Best Xshell Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to Xshell? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Xshell alongside similar software solutions including Xshell, MobaXterm, PuTTY, Bitvise SSH Client, Connect, UltraEdit, Tera Term and UltraViewer.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Xshell, MobaXterm, PuTTY, Bitvise SSH Client, Connect, UltraEdit, Tera Term and UltraViewer stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
Operating System Support
 Xshell
|
Windows desktop operating systems |
 MobaXterm
|
Windows only |
 PuTTY
|
Windows, Linux, macOS |
 Bitvise SSH Client
|
Windows |
 Connect
|
Windows operating systems including Vista, XP, Mac |
 UltraEdit
|
Windows, Mac, Linux |
 Tera Term
|
Windows including Vista, XP |
 UltraViewer
|
Windows, Linux, Mac |
Protocol Support
|
Xshell
|
SSH-1, SSH-2, Telnet, Rlogin, Serial, SFTP, SOCKS4/5 |
|
MobaXterm
|
SSH, RDP, Rlogin, SFTP, Telnet, FTP, X11 forwarding |
|
PuTTY
|
SSH (including SSH key authentication), Telnet, rlogin, raw TCP, SCP, serial console, SOCKS proxy |
|
Bitvise SSH Client
|
SSH Client with SFTP and SCP support |
|
Connect
|
FTP, FTPS, SFTP, SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), HTTPS, SSL/TLS encryption, Telnet |
|
UltraEdit
|
FTP/SFTP file transfers |
|
Tera Term
|
SSH, Telnet, FTP |
|
UltraViewer
|
Remote access protocols (not explicitly specified) |
License and Cost Model
|
Xshell
|
30-day trial version with a paid license required thereafter |
|
MobaXterm
|
Free Home Edition for personal use; Professional Edition for paid use |
|
PuTTY
|
Free and open-source software under MIT license |
|
Bitvise SSH Client
|
Non-expiring free version and paid license for advanced features |
|
Connect
|
30-day free trial version with commercial license available |
|
UltraEdit
|
30-day free trial; paid software thereafter |
|
Tera Term
|
Completely free and open-source software |
|
UltraViewer
|
Free version for personal use; paid version for additional features |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how Xshell stacks up against Xshell, MobaXterm, PuTTY, Bitvise SSH Client, Connect, UltraEdit, Tera Term and UltraViewer in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
|
Xshell
|
|
|
MobaXterm
|
22.2MB |
|
PuTTY
|
0.5MB |
|
Bitvise SSH Client
|
21.9MB |
|
Connect
|
|
|
UltraEdit
|
84.9MB |
|
Tera Term
|
|
|
UltraViewer
|
3.5MB |
License
|
Xshell
|
Freeware |
|
MobaXterm
|
Freeware |
|
PuTTY
|
Open Source |
|
Bitvise SSH Client
|
Commercial |
|
Connect
|
Commercial |
|
UltraEdit
|
Commercial |
|
Tera Term
|
Open Source |
|
UltraViewer
|
Freeware |