Tabby review (2026): is it any good?
Configurable terminal with built-in SSH, Telnet and serial clients
Tabby report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a free terminal for local shells and SSH
Tabby is a free, open-source terminal that puts local shells, SSH, Telnet and serial ports in one tabbed window on Windows, macOS and Linux. The project itself says it is not lightweight, and it has no phone app and no team features.
Who Tabby is for
- Fits if you want one free app for local shells, SSH and serial ports
- Works for Windows users replacing PuTTY or the default console
Who Tabby is not for
- Not for you if memory use matters, since the project says Tabby is not lightweight
- Skip it if you need shared vaults or team features, as the pages describe none
- Too light for support needs: there is no paid support, only the open-source project
- Watch out: it is not a new shell and does not replace MinGW or Cygwin
Why Tabby gets a 3.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree under the MIT license, and the web app can be self-hosted at no charge. Nothing to pay for anything it lists.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole project is free, with no paid tier and no account, so nothing is held back.
- BFeaturesSSH with jump hosts and port forwarding, serial, Telnet, split panes, local shells and an encrypted secrets container. The listing names no gap in the core terminal job.
- BEase of useNo store rating on record. It installs like any desktop app, but connections, plugins and shortcuts are for you to configure.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWindows, macOS, Linux and a web app. No iOS or Android app, and the listing shows few integrations beyond local shells and Docker.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the Tabby project'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/tabby#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/tabby.svg" alt="Tabby: 3.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Tabby stands among remote desktop apps
Tabby's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 79 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 71 of 85) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 12).
Tabby has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Tabby’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 63 of 85, level with 22
- AFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 85, level with 14
- BFeaturesAbove 55 of 85, level with 30
- BEase of useAbove 59 of 85, level with 25
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 12 of 85, level with 15
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 Tabby, or make your own?
Keep it
Tabby is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 79 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade.
What you could not
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Tabby’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 Tabby?
Tabby, formerly Terminus, is a terminal emulator with an integrated SSH and Telnet client and connection manager, and a serial terminal. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and a web app version offers SSH, SFTP and Telnet from a browser. The project is free and open source under the MIT license.
Worth knowing
- The project says it is not lightweight; it points to other terminals if memory use matters.
- Tabby is not a new shell and does not replace MinGW or Cygwin.
- The pages read describe no team features such as shared vaults, and list no paid support.
Key features
- SSH and Telnet client
- SSH2 with a connection manager, X11 and port forwarding, jump hosts, agent forwarding and login scripts.
- Serial terminal
- Saved serial connections with readline input, optional hex input and hexdump output, newline conversion and automatic reconnection.
- Split panes and tabs
- Nested split panes, tabs on any side of the window, a dockable quick console with a global hotkey and fully configurable shortcuts.
- Local shells on Windows
- Profiles for PowerShell, WSL, Git-Bash, Cygwin, MSYS2, Cmder and CMD sit beside remote sessions.
- Encrypted secrets container
- SSH secrets and configuration are kept in an integrated encrypted container; Zmodem transfers files from SSH sessions.
- Plugins and web app
- Plugins and themes install from the settings view, and a web app offers SSH, SFTP and Telnet, with a self-hosted option.
Tabby pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Tabby is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tabby | $0 | Free and open source; the web app can also be self-hosted. |
Read from tabby.sh on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Tabby before you buy.
Works with
- PowerShell
- WSL
- Git-Bash
- Docker
Tabby alternatives
- Tabby vs PuTTY
Free
- Tabby vs MobaXterm
Free plan · from $69 one-time
- Tabby vs Termius
Free plan · from $10/mo
- Tabby vs SecureCRT
Free trial · from $119/yr
- Tabby vs Xshell
Free plan · from $119/yr
Common questions
Does Tabby have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Tabby is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Web.
Does Tabby have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Tabby is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Web.
Is Tabby open source?
Yes. Tabby is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.