SecureCRT vs Termius (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SecureCRT and Termius share a 2.6 GPA, and only Termius has a free plan.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
SecureCRT grades higher on value for money and features. Termius grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
SecureCRT
SSH, Telnet and serial terminal for Windows, macOS and Linux
Termius
SSH and SFTP client for desktop and mobile with a synced vault
Which one is for you
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
Pick Termius if
- Fits if you want one SSH client on a laptop and a phone
- Makes sense if a team needs shared, access-controlled hosts
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you want sync, as the free plan keeps the vault local
- Pricey if you want a team: Team is $20 and Business $30 per seat a month
- Watch out: SAML SSO is an add-on on Business and included only in Enterprise
- Watch out: the trial length is not stated, and Enterprise has no price
How we grade them
| 2.6GPASecureCRTGood | 2.6GPATermiusGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | CPro is $10 a month billed yearly, against the $8.33 middle, so just above it. |
| Free plan and trial | CA fully working 30-day evaluation license, but nothing free after that, and the page does not say whether a card is needed. | BStarter is free, including for commercial use, with SSH, SFTP and port forwarding, but the vault stays local. |
| Features | 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. | CSSH, SFTP, snippets and shared vaults. Syncing needs Pro or higher, and SAML SSO is an add-on on Business. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Sessions, scripts and highlighting rules all have to be set up by you. | BAn app you install and start, with no store rating read and no setup before the first host. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, macOS and Linux on one license, plus an iOS version. No web version, and RDP is Windows only. | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, with no API or integrations list on the pages read. |
| Best for | scripted SSH and serial sessions across desktops | one SSH client on your laptop and phone |
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: SecureCRT and Termius. How we grade
Price against what you get
SecureCRT starts at $9.92 a month when paid by the year for each person and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Termius starts at $10 a month and scores 2.7.
They score the same, and SecureCRT starts $0.08 a month lower. Of the other remote desktop apps on the chart, 3 score higher than SecureCRT for less, and 3 score higher than Termius for less.
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
Where they differ
- SecureCRT can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SecureCRT also covers workflow automation and file sharing.
At a glance
| SecureCRT | Termius | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $119 per user, with 1 year of updates | $10 per month, billed annually |
| Free plan | None | Starter: local vault, SSH and SFTP, AI-powered autocomplete and port forwarding; the page says it is available for commercial use. |
| Free trial | 30-day evaluation license, fully functional | Free trial of the paid plans; the pricing page does not state its length |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | VanDyke Software, Inc. | Termius Corporation |
| Price read from | vandyke.com | termius.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Termius
- Syncing across devices needs Pro or higher; the free plan keeps the vault local.
- SAML SSO is an add-on on Business and included only in Enterprise.
- Enterprise has no published price, and the SOC 2 Type II report is listed only there.
Key features
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.
Termius
- SSH and SFTP
- Connect to servers over SSH and move files with SFTP from the same app, on every plan including the free one.
- Vault for hosts and keys
- Hosts and keychain entries are kept in a local vault on Starter; Pro moves it to a personal cloud vault synced between devices.
- Snippets and port forwarding
- Port forwarding comes with the free plan. Snippets automation is listed from Pro upward.
- Shared vaults
- Team adds one shared vault with real-time collaboration; Business adds several vaults with granular access control.
- Session logs
- Pro records session logs, and Team and above can share them with teammates.
- Desktop and mobile apps
- The site offers downloads for Windows, Linux and macOS, plus iOS and Android apps.
Plans
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.
Termius
Starter$0
Local vault, SSH and SFTP, AI-powered autocomplete and port forwarding.
Pro$10
per month, billed annually
Adds a personal cloud vault, sync across mobile and desktop, session logs and snippets automation.
Team$20
per seat / month, billed annually
Adds one shared team vault, real-time collaboration, shared session logs and consolidated billing.
Business$30
per seat / month, billed annually
Adds multiple team vaults and granular access control on vaults; SAML SSO is an add-on.
EnterpriseCustom
Adds SAML SSO, a SOC 2 Type II report, priority support and a dedicated manager.
Ways to pay less
SecureCRT
No public discounts listed.
Termius
- Education
Free for GitHub Student Developer Pack holders
Students with an active GitHub Student Developer Pack get the features of Termius Pro and Team for free.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, SecureCRT or Termius?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SecureCRT starts at $119 per user, with 1 year of updates, and Termius starts at $10 per month, billed annually. One is priced for each person and the other is not, so which costs less depends on how many of you use it.
Which has a free plan, SecureCRT or Termius?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Termius has a free plan. SecureCRT does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do SecureCRT and Termius run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Termius lists an Android app. Both list macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS apps. 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.