Tabby vs Solar-PuTTY

Tabby9.2Visit SPSolar-PuTTY8.9Visit

Higher score Tabby #1 in SSH Clients 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Tabby

vs

SP Solar-PuTTY #4 in SSH Clients 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Solar-PuTTY

• Tabby fits best

  Developers wanting a powerful free terminal

• Solar-PuTTY fits best

  Windows users wanting a simple portable client

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	Tabby 9.2/10 Visit ↗	SPSolar-PuTTY 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.9
Ranking	#1 in SSH Clients	#4 in SSH Clients
Best for	Developers wanting a powerful free terminal	Windows users wanting a simple portable client
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Self-hosted	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
Features Tabby 0/3 · Solar-PuTTY 1/3
SFTP support	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Port forwarding	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Team session sharing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported protocols	Not checked yet	SSH, Telnet, SCP, SFTP
Supported platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
Session management	Not checked yet	Tabs
Our review
Pros	Integrated SSH client with jump hosts, forwarding, SFTP, and connection management Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and a self-hosted web