The Xshell Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Xshell 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.
Xshell
The Insider’s Guide
SSH terminal for Windows with session, tab and file managers
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Xshell’s own pages.
Made by NetSarang Computer, Inc. · 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 Xshell’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Xshell’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
2.4
GPA, above 35 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
Xshell is an SSH client from NetSarang for Windows that also opens SFTP, Telnet and RDP sessions. It adds a session manager, quick command buttons, triggers and reusable authentication profiles. NetSarang offers a free license for personal and educational use and sells perpetual licenses for business.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Xshell, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It needs sessions and authentication profiles set up before it saves you time.
- 1
Best for SSH, SFTP and RDP tabs on a Windows PC
Xshell is a Windows SSH client with session, tab and quick-command panels and RDP in the same window.
- 2
Paid plans start at $9.92 a month when paid by the year for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free license for personal and educational (non-commercial) use of Xshell and Xftp; business use needs a paid license.
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
Session, tab and file managers
Dockable panels for saved sessions, open tabs, a quick command manager and a file manager sit around the terminal.
- 6
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.
- 7
Script recording
Scripts can be generated automatically from the input and output of a terminal session.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 35 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Xshell you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Xshell at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day evaluation
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- NetSarang Computer, Inc.
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for SSH, SFTP and RDP tabs on a Windows PC
Xshell is a Windows SSH client with session, tab and quick-command panels and RDP in the same window. It is free for personal and school use, but businesses pay $119 once, it only runs on Windows, and updates stop after the first year unless you pay on.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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 | B | The 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 | B | SSH, 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 | C | No store rating on record. It needs sessions and authentication profiles set up before it saves you time. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only: the download page lists Windows 8 and later and no macOS or Linux build. |
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 Xshell is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want SSH, SFTP and RDP tabs in one app
- Students and hobbyists who qualify for the free license
- Organizations that prefer a perpetual license to a subscription
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9.92
A month to start, paid by the year, for each person. There is a free plan too
Xshell has a free plan. Paid plans start at $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance.
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.
The free plan
Free license for personal and educational (non-commercial) use of Xshell and Xftp; business use needs a paid license.
Trying it first
30-day evaluation
Read from netsarang.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on netsarang.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
SSH terminal for Windows with session, tab and file managers. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, workflow automation, remote desktop.
SSH, Telnet, SFTP and RDP tabs, quick commands, triggers, script recording and shared authentication profiles.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- Xftp
- Xmanager
Xshell is made by NetSarang Computer, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
35/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Xshell's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 35 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on features (B, above 55 of 85) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
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 2.0 out of 4. 26 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. Xshell’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 54 of 85
- BFree plan and trialAbove 48 of 85
- BFeaturesAbove 55 of 85
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 85
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Xshell 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
To replace Xshell you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $119 a year.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- 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. Xshell’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
SecureCRT, MobaXterm, PuTTY, Termius and Tabby
The 5 tools Xshell is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
SecureCRT
Free trial · from $119/yr
SSH, Telnet and serial terminal for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Xshell has a free plan. SecureCRT does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only SecureCRT lists macOS, Linux and iOS apps.
- Xshell also covers remote desktop.
- 2.8GPA
MobaXterm
Free plan · from $69 one-time
Tabbed SSH client and X server for Windows in one portable app.
- Xshell can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Xshell also covers workflow automation.
- MobaXterm also covers file sharing.
- 3.0GPA
PuTTY
Free
Free SSH and Telnet client for Windows with file-copy utilities.
- Only PuTTY lists a Linux app.
- Xshell can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Xshell also covers workflow automation.
- 2.6GPA
Termius
Free plan · from $10/mo
SSH and SFTP client for desktop and mobile with a synced vault.
- Only Termius lists macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Xshell can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Xshell also covers workflow automation and remote desktop.
- 3.2GPA
Tabby
Free
Configurable terminal with built-in SSH, Telnet and serial clients.
- Only Tabby lists a web app.
- Only Tabby lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Xshell can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
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 Xshell free?
Xshell has a free plan. Free license for personal and educational (non-commercial) use of Xshell and Xftp; business use needs a paid license.
How much does Xshell cost?
Xshell lists 4 plans. Free (personal and educational): $0.
What platforms does Xshell work on?
Xshell is available on Windows.
Does Xshell offer any discounts?
Xshell publicly lists the following: Free license for personal and educational use.
Does Xshell have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Xshell is listed for Windows.
Does Xshell have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Xshell is listed for Windows.
Is Xshell open source?
Xshell is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Xshell integrate with?
Xshell's listing names Xftp and Xmanager. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Xshell have a student discount?
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.
Does Xshell have a free trial?
Yes. 30-day evaluation.
Who makes Xshell?
Xshell is made by NetSarang Computer, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Xshell?
The closest alternatives to Xshell in our directory are SecureCRT, MobaXterm, PuTTY, Termius and Tabby.
How does Xshell compare with other remote desktop apps?
Xshell's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 35 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 13.
Is Xshell good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Xshell B for value for money. 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.
Could I make my own version of Xshell?
To replace Xshell you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Xshell’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 NetSarang'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 NetSarang Computer, Inc. Prices change, so check netsarang.com 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
- Xshell, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/xshell
- 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, "Xshell: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/xshell
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/xshell/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Xshell, 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 Xshell’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. Xshell is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by NetSarang Computer, Inc. Prices and plans change: check netsarang.com before you buy.