desktop, which Xshell does.
Suits: Network and systems admins who script repetitive terminal tasks
MobaXterm
Tabbed SSH client and X server for Windows in one portable app
- MobaXterm starts at $69 per user, one-time, with 12 months of updates.
- MobaXterm also covers file sharing.
- MobaXterm does not cover workflow automation, which Xshell does.
Suits: Windows users who need SSH, X11 forwarding and RDP in one tool
PuTTY
Free SSH and Telnet client for Windows with file-copy utilities
- PuTTY is free.
- PuTTY also lists a Linux app.
- PuTTY also covers file sharing.
- PuTTY does not cover workflow automation, which Xshell does.
Suits: Windows users who want a small, free SSH client with no account
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 workflow automation and remote desktop, which Xshell does.
Suits: Engineers who want one SSH client on a laptop and a phone
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 also covers file sharing.
- Tabby does not cover workflow automation and remote desktop, which Xshell does.
Suits: People who want one free terminal for local shells, SSH and serial ports
Limits worth knowing in Xshell
- The free license excludes business use; the vendor says commercial use needs a paid license.
- A paid license includes 1 year of maintenance (updates and support); the page does not give the price after that.
- The download page lists Windows 8 and later; no macOS or Linux build is listed.
- Volume discounts are by quote; the vendor tells larger buyers to contact sales.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Xshell?
The alternatives to Xshell in this directory are SecureCRT, MobaXterm, PuTTY, Termius and Tabby. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Xshell.
Is there a free alternative to Xshell?
Yes. PuTTY and Tabby are free to use. MobaXterm and Termius have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Xshell alternatives work on macOS?
The Xshell listing does not include a macOS app. SecureCRT, Termius and Tabby list one.
Which Xshell alternatives work on Linux?
The Xshell listing does not include a Linux app. SecureCRT, PuTTY, Termius and Tabby list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Xshell?
Tabby is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Nov 13, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.