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Head-to-head · SSH Clients

electerm vs SecureCRT

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score electerm #10 in SSH Clients 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit electerm
SecureCRT #12 in SSH Clients 8.1/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit SecureCRT

electerm leads on 1 check, SecureCRT on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreelecterm · 8.3/10
  • Free planonly electerm
  • Free trialonly SecureCRT

electerm scores higher on our rubric for ssh clients: 8.3 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #10 and #12.

electerm offers free plan; SecureCRT doesn't.

electerm is the better fit for free users needing broad SSH coverage. SecureCRT is the better fit for professional users needing automation and security.

  • electerm fits best

    Free users needing broad SSH coverage

  • SecureCRT fits best

    Professional users needing automation and security

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Side by side

Feature electerm 8.3/10 Visit ↗ SecureCRT 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.3 8.1
Ranking #10 in SSH Clients #12 in SSH Clients
Best for Free users needing broad SSH coverage Professional users needing automation and security
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan $119/device one-time
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs, Tickets Email, Docs
Integrations 5 integrations 1 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Mid-market, Enterprise
Features electerm 2/3 · SecureCRT 2/3
SFTP support ✓ ✓
Port forwarding ✓ ✓
Team session sharing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported protocols SSH, SFTP, FTP, Telnet, serial, RDP, VNC, SPICE SSH1, SSH2, Telnet, Telnet/TLS, serial, RDP, SFTP, SCP, FTPS, HTTPS, FTP, HTTP, Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem, Kermit, and TFTP
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, HarmonyOS Windows, macOS, Linux
Session management Workspaces Workspaces
Our review
Pros
  • Free, open-source access across desktop, mobile, web, and self-hosted options
  • Supports SSH, SFTP, FTP, Telnet, serial, RDP, VNC, and SPICE
  • Includes tunneling, X11 forwarding, workspaces, and remote-file editing
  • Broad SSH, terminal emulation, forwarding, and SFTP capabilities
  • Automation with Python, VBScript, JScript, and PerlScript
  • Workspaces, tab groups, session managers, and saved snapshots
Cons
  • Its broad protocol and workspace set may add configuration overhead
  • Self-hosted and synchronization options require deployment decisions
  • AI and MCP integrations may be unnecessary for focused SSH workflows
  • No free plan for ongoing use
  • $119 starting price is charged per device
  • The 3-year plan covers updates, not a perpetual subscription
Our verdict

electerm is a free, open-source terminal and file-management application for connecting to remote systems. It suits users who need more than a basic SSH terminal, including administrators and developers working across desktop, mobile,…

Read the review →

SecureCRT is a desktop SSH client and terminal emulator for computing professionals, system administrators, and organizations managing remote systems. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, combining SSH1 and SSH2 connections with support…

Read the review →
  1. electermSSH Clients 8.3Free plan
  2. SecureCRTSSH Clients 8.130-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • electerm — where it wins

    • Free, open-source access across desktop, mobile, web, and self-hosted options
    • Supports SSH, SFTP, FTP, Telnet, serial, RDP, VNC, and SPICE
    • Includes tunneling, X11 forwarding, workspaces, and remote-file editing

    Where it doesn't

    • Its broad protocol and workspace set may add configuration overhead
    • Self-hosted and synchronization options require deployment decisions
    • AI and MCP integrations may be unnecessary for focused SSH workflows

  • SecureCRT — where it wins

    • Broad SSH, terminal emulation, forwarding, and SFTP capabilities
    • Automation with Python, VBScript, JScript, and PerlScript
    • Workspaces, tab groups, session managers, and saved snapshots

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan for ongoing use
    • $119 starting price is charged per device
    • The 3-year plan covers updates, not a perpetual subscription

All SSH clients comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update