Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PuTTY VS Xshell

Compare PuTTY VS Xshell and see what are their differences

PuTTY logo PuTTY

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

Xshell logo Xshell

Xshell is a powerful terminal emulator that supports SSH, SFTP, TELNET, RLOGIN and SERIAL.
  • PuTTY Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-13
  • Xshell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-29

PuTTY features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    PuTTY is free to use and its source code is openly available. This allows flexibility for users to modify it according to their needs and ensures that there are no licensing costs associated with its usage.
  • Wide Protocol Support
    PuTTY supports various network protocols including SSH, Telnet, SCP, and SFTP. This makes it versatile for different types of server management and data transfer tasks.
  • Lightweight
    PuTTY is a lightweight application that consumes minimal system resources, making it suitable for use on older or less powerful systems without significant performance degradation.
  • Extensible Configuration Options
    PuTTY offers a wide range of configuration options for terminal emulation, keyboard mappings, and connection settings, giving users fine control over their connections and workflow.
  • Portability
    PuTTY can be run as a portable application from USB drives or other external storage devices without the need for a formal installation process on the host system.

Possible disadvantages of PuTTY

  • No Integrated File Manager
    Unlike some other SSH clients, PuTTY does not come with an integrated file manager, which can make tasks involving file transfers less convenient without the use of PuTTY's separate utilities like PSCP or WinSCP.
  • Limited Scripting Capabilities
    PuTTY itself lacks advanced scripting capabilities which can be a limitation for users who need to automate sessions or workflows extensively. External tools or extensions are necessary for these needs.
  • Basic User Interface
    The user interface of PuTTY is quite basic compared to modern applications. It lacks some of the polished features and aesthetics that other terminal clients might offer.
  • No Tabbed Sessions
    PuTTY does not natively support multiple tabbed sessions within a single window, which can make managing multiple connections less convenient. Users typically need to open multiple instances of the application.
  • Windows-Centric
    While PuTTY is primarily developed for Windows, its cross-platform capabilities through ports like PuTTY for Mac or Linux are not as well-supported, leading to potential inconsistencies and lack of features compared to the Windows version.

Xshell features and specs

  • User Interface
    Xshell features a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and customize, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
  • Session Management
    Xshell offers robust session management capabilities, allowing users to manage multiple sessions simultaneously with saved session profiles and tabbed windows.
  • Customization
    The application allows extensive customization options, including themes, key mappings, and layout adjustments to suit individual preferences.
  • Security
    Xshell supports various security protocols like SSH, SFTP, and Rlogin, providing secure connections and robust encryption features.
  • Port Forwarding
    Supports dynamic, local, and remote port forwarding, providing flexibility for network and security configurations.
  • Script and Automation
    Incorporates scripting capabilities to automate tasks, which can save time and reduce manual errors.
  • File Transfer
    Includes integrated support for SFTP and Zmodem protocols, making file transfers straightforward within the terminal window.
  • Customer Support
    Offers comprehensive customer support and a wide range of online resources including forums, FAQs, and detailed documentation.

Possible disadvantages of Xshell

  • Cost
    Xshell is a commercial product with a licensing fee, which might not be feasible for all users, especially when there are free alternatives available.
  • Complexity for Novices
    Despite its user-friendly design, the range of features can be overwhelming for novices or users who do not require advanced capabilities.
  • Platform Limitation
    Xshell is primarily available for Windows operating systems, limiting its usability for users on Mac or Linux platforms.
  • Resource Consumption
    It can be resource-intensive and might slow down on systems with limited hardware capabilities.
  • Update Frequency
    Updates and new features are not as frequent as some users might prefer, potentially leaving some advanced users wanting more regular enhancements.

Analysis of PuTTY

Overall verdict

  • Yes, PuTTY is generally regarded as a good choice for those needing an SSH client on Windows. Its robustness and long-standing reputation in the industry contribute positively to its assessment.

Why this product is good

  • PuTTY is a popular and widely used SSH client for Windows due to its light weight, ease of use, and reliability. It is open-source, supports various network protocols like SSH, Telnet, and Rlogin, and has been maintained and updated consistently over the years. The software's configurability and ability to store session configurations make it a versatile choice for both beginners and advanced users.

Recommended for

    PuTTY is recommended for system administrators, developers, network engineers, and anyone who needs to perform remote command-line operations on a computer or server using the SSH protocol. It is particularly useful for users who are working on Windows systems.

Analysis of Xshell

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Xshell is considered a good option for those who need a powerful and reliable terminal emulator. Its combination of security features, usability, and advanced functionalities makes it a noteworthy tool in the IT community.

