Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

KiTTY VS Smallstep SSH

Compare KiTTY VS Smallstep SSH and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

KiTTY logo KiTTY

KiTTY is a fork from version 0.70 of PuTTY. It adds extra features to PuTTY.

Smallstep SSH logo Smallstep SSH

Single Sign-on SSH
  • KiTTY Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-31
  • Smallstep SSH Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04

KiTTY features and specs

  • Enhanced Features
    KiTTY offers more features than PuTTY, including additional options such as automatic password saving, session filtering, and session launcher, enhancing user experience and productivity.
  • Portability
    The tool is available in a portable version, which does not require installation. This makes it convenient for use on different machines without needing administrator permissions.
  • Customization
    KiTTY supports a variety of customization options, such as configurable shortcuts, transparency options, and built-in chat functionalities, allowing users to tailor the terminal emulator to their specific needs.
  • Integration with Windows
    KiTTY integrates well with Windows, offering features like the ability to create desktop shortcuts for sessions and support for Windows jump lists.
  • Scripting Capabilities
    KiTTY allows the automation of tasks through its scripting capabilities, making it easier for users to perform repetitive tasks efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of KiTTY

  • Windows-Only
    KiTTY is designed primarily for Windows, which limits its usability for users on other operating systems such as macOS or Linux.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    The additional features and options may result in a steeper learning curve for new users who are accustomed to simpler tools.
  • Stability Issues
    Some users may encounter stability issues or bugs, which could affect reliability during critical tasks.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Compared to some other terminal emulators, KiTTY does not receive updates as frequently, which may lead to slower implementation of new features or security fixes.
  • Security Concerns
    Automatically saving passwords can introduce security risks if the local machine is compromised, as stored credentials could become accessible to unauthorized users.

Smallstep SSH features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Smallstep SSH enables strong authentication practices by integrating with identity providers, reducing the chances of compromised passwords and ensuring secure connections.
  • Centralized Access Management
    The platform centralizes user access management, allowing admins to easily manage and revoke user access across multiple servers and services from a single point of control.
  • Ease of Integration
    Smallstep SSH integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure and identity providers like Okta and Google Workspace, simplifying the onboarding process for enterprises.
  • Improved Compliance
    With detailed logging and custom policies, Smallstep SSH helps organizations meet various compliance requirements by offering traceability and accountability for user actions.
  • Scalability
    Designed with scalability in mind, Smallstep SSH can efficiently handle growing organizational needs without sacrificing performance or security.

Possible disadvantages of Smallstep SSH

  • Complexity of Setup
    For organizations unfamiliar with identity provider integrations or certificate-based authentication, the initial setup can be complex and may require specialized knowledge.
  • Dependence on External Identity Providers
    Reliance on external identity providers for authentication means that downtime or disruptions with these services can impact Smallstep SSH functionality.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Because the solution is designed to work with identity providers, offline mode functionality is limited, which might be a concern for systems that require constant availability.
  • Cost Considerations
    For small organizations or startups, the cost of implementing and maintaining an enterprise-level authentication system like Smallstep SSH might be prohibitive.
  • Learning Curve
    There is a learning curve associated with transitioning from traditional SSH management to Smallstep SSH's certificate-based approach, which might necessitate training for IT staff.

Analysis of KiTTY

Overall verdict

  • Overall, KiTTY is considered a good choice for users who are already comfortable with PuTTY but need extra features, better customization, and enhanced security. Its popularity in the tech community stems from its reliability, wide range of features, and the fact that it builds on a well-established tool.

Why this product is good

  • KiTTY is a free and open-source terminal emulator that's based on PuTTY. It offers additional features such as session filtering, automatic logon scripts, a portable version, and support for various encryptions. These enhancements make it particularly valuable for users who require more robust functionality than what is available in the basic PuTTY client.

Recommended for

    KiTTY is recommended for developers, network administrators, and IT professionals who regularly use SSH and telnet protocols, especially those who require advanced features and automation in managing their connections. It is also a good option for anyone looking for a portable, customizable terminal emulator.

KiTTY videos

Kitty In My Pocket Series 4 Hidden Kitties Blind Bag Toy Review | PSToyReviews

More videos:

  • Review - Kitty Paw Review - with Tom Vasel
  • Review - Sparkle * Kitty Review - with Tom Vasel
  • Review - KiTTY -SSH Client for Windows

Smallstep SSH videos

No Smallstep SSH videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to KiTTY and Smallstep SSH)
SSH
100 100%
0% 0
Identity And Access Management
Server Management
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare KiTTY and Smallstep SSH

KiTTY Reviews

10 Best PuTTY Alternatives To Try in 2024
Indeed, alternatives like KiTTY, Solar-PuTTY, and MobaXterm cater to both Windows and macOS users, ensuring a wide range of options for SSH and Telnet session management.
10 Best PuTTY Alternatives for SSH Remote Connection
For starters, KiTTY runs on Windows and MACs but can also access Linux, Unix, and MAC OS devices. The application also offers a similar user interface and experience as PuTTY, so those familiar with it are in luck.
Source: www.tecmint.com
Looking for MobaXterm Alternative? Here are Some Options to Consider
KiTTY is a fork of Putty that adds several features and enhancements. It includes support for session filters, automatic password saving, and URL hyperlinks. KiTTY also has a portable version that can be run from a USB drive without installation. However, KiTTY hasn't been updated since 2019, so it may not be suitable for newer Windows versions.
Top 12 BEST SSH Clients For Windows – Free PuTTY Alternatives
KiTTY has the capacity to handle a port knocking sequence. You can integrate KiTTY into Internet Explorer or other browsers like Firefox.
The 10 Best Linux Terminal Emulators
The Kitty emulator is an excellent option for keyboard power users. The key feature of Kitty that makes it into this list is the GPU-based development. It offloads rendering to the GPU for lower system load, and it decreases CPU utilization which improves scrolling and general responsiveness.

Smallstep SSH Reviews

We have no reviews of Smallstep SSH yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Smallstep SSH seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

KiTTY mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of KiTTY yet. Tracking of KiTTY recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Smallstep SSH mentions (1)

  • SSH With SSO
    Through a combination of the properties that are in an SSH certificate and configuration on the hosts, you'll be able to realize RBAC. If you're using the open source step-ca, this will require you to configure things yourself on the hosts. We also have an offering where this capability and management/auditing of the rules is hosted for you, which makes that specific part easier: https://smallstep.com/sso-ssh/. Source: almost 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing KiTTY and Smallstep SSH, you can also consider the following products

PuTTY - Popular free terminal application. Mostly used as an SSH client.

Keystash.io - Centralized Linux user and SSH key management software

MobaXterm - Enhanced terminal for Windows with X11 server, tabbed SSH client, network tools and much more

BastionXP - BastionXP Identity Based Infrastructure Access Platform is a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) / Certificate Authority (CA) that creates, signs and distributes SSH, SSL X.509 certificates to servers and users upon successful SSO login via OAuth or SAML

iTerm2 - A terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things.

strongDM - Trust strongDM to manage an engineers access to everything