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Head-to-head · SSH Clients

PuTTY vs XPipe

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score PuTTY #3 in SSH Clients 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit PuTTY
XPipe #17 in SSH Clients 7.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit XPipe

PuTTY leads on 0 checks, XPipe on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePuTTY · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresXPipe · 3 of 3

PuTTY scores higher on our rubric for ssh clients: 9.0 against 7.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #17.

On session management, XPipe gives you Team where PuTTY offers Basic.

PuTTY is the better fit for users wanting a proven free SSH client. XPipe is the better fit for homelabs and teams managing complex infrastructure.

  • PuTTY fits best

    Users wanting a proven free SSH client

  • XPipe fits best

    Homelabs and teams managing complex infrastructure

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature PuTTY 9.0/10 Visit ↗ XPipe 7.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 7.6
Ranking #3 in SSH Clients #17 in SSH Clients
Best for Users wanting a proven free SSH client Homelabs and teams managing complex infrastructure
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $40/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Enterprise
Features PuTTY 2/3 · XPipe 3/3
SFTP support ✓ ✓
Port forwarding ✓ ✓
Team session sharing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported protocols SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, SUPDUP, raw, serial, SFTP, SCP SSH, SFTP
Supported platforms Windows and Unix Windows, macOS, Linux
Session management Basic Team
Our review
Pros
  • Free and open source with SSH, SFTP, SCP, and port forwarding
  • Supports public-key authentication, Pageant, proxying, and X11 forwarding
  • Includes saved sessions, PSFTP, PSCP, and the Plink command-line client
  • Unlimited Community connections with file management and shell scripting
  • SSH, SFTP, tunnels, jump servers, X11 forwarding, and chained tunnels
  • Integrations across containers, hypervisors, clouds, RDP, and VNC
Cons
  • Session management is basic
  • No release-quality Android, iOS, or macOS ports
  • Unix support is provided as source code rather than Windows-style executables
  • Team vault access is available with Professional-plan capabilities
  • Enterprise plans use customized pricing rather than a published rate
  • The desktop application is separate from self-hosted shared-vault options
Our verdict

PuTTY is a free, open-source client for terminal access, file transfer, and SSH networking. It supports SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, SUPDUP, raw network connections, and serial sessions, making it suitable for users who work across different…

Read the review →

XPipe is a desktop connection hub for managing SSH servers, remote files, tunnels, and infrastructure tools. It suits homelab operators and teams working across complex environments, with support for Windows, macOS, Linux, and an API. Its…

Read the review →
  1. PuTTYSSH Clients 9.0Free plan
  2. XPipeSSH Clients 7.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • PuTTY — where it wins

    • Free and open source with SSH, SFTP, SCP, and port forwarding
    • Supports public-key authentication, Pageant, proxying, and X11 forwarding
    • Includes saved sessions, PSFTP, PSCP, and the Plink command-line client

    Where it doesn't

    • Session management is basic
    • No release-quality Android, iOS, or macOS ports
    • Unix support is provided as source code rather than Windows-style executables

  • XPipe — where it wins

    • Unlimited Community connections with file management and shell scripting
    • SSH, SFTP, tunnels, jump servers, X11 forwarding, and chained tunnels
    • Integrations across containers, hypervisors, clouds, RDP, and VNC

    Where it doesn't

    • Team vault access is available with Professional-plan capabilities
    • Enterprise plans use customized pricing rather than a published rate
    • The desktop application is separate from self-hosted shared-vault options
  • PuTTY9.0/10 · Free plan

    A capable free SSH client with broad protocol support and basic session management.

    Visit PuTTYFull verdict →
  • XPipe7.6/10 · Free plan

    A capable SSH and infrastructure hub with a useful free tier and paid team options.

    Visit XPipeFull verdict →

More comparisons

All SSH clients comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update