Why this product is good

  • Xshell is known for its robust features as a terminal emulator, providing a secure and efficient way to manage Unix/Linux hosts. It supports multiple protocols such as SSH, Telnet, and Rlogin, and offers dynamic port forwarding, tabbed environment, and comprehensive session management. The user-friendly interface and advanced features make it a preferred choice for many IT professionals and network administrators.

Recommended for

    Xshell is recommended for IT professionals, network administrators, and developers who require robust terminal emulation capabilities. It is particularly beneficial for those working in network management, server maintenance, and environments where secure remote access is critical.

PuTTY videos

MASSIVE STORE PUTTY REVIEW!

More videos:

  • Review - MOST EXPENSIVE STORE PUTTY + MORE!
  • Review - STORE BOUGHT SLIME & PUTTY REVIEW, MIXING ALL MY SLIME !! SLIME SMOOTHIE | SATISFYING SLIME VIDEO 32

Xshell videos

xshell tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PuTTY and Xshell)
SSH
90 90%
10% 10
Server Management
93 93%
7% 7
Server Configuration And Automation
Terminal Tools
84 84%
16% 16

User comments

Share your experience with using PuTTY and Xshell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare PuTTY and Xshell

PuTTY Reviews

10 Best PuTTY Alternatives To Try in 2024
Instead of a full-fledged PuTTY alternative, SuperPuTTY is an add-on that changes how PuTTY looks. It also brings several additional features that are missing from the original PuTTY implementation.
10 Best PuTTY Alternatives for SSH Remote Connection
SuperPuTTY requires you to install the original PuTTY for the application to install and run. Besides that, the SuperPuTTY is an advanced PuTTY version with secure SSH connection protection with SCP and SFTP file transfers.
Source: www.tecmint.com
Looking for MobaXterm Alternative? Here are Some Options to Consider
Putty is a popular SSH and telnet client for Windows. It's lightweight, fast, and easy to use. Putty offers all the basic features you need for remote desktop access, including SSH, telnet, rlogin, and raw TCP connections. It also has a built-in serial console for connecting to serial ports. However, Putty doesn't have advanced features like file transfer, X11 forwarding,...
Top 10 Best MobaXterm Alternatives for Windows, macOS & Linux In 2021
PuTTY is, without a reservation, the top SSH customer that we can discover for Windows. Light and really basic, this customer satisfies its function: to enable us to connect to any Windows or Linux server from another location to manage it safely through the Internet. In addition, it has a series of alternatives that permit us to configure, for example, the look or conserve...
The 10 Best Linux Terminal Emulators
The list is by no means exhaustive in any way. There are many Linux terminal emulators with dedicated following and users. Other terminal emulators that could have easily made it into my list include; xfce4-terminal, PuTTY, Tilda, or Yakuake. The default terminal emulator in Linux distros is always good enough for many users. Nailing down a favorite emulator requires you to...

Xshell Reviews

10 Best PuTTY Alternatives To Try in 2024
Xshell is available in both free and paid versions for Windows. The free version is for home and school use. The paid version costs $99 and is designed for businesses.
10 Best PuTTY Alternatives for SSH Remote Connection
Xshell 7 is another great PuTTY alternative for connecting multiple protocols in a tabbed environment. The PuTTY alternative also ranks as an advanced option thanks to the application providing unique features such as audio alerts, highlighting sets, and custom key mappings.
Source: www.tecmint.com
Looking for MobaXterm Alternative? Here are Some Options to Consider
Xshell is a powerful SSH and telnet client for Windows that offers advanced features for system administrators and developers. It includes support for multiple sessions, tabbed sessions, dynamic port forwarding, and X11 forwarding. Xshell also has a scripting engine that allows you to automate repetitive tasks.
Top 12 BEST SSH Clients For Windows โ€“ Free PuTTY Alternatives
Xshell 6 is a powerful SSH client. It will allow you to open windows CMD directly within XShell like its own tab. XShell provides a tabbed interface. The Tabbed interface will arrange multiple sessions that need to be viewed and monitored simultaneously.
Best Putty Alternatives for SSH Clients for Windows (FREE!)
Xshell is another great tool for connecting to SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, Telent, rLogin and even to Serial connections. Some features of Xshell include the following:
Source: www.pcwdld.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PuTTY and Xshell, you can also consider the following products

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

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

ConEmu - ConEmu-Maximus5 is a full-featured local terminal for Windows devs, admins and users. Get better console window with tabs, splits, Quake style, copy+paste, DosBox and PuTTY integration, and much more.

Console - Console is a Windows console window enhancement.

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

PowerShell - Download WMF. Windows Management Framework contains the latest versions of PowerShell, DSC, WMI, and WinRM for older versions of Windows. PowerShell Module Browser. Search for PowerShell modules and cmdlets.