The Best SSH Clients for Windows
SSH, short for Secure Shell, is a client-server model used to protect data sent between two computers. It requires a key pair - a public key stored on the server and a private key stored on the client - to set up.
The SSH client contacts the server and provides a key pair ID to prove its identity. The server then creates an encrypted challenge, which is sent back to the client.
SSH protocol is a secure way to access remote servers. By using an SSH key, users can gain access to the server’s command line interface as if they were sitting in front of it, even when the server is located far away.
Pasta
PuTTY is a free and open source software that enables users to remotely access servers on a network. It supports SSH, telnet, SFTP and rlogin protocols for authentication and file transfer. Lightweight and simple to use, PuTTY is the go-to terminal program for Windows users.
Administrators looking to establish an SSH connection to remote systems such as network switches, routers, unix systems, and VMware can turn to Putty. This program offers a simple interface and is easy to use, allowing users to save session settings and customize their screens. It supports both SSH2 and SSH1 protocols in both 32-bit and 64-bit clients. However, it does not save credentials so users must reenter them each time they access the system.
Kitty
KiTTY is an open source SSH client for Windows, designed as a fork of PuTTY and written in C language. It offers all the features of PuTTY, plus additional capabilities.
This software offers a range of features to make connecting and managing sessions easier, including an automatic password, icons for each session, transparency, font management, clipboard support, automatic commands and the ability to run locally saved scripts. It also allows users to easily handle a sequence of door knocks.
MobaXterm
MobaXterm is a lightweight application that provides an enhanced terminal for Windows, with a tabbed SSH client, X11 server, networking tools and more. It offers custom functions for webmasters, programmers and IT administrators that are not available in other tools. This makes it the ideal toolbox for remote computing.
MobaXterm offers a range of features, including x server, plug-in support, macro support, multi-execution and ssh gateway. It also has an integrated terminal with customizable syntax highlighting and keyword coloring.
mremoteNG
This open source tool is the perfect choice for Windows users looking for a reliable SSH client. It offers an elegant interface with folders to organize connections, and supports multiple remote connection protocols such as VNC, ICA, RDP, SSH and HTTPS. Plus, it allows users to easily export and import connections via an XML file.
mRemoteNG is an SSH client that allows users to access multiple protocols, such as RDP, VNC, ICA, SSH, telnet, http/https and rlogin. It also offers the convenience of a tabbed interface for opening multiple sessions at once. Comparable to Solar Putty in its features and functionality, mRemoteNG provides a comprehensive solution for remote connection needs.
mRemoteNG is an open source tabbed remote connections manager that offers a basic, yet effective way to organize and store credentials for multiple protocols. It’s a fork of mRemote, and features a tabbed interface for easy navigation.
Terminals
Terminals is a free, multi-tab Remote Desktop / Terminal Services client that allows users to securely log into remote computers via an SSH connection. It offers several features and is a viable alternative to paid or closed-source Windows SSH clients. With Terminal open, users can simply enter “ssh user@IP address” to access the remote system, where the user is replaced with their username for the system and the IP address is replaced with the server’s IP address.
Terminal is a free and open source SSH/Telnet client that allows users to access, execute and make changes on another system without the need for a graphical interface. It enables users to log into a Linux server from a Windows computer, allowing them to control multiple connections simultaneously.
This software supports a variety of protocols, including Windows Remote Desktop Server (RDP), VNC, VMRC, SSH, Telnet, RAS, ICA Citrix, HTTP and HTTPS-based viewers. It offers a range of features to make remote access easier and more secure: multi-tab interface; resizable terminal window; customizable toolbars; ability to organize groups into trees like any other Explorer; import from other file formats; search computers in active directory and your network by IP addresses; network tools manager credentials and more.
SecureCRT
SecureCRT is a commercial product that provides secure remote access, file transfer and data tunneling for Windows, Mac and Linux computers. It offers users complete control over their sessions with features such as scrollback, key mappings, colors, fonts and more.
With SSH, you can manage all your network devices from one client. It offers a high-throughput GUI with multiple features, such as multi-session launch, tabbed sessions, tab groups, side-by-side sessions and cloned sessions.
SecureCRT is a commercial tool designed to make data tunneling, file transfer and secure remote access easier for Mac, Windows and Linux users. It enables users to manage, configure and organize all their sessions with ease, as well as access all their network devices with a single SSH client.
Final note
Check out this list of the best SSH clients for Windows. Share it with your friends and let us know if you have any questions.
