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Head-to-head · SSH Clients

PuTTY vs Xshell

  • 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
Xshell #11 in SSH Clients 8.2/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Xshell

PuTTY leads on 0 checks, Xshell 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
  • Free trialonly Xshell
  • Most featuresXshell · 3 of 3

PuTTY scores higher on our rubric for ssh clients: 9.0 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #11.

On session management, Xshell gives you Tabs where PuTTY offers Basic.

PuTTY is the better fit for users wanting a proven free SSH client. Xshell is the better fit for windows users wanting mature session automation.

  • PuTTY fits best

    Users wanting a proven free SSH client

  • Xshell fits best

    Windows users wanting mature session automation

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Side by side

Feature PuTTY 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Xshell 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.2
Ranking #3 in SSH Clients #11 in SSH Clients
Best for Users wanting a proven free SSH client Windows users wanting mature session automation
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $119/user one-time
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, Linux Windows
Support Email, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features PuTTY 2/3 · Xshell 3/3
SFTP support ✓ ✓
Port forwarding ✓ ✓
Team session sharing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported protocols SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, SUPDUP, raw, serial, SFTP, SCP SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, TELNET, RLOGIN, SERIAL, RDP, FTP
Supported platforms Windows and Unix Windows 10/11; Windows Server 2012/2016/2019/2022
Session management Basic Tabs
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
  • Automates terminal actions with scripting, Quick Commands, and triggers
  • Combines SSH, SFTP, forwarding, jump hosts, logging, and RDP sessions
  • Organizes multiple connections through tabs, groups, and Session Manager
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
  • Windows-only, with support limited to listed Windows versions
  • Free licensing is restricted to home, school, and other non-commercial use
  • Paid plans start at $119 per user
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 →

Xshell is a Windows desktop terminal emulator and SSH client for connecting to remote systems. It suits administrators, developers, and technical teams managing multiple remote sessions, file transfers, forwarded connections, or terminal…

Read the review →
  1. PuTTYSSH Clients 9.0Free plan
  2. XshellSSH Clients 8.2Free plan · 30-day trial

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

  • Xshell — where it wins

    • Automates terminal actions with scripting, Quick Commands, and triggers
    • Combines SSH, SFTP, forwarding, jump hosts, logging, and RDP sessions
    • Organizes multiple connections through tabs, groups, and Session Manager

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only, with support limited to listed Windows versions
    • Free licensing is restricted to home, school, and other non-commercial use
    • Paid plans start at $119 per user
  • PuTTY9.0/10 · Free plan

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

    Visit PuTTYFull verdict →
  • Xshell8.2/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A mature Windows SSH client with automation, forwarding, file transfer, and session management.

    Visit XshellFull 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