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Head-to-head · SSH Clients

Solar-PuTTY vs WindTerm

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Solar-PuTTY #4 in SSH Clients 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Solar-PuTTY
WindTerm #8 in SSH Clients 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit WindTerm

Solar-PuTTY leads on 0 checks, WindTerm on 0, and 3 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 scoreSolar-PuTTY · 8.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresWindTerm · 2 of 3

Solar-PuTTY scores higher on our rubric for ssh clients: 8.9 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #8.

On session management, WindTerm gives you Workspaces where Solar-PuTTY offers Tabs.

Solar-PuTTY is the better fit for windows users wanting a simple portable client. WindTerm is the better fit for free users wanting a feature-rich desktop client.

  • Solar-PuTTY fits best

    Windows users wanting a simple portable client

  • WindTerm fits best

    Free users wanting a feature-rich desktop client

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Side by side

Feature Solar-PuTTY 8.9/10 Visit ↗ WindTerm 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.5
Ranking #4 in SSH Clients #8 in SSH Clients
Best for Windows users wanting a simple portable client Free users wanting a feature-rich desktop client
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs, Community Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Solar-PuTTY 1/3 · WindTerm 2/3
SFTP support ✓ ✓
Port forwarding Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Team session sharing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported protocols SSH, Telnet, SCP, SFTP SSH, SFTP, SCP, Telnet, Raw TCP, Serial, XModem, YModem, ZModem
Supported platforms Windows Windows, macOS, Linux
Session management Tabs Workspaces
Our review
Pros
  • Free portable operation without installation
  • Tabbed SSH, Telnet, SCP, and SFTP sessions
  • Graphical SFTP transfers with saved credentials and keys
  • Free for commercial and non-commercial use with no account required
  • Combines SSH, SFTP, forwarding, search, automation, and split-pane workspaces
  • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux as a portable desktop application
Cons
  • Windows-only platform coverage
  • Port forwarding is not included in the feature set
  • No paid tiers or team-sharing features
  • Limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop systems
  • Local credential storage may not suit centralized credential workflows
  • Open-source coverage is described as partial in the project materials
Our verdict

Solar-PuTTY is a free Windows terminal emulator and network file-transfer client from SolarWinds. It is aimed at Windows administrators, systems administrators, configuration managers, and IT professionals managing remote servers and…

Read the review →

WindTerm is a free desktop terminal client for developers, system administrators, and DevOps teams. It brings SSH, SFTP, Telnet, serial, and local shell sessions into one workspace, with support for SCP, Raw TCP, XModem, YModem, and…

Read the review →
  1. Solar-PuTTYSSH Clients 8.9Free plan
  2. WindTermSSH Clients 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Solar-PuTTY — where it wins

    • Free portable operation without installation
    • Tabbed SSH, Telnet, SCP, and SFTP sessions
    • Graphical SFTP transfers with saved credentials and keys

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only platform coverage
    • Port forwarding is not included in the feature set
    • No paid tiers or team-sharing features

  • WindTerm — where it wins

    • Free for commercial and non-commercial use with no account required
    • Combines SSH, SFTP, forwarding, search, automation, and split-pane workspaces
    • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux as a portable desktop application

    Where it doesn't

    • Limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop systems
    • Local credential storage may not suit centralized credential workflows
    • Open-source coverage is described as partial in the project materials

More comparisons

All SSH clients comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update