PuTTY is the terminal emulator that lets you log into another computer within the same network or over the Internet. PuTTY is free and open source program that supports SCP, SSH, Telnet, rlogin, and raw socket connection. PuTTY was initially launched for Windows but later it was ported to other operating systems. There are also several similar terminal emulator software offering the same features. In this article, I am listing a few good PuTTy alternatives with features like remote sessions, remote login, and support for several protocols.
Also see: Best PuTTY Alternatives
Best PuTTY Alternatives
1. Solar-Putty
Solar-Putty is SSH cline just like Puty and doesn’t require any installation. It supports multiple products including SSH, SCP (Secure Copy), Telnet & SFTP/FTP. The program comes with a multi-tabbed interface. So, you can have multiple sessions at the same time. It also supports auto reconnect if the connection stops. The software supports Post-Connection Scripts and has Windows Search integration. You can also assign colors to different Putty sessions. It has a good GUI that can also be customized.
2. KiTTY
KiTTY is a fork of PuTTY client. The program is based on PuTTY architecture but brings several more features. KiTTY comes with a text editor, ZModem integration, built-in chat system, support for login scripts, and more. You can log into any remote device running Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac OS. The program lets you autosave sessions and session filtering. KiTTY is completely free but GUI feels outdated.
KiTTY is available for only Windows platform.
3. Bitvise SSH Client
Bitvise SSH Client is another good PuTTy alternative that supports SSH and SFTP. It comes in both installable and portable versions. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit windows operating systems. The software supports many industry standard encryptions such as PCI, HIPAA, and FIPS 140-2. The SSD client offers access to terminal console, port forwarding, or file transfer. You get single-click remote desktop forwarding and support for scripting using sexec, stermc, and stnlc..
4. MobaXterm
MobaXterm is another free PuTTY alternative that also comes with a tabbed SSH client, X11 server, and essential Unix tools. It supports TFTP, FTP, HTTP, SSH, Telnet, NFS, VNC & Cron servers. MobaXterm also features graphical SFTP browser and tabbed interface. It has customizable GUI and supports a master password.
You can download the MobaXterm Home Edition for free but there is also a paid version of MobaXterm starting at $41. The software also comes as a single executable file that can be executed directly from a USB stick.
5. SmartTTY
SmartTTY is another good SSH-based terminal emulator. It is also a good PuTTY alternative that comes with a secure SCP file transfer system. It supports simultaneous multiple sessions that lets you access several sessions. SmartTTY comes with an easy-to-use interface and supports easy file navigation. It also shows the directory structure on the left side. There are not many features, but it is a straightforward SSH client. The software also has built-in hex terminal for COM ports and out-of-the-box public-key auth.
6. iTerm2
iTerm2 is a secure SSH client for macOS. It program comes with a good interface that shows different terminal sessions in a split-screen. This software also includes a password manager to save credentials to quickly log into remotely. It also comes with a good search that also shows highlighted search terms. You can also search with a regular expression. It also remembers previous commands and offers autocomplete suggestions.
7. ExtraPutty
ExtraPutty is an open source extension of Putty SSH client with several additional features such as session management, DLL interfacing, and TestStand integration. It supports lua scripting, Sequencing of commands, PuTTYcmdSender, and keyboard shortcuts. ExtraPutty supports FTP, SFTP, SCP SSH, yModem, and XModem protocols. The software is portable and can also be used with a USB stick.
Wrap Up
This was the list of best Putty alternatives. Read about all the Putty alternatives and select the one that suits your need. I personally recommend Solar-Putty from SolarWinds. This SSH client comes with a good interface and lots of good features. Let me know your favourite Putty alternative in the comments.
