SecureCRT vs Xshell (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SecureCRT grades higher than Xshell: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
SecureCRT grades higher on platforms. Xshell grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
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
Xshell
SSH terminal for Windows with session, tab and file managers
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 Xshell if
- Fits if you are a student or hobbyist on Windows who qualifies for the free license
- Works for a company that would rather buy a perpetual license than rent one
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, as there is no build for either
- Not for you if you work for a company and expected the free license, because business use needs a paid one
- Watch out: the license includes only 1 year of maintenance, and the page gives no price after that
- Watch out: SFTP file transfer is a separate product, Xftp, unless you buy Xshell Plus at $139
- Watch out: downloading the free version signs you up for promotional emails
How we grade them
| 2.6GPASecureCRTGood | 2.4GPAXshellFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | B$119 once for up to 2 devices, with a year of updates, is under two years of this category's middle subscription ($8.33 a month). Xshell Plus with Xftp is $139 and the full suite $399. |
| 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. | BThe free license covers personal and educational use with no stated cap, but business use is outside it and needs a paid license after the 30-day evaluation. |
| 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. | BSSH, Telnet, SFTP and RDP tabs, quick commands, triggers, script recording and shared authentication profiles. Nothing in the listing is missing from a terminal client's core job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Sessions, scripts and highlighting rules all have to be set up by you. | CNo store rating on record. It needs sessions and authentication profiles set up before it saves you time. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, macOS and Linux on one license, plus an iOS version. No web version, and RDP is Windows only. | DWindows only: the download page lists Windows 8 and later and no macOS or Linux build. |
| Best for | scripted SSH and serial sessions across desktops | SSH, SFTP and RDP tabs on a Windows PC |
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 Xshell. 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. Xshell starts at $9.92 a month when paid by the year for each person and scores 2.0.
SecureCRT scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other remote desktop apps on the chart, 3 score higher than SecureCRT for less, and 26 score higher than Xshell 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 also covers file sharing.
- Xshell also covers remote desktop.
At a glance
| SecureCRT | Xshell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $119 per user, with 1 year of updates | $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance |
| Free plan | None | Free license for personal and educational (non-commercial) use of Xshell and Xftp; business use needs a paid license. |
| Free trial | 30-day evaluation license, fully functional | 30-day evaluation |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | VanDyke Software, Inc. | NetSarang Computer, Inc. |
| Price read from | vandyke.com | netsarang.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.
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.
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.
Xshell
- Session, tab and file managers
- Dockable panels for saved sessions, open tabs, a quick command manager and a file manager sit around the terminal.
- Quick commands and triggers
- Build buttons for frequent commands, run actions when terminal output matches a pattern, and use a compose pane for multi-line input.
- Script recording
- Scripts can be generated automatically from the input and output of a terminal session.
- Authentication profiles
- Save a set of authentication settings once, apply it to many sessions and update them all by editing the profile.
- RDP in the same window
- Remote Desktop sessions open as tabs beside terminal sessions in one window.
- Color themes and highlight rules
- Dark and other themes, per-session color schemes and highlight rules that pick out important terminal text.
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.
Xshell
Free (personal and educational)$0
Non-commercial use only; downloading it signs you up for occasional promotional emails.
Xshell$119
per user, perpetual license, 1 year of maintenance included
Single-user license for up to 2 devices, with 1 year of free updates and support.
Xshell Plus$139
per user, perpetual license, 1 year of maintenance included
Xshell plus Xftp, the SFTP and FTP transfer client.
Xmanager Power Suite$399
per user, perpetual license, 1 year of maintenance included
Xmanager X server, Xshell, Xftp and the Xlpd print server together.
Ways to pay less
SecureCRT
No public discounts listed.
Xshell
- Education
Free license for personal and educational use
NetSarang licenses Xshell and Xftp free for personal and educational use only; any business use is outside the free terms.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, SecureCRT or Xshell?
As of Nov 13, 2026, they start at the same price. SecureCRT starts at $119 per user, with 1 year of updates, and Xshell starts at $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance.
Which has a free plan, SecureCRT or Xshell?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Xshell has a free plan. SecureCRT does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do SecureCRT and Xshell 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.