The Tabby Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Tabby in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Tabby
The Insider’s Guide
Configurable terminal with built-in SSH, Telnet and serial clients
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Tabby’s own pages.
Made by Eugeny (Tabby project) · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Tabby’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Tabby’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 79 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Tabby, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The project itself says it is not lightweight, and it has no phone app and no team features.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Tabby has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux and Web.
- 4
SSH and Telnet client
SSH2 with a connection manager, X11 and port forwarding, jump hosts, agent forwarding and login scripts.
- 5
Serial terminal
Saved serial connections with readline input, optional hex input and hexdump output, newline conversion and automatic reconnection.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 79 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Tabby is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Tabby at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Eugeny (Tabby project)
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the MIT license, and the web app can be self-hosted at no charge. Nothing to pay for anything it lists. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole project is free, with no paid tier and no account, so nothing is held back. |
| Features | B | SSH 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. It installs like any desktop app, but connections, plugins and shortcuts are for you to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, macOS, Linux and a web app. No iOS or Android app, and the listing shows few integrations beyond local shells and Docker. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- People who want one free terminal for local shells, SSH and serial ports
- Windows users replacing PuTTY or the default console
- Anyone who wants to inspect or build on open-source code
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Tabby is free to use.
Free under the MIT license, and the web app can be self-hosted at no charge.
Tabby
$0
Free and open source; the web app can also be self-hosted.
Read from tabby.sh on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Configurable terminal with built-in SSH, Telnet and serial clients. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, keyboard-first, file sharing.
SSH with jump hosts and port forwarding, serial, Telnet, split panes, local shells and an encrypted secrets container.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- PowerShell
- WSL
- Git-Bash
- Docker
Tabby is made by Eugeny (Tabby project).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
79/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 85
- BFeaturesAbove 55 of 85
- BEase of useAbove 59 of 85
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 12 of 85
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 59 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Tabby is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
PuTTY, MobaXterm, Termius, SecureCRT and Xshell
The 5 tools Tabby is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
PuTTY
Free
Free SSH and Telnet client for Windows with file-copy utilities.
- Only Tabby lists a web app.
- Only Tabby lists a macOS app.
- Tabby is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
MobaXterm
Free plan · from $69 one-time
Tabbed SSH client and X server for Windows in one portable app.
- Only Tabby lists a web app.
- Only Tabby lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Tabby is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Termius
Free plan · from $10/mo
SSH and SFTP client for desktop and mobile with a synced vault.
- Only Tabby lists a web app.
- Only Termius lists iOS and Android apps.
- Tabby is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
SecureCRT
Free trial · from $119/yr
SSH, Telnet and serial terminal for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Tabby has a free plan. SecureCRT does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tabby lists a web app.
- Only SecureCRT lists an iOS app.
- 2.4GPA
Xshell
Free plan · from $119/yr
SSH terminal for Windows with session, tab and file managers.
- Only Tabby lists a web app.
- Only Tabby lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Tabby is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Tabby free?
Yes. Tabby is free to use.
How much does Tabby cost?
Tabby lists one plan. Tabby: $0.
What platforms does Tabby work on?
Tabby is available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Web.
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.
What does Tabby integrate with?
Tabby's listing names PowerShell, WSL, Git-Bash and Docker. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Tabby?
Tabby is made by Eugeny (Tabby project).
What are the alternatives to Tabby?
The closest alternatives to Tabby in our directory are PuTTY, MobaXterm, Termius, SecureCRT and Xshell.
How does Tabby compare with other 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.
Is Tabby good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Tabby A for value for money. Tabby has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Tabby?
Tabby is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Tabby’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Eugeny (Tabby project). Prices change, so check tabby.sh before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Tabby, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tabby
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Tabby: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tabby
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tabby/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Tabby, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 86 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- DWService Insider's GuideFree browser-based remote access to computers via an agent3.2 GPA
- HopToDesk Insider's GuideFree open-source remote desktop with a paid device dashboard3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Tabby’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Tabby is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Eugeny (Tabby project). Prices and plans change: check tabby.sh before you buy.