Putty's Best Alternatives for SSH/Telnet/HTTPS Client Transfers & Connections.
Hello there, readers! Today on PuTTY Emulator, we'll look at Putty's Best Alternatives for SSH/Telnet/HTTPS Client Transfers & Connections.
Anyone who has to connect to a wide range of devices knows how difficult it can be to find the right application to connect with.
For years, Putty Software has been the go-to, standard application for basic connectivity tasks, whether you're connecting to an SSH Server, Telnet, or an SCP Server.
We've done the legwork for you and compiled a list of the Best Application Alternatives to Putty for you to consider.
We'll go over the features and show you what to look for in an SSH client. Let's get started!
Here are the Best Alternatives to Putty for Remote SSH Client
- SuperPutty
- Bitvise
- Solar-Putty
- PuttyTray
- KiTTY
- MobaXterm
- mRemoteNG
- Xshell 6 Client
SuperPutty
SuperPutty is a GitHub project that is actively maintained by a developer. It has all of the basic Putty functionality that you would expect from such an application and serves its purpose well.
It has simple navigation and a customizable user interface that allows users to change the layout in some cases to suit their preferences.
Some key features include:
- Putty configuration integration
- Shortcut driven navigation
- Customizable UI
- Tabs
Bitvise
Bitvise is an SSH client that can perform many of the tasks that you would expect from a potential PuTTY replacement.
It is a Windows application that works on all versions of Windows from XP to Server 2016 and Windows 10.
It includes an SSH client and SFTP functionality, making it one of the better graphical interfaces available.
It has some pretty cool features, such as single-click remote desktop forwarding and terminal emulation integrations via by term and xterm, as well as support for vt100 protocols.
There are also scriptable command line options for remote script execution, which include all of the features required for SSH communication.
Some key features include:
- Terminal Access – Remote Console
- Graphical SFTP File Transfers
- Customization Options
- Single Sign-on
- Port Forwarding
- Portable install
This application's included command line functionality may be especially useful for system administrators who enjoy getting their hands dirty with scripting, making it a viable alternative to PuTTY in many ways.
There are also standard features like SFTP capabilities, which is great news for anyone who still needs to do this via an application like Bivise.
Solar-PuTTY
Solar-Putty is a fantastic application that allows users to manage remote sessions and connect to any device on the network. It is our Top Pick for Putty Alternatives because of its extensive list of options and search capabilities.
It allows you to manage multiple sessions from a single console using a tabbed interface, which is extremely convenient.
Users can save credentials or private keys to any session, making them easier to use and login to.
It can also automate all of the scripts that must be run when you log into a system and connect to it.
You can also easily find saved sessions thanks to the application's integration with Windows Search.
You can search this application by IP Address, Name, Tag, Username, and many other criteria, which is useful for quickly locating a system to which you're attempting to connect.
It's also a portable app, which means you don't have to install it; simply run the executable.
Some key features include:
- Quick Access for most used sessions
- Support SCP, SSH, Telnet and SFTP
- Multiple Session Support via Tabs
- Auto-Connect Capabilities
- Credential Saving
- Integrated Windows Search
- Graphical SFTP file transfer
- Support of Post Connection Scripts
If you're looking for a great Putty replacement that allows you to run multiple sessions from within one window using a tabbed window interface, this is a great option.
Solar-Putty adds some modern features for users to enjoy, as well as some great visual upgrades.
PuttyTray
PuttyTray is yet another PuTTY fork that includes one of the most desired features of all PuTTY alternatives: the ability to minimize it to the system tray.
This may not appear to be much of an additional feature, but it adds a lot of utility to the application.
The project also aimed to include additional features such as hyperlink support and other fundamental improvements.
Some key features include:
- Minimizing the system tray
- URL hyperlinking
- Android ADB support
- Portable install
- Always on Top setting
- Customizable Icons
- Tray Icon Blinks when Bell signal is received
- Window Transparency is configurable
Although the project is currently dormant due to an inactive developer, the program is still a viable alternative to putty, particularly if you value the benefits of hyperlink integration.
