SecureCRT review (2026): is it worth $119 a year per user?
SSH, Telnet and serial terminal for Windows, macOS and Linux
Black Friday: is there a SecureCRT sale?
SecureCRT report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for scripted SSH and serial sessions across desktops
SecureCRT is a terminal for SSH, Telnet and serial that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux under one license, with scripting in Python and other languages. It starts at $119 for a year of updates, there is no free plan, and RDP only works on Windows.
Who SecureCRT is for
- 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
Who SecureCRT is not for
- 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
Why SecureCRT gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for money$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.
- CFree plan and trialA fully working 30-day evaluation license, but nothing free after that, and the page does not say whether a card is needed.
- BFeaturesSSH, Telnet, serial, tabbed sessions, keyword highlighting, a script recorder and scripting in four languages. The listing shows no gap in the core terminal job.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. Sessions, scripts and highlighting rules all have to be set up by you.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWindows, macOS and Linux on one license, plus an iOS version. No web version, and RDP is Windows only.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from VanDyke's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/securecrt#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/securecrt.svg" alt="SecureCRT: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where SecureCRT stands among remote desktop apps
SecureCRT's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 49 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 19.
It stands best on features (B, above 55 of 85) and worst on ease of use (C, above 10).
Its paid plans start at $9.92 a month when paid by the year for each person, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 25 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. SecureCRT’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 54 of 85, level with 8
- CFree plan and trialAbove 19 of 85, level with 28
- BFeaturesAbove 55 of 85, level with 30
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 85, level with 48
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 85, level with 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 59 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep SecureCRT, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace SecureCRT you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $119 a year.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. SecureCRT’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is SecureCRT?
SecureCRT is a terminal emulator from VanDyke Software that supports SSH, Telnet, serial and, on Windows, RDP. It has tabbed sessions, keyword highlighting and scripting in Python and other languages. It pairs with the SecureFX file transfer client, and one client license covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
SecureCRT pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, SecureCRT is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $119 per user, with 1 year of updates.
- Starts at
- $119 per user, with 1 year of updates
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 30-day evaluation license, fully functional
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| SecureCRT, 1 year of updates | $119per 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 | $190per 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 | $129per license, 1 year of updates and support | Terminal plus the SecureFX file transfer client; $206 for 3 years of updates. |
Read from vandyke.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with SecureCRT before you buy.
Works with
- SecureFX
- VShell Server
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Common questions
Does SecureCRT have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SecureCRT is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS.
Is SecureCRT open source?
SecureCRT is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.