MobaXterm vs SecureCRT (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, MobaXterm grades higher than SecureCRT: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
MobaXterm grades higher on value for money, the free plan and ease of use. SecureCRT grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
MobaXterm
Tabbed SSH client and X server for Windows in one portable app
SecureCRT
SSH, Telnet and serial terminal for Windows, macOS and Linux
Which one is for you
Pick MobaXterm if
- Fits if you are on Windows and need SSH, X11 forwarding and RDP together
- Works for admins who want a portable app with no install
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
- Tight if you pass 12 sessions, 2 tunnels or 4 macros on Home
- Watch out: Professional includes 12 months of updates and the page gives no price after
- Watch out: for use inside a company the vendor points you to Professional
Pick SecureCRT if
- Fits if you script repetitive terminal work or talk to network gear over serial
- Works for a team that mixes Windows, Mac and Linux machines on one license
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free tool, since after the 30-day evaluation you pay per user
- Pricey if you need FTPS, SCP or WebDAV too, as that is the separate SecureFX client and the bundle costs $129
- Watch out: a license covers 1 year of updates and support, and the longer 3-year option costs $190
- Watch out: RDP works on Windows only, and Python 3 scripting is listed for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu only
- Watch out: 50 or more licenses go through sales, not the price list
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAMobaXtermGood | 2.6GPASecureCRTGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AProfessional is $69 one-time with 12 months of updates, under a year of the category's $8.33 middle subscription. Home is free. | B$119 per user with 1 year of updates is under two years of the category's middle subscription. Three years of updates is $190, and the SecureFX bundle is $129 for a year. |
| Free plan and trial | BHome has the X server and SSH, RDP, VNC and SFTP, capped at 12 sessions, 2 tunnels and 4 macros. | CA fully working 30-day evaluation license, but nothing free after that, and the page does not say whether a card is needed. |
| Features | BSSH, an X server, RDP, VNC and an SFTP browser together. The listing shows no gap in the core job. | BSSH, Telnet, serial, tabbed sessions, keyword highlighting, a script recorder and scripting in four languages. The listing shows no gap in the core terminal job. |
| Ease of use | BA portable app you run without installing, with no store rating read. | CNo store rating on record. Sessions, scripts and highlighting rules all have to be set up by you. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, as the vendor describes it as a Windows application. | BWindows, macOS and Linux on one license, plus an iOS version. No web version, and RDP is Windows only. |
| Best for | SSH, X11 and RDP in one Windows app | scripted SSH and serial sessions across desktops |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: MobaXterm and SecureCRT. How we grade
Where they differ
- SecureCRT can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MobaXterm also covers remote desktop.
- SecureCRT also covers workflow automation.
At a glance
| MobaXterm | SecureCRT | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $69 per user, one-time, with 12 months of updates | $119 per user, with 1 year of updates |
| Free plan | Home Edition: full X server and SSH, RDP and VNC clients, SFTP browser; capped at 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels and 4 macros. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day evaluation license, fully functional |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Mobatek | VanDyke Software, Inc. |
| Price read from | mobaxterm.mobatek.net | vandyke.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
SecureCRT
- No free plan: licenses are sold per user, and the free option is a 30-day evaluation.
- Licenses include one year of updates and support (or three years at a higher price).
- RDP support is Windows only, and Python 3 scripting is listed for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu Linux.
- Prices are quoted per order; 50 or more licenses go through sales.
Key features
MobaXterm
- Tabbed SSH terminal
- Tabbed sessions based on PuTTY with antialiased fonts, macro support and a session manager for saved connections.
- Embedded X server
- An X.org-based server exports DISPLAY from a remote Unix host and carries X11 forwarding over SSH.
- Remote desktop protocols
- Besides SSH, the Home Edition lists RDP, VNC and Xdmcp for remote desktops, and Telnet, rlogin and Mosh for terminals.
- Automatic SFTP browser
- Opening an SSH session brings up a graphical SFTP browser so remote files can be edited directly.
- Unix commands on Windows
- Basic Cygwin commands such as bash, grep, awk, sed and rsync run in a single portable executable.
- Plugins and Customizer
- Plugins extend the app. The Professional Edition adds a Customizer for startup message, logo and profile script.
SecureCRT
- Session management
- Tabbed sessions and tab groups, with keyword highlighting that accepts regular expressions for prompts and errors.
- Several protocols
- SSH2, SSH1, Telnet, Telnet over TLS and serial connections, plus RDP on Windows only.
- Scripting
- Scripts in VBScript, JScript, PerlScript or Python, and a script recorder that turns keystrokes into a script.
- File transfer
- SFTP, Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem and Kermit transfers, plus a built-in TFTP server; SecureFX adds FTPS, SCP and WebDAV.
- One license, three desktops
- The vendor says client licenses are not platform-specific, so one license registers Windows, macOS and Linux copies.
Plans
MobaXterm
Home Edition$0
Free. Max. 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels and 4 macros; the vendor points company use to Professional.
Professional Edition$69
per user, one-time, with 12 months of updates
Also listed in euros at 49. Unlimited sessions, tunnels and macros, a Customizer tool and a lifetime right to use.
SecureCRT
SecureCRT, 1 year of updates$119
per license, 1 year of updates and support
Single license; $116 each for 2 to 9, $114 each for 10 to 24 and $100 each for 25 to 49.
SecureCRT, 3 years of updates$190
per license, 3 years of updates and support
Single license; $186 each for 2 to 9, $182 each for 10 to 24 and $140 each for 25 to 49.
SecureCRT + SecureFX bundle$129
per license, 1 year of updates and support
Terminal plus the SecureFX file transfer client; $206 for 3 years of updates.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, MobaXterm or SecureCRT?
As of Nov 13, 2026, MobaXterm starts at $69 per user, one-time, with 12 months of updates, and SecureCRT starts at $119 per user, with 1 year of updates.
Which has a free plan, MobaXterm or SecureCRT?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only MobaXterm has a free plan. SecureCRT does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do MobaXterm and SecureCRT run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only SecureCRT lists macOS, Linux and iOS apps. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.