It also renders fonts very well, so terminal purists will appreciate the correctly displayed characters on their screens when using PuttyTray.
KiTTY
KiTTY is not a completely separate application, but rather a fork in the PuTTy project built on the foundations of PuTTy.
It is designed to run solely in a Microsoft Windows environment and provides many of the same feature types as PuTTY.
KiTTY adds some features that PuTTY lacks, but apart from one or two extra features and a different application name, it looks identical.
Some key features include:
- Portability
- A Sessions Filter
- Session Icons
- Session Launcher
- Automatic Logon Scripts
- Connect via SSH, rLogin, Telnet and more!
For those who are satisfied with PuTTY but want to try something new that will not leave them feeling confused or overwhelmed by change, KiTTY may be the answer.
MobaXterm
MobaXterm is an enhanced terminal application for Windows that includes X11 server integration.
It functions as a tabbed SSH client and includes additional network tools and features like Remote Session Manager, Remote Desktop Manager, SSH, SFTP, telnet, VNC, and XDMCP support.
This is a full-featured application with every feature a Linux administrator could want in a remote access client from a Windows PC.
There are two versions of this software available: free and paid. The professional version includes all of MobaXterm's standard features, while the free version does not.
Some key features include:
- Embedded X server
- Network Manager
- Cygwin Integration
- Easy display exportation
- Tabbed terminal with SSH
- X11-Forwarding functionality
- Addon and Plug-in Support
MobaXterm is a multi-tool that will undoubtedly be useful to an administrator who needs to manage multiple computers in various locations from a single application.
There isn't much that can't be done from within this program, so its utility is obvious, and it's a great alternative to Putty.
mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG is another project that arose from a fork in another project, in this case, mRemote.
It is a multi-tabbed, multi-protocol remote connection manager that is open source. mRemoteNG improves the overall functionality of the application by adding bug fixes and new features to mRemote.
It displays all of your saved Remote connections in a simple and powerful tabbed interface that is easy to use and packed with features.
The SSH functionality, which works well and is simple to run and configure, is our main concern for this round-up.
Some key features include:
- ICA
- SSH Client
- Telnet
- HTTP/HTTPS
- rlogin
- VNC Support and Connectivity
- Raw Socket Connections
- RDP/Terminal Support for Connecting Remotely
mRemoteNG's approach to remote desktop administration and SSH use is quite basic, but if you're looking for a solid application that works well, this could be a good choice.
The user interface is clean and simple, with no attempt to cram too many features into one window, adding to the overall utilitarian feel of this application.
Add to that the fact that it is open source and free to download and use, and you may have a winner that will replace Putty as a great alternative.
Xshell 6 Client
Xshell is a simple SSH client that bills itself as "The Industry's Most Powerful SSH Client."
It is a versatile PuTTY replacement that supports SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, TELNET, RLOGIN, and SERIAL connections.
Xshell provides a unique set of features and advantages over other SSH clients, including tabbed windows, dynamic port forwarding, custom key mapping, and much more.
This makes Xshell a formidable opponent for many PuTTY-type applications that require SSH connections, and it may be a good option for you as well.
Some key features include:
- Highlight Sets
- X11 Forwarding
- Compose Pane
- Session Manager
- Tabbed Environment
- SSH PKCS#11 Support
- Dual font integration
All of these features combine to form an improved SSH session manager with plenty of customizability and enhanced options for users.
There are some nice touches, such as text highlighting, which functions similarly to many modern code compilers, and an integrated web search feature, which allows users to search the web for pesky error codes without having to write them down or attempt to copy and paste out of an active session.
Conclusion
We hope this article was helpful in your search for the Best Putty Alternatives on the Market for SSH/Telnet/rLogin/SCP and HTTP/HTTPS connections, as well as many of the best Remote Desktop software packages available.
Many of these SSH Clients have great features that extend the functionality of Putty - we highly recommend downloading a couple of the programs above to see which one best suits your needs. I hope you found this blog useful, and please let us know what you thought of it in the comments section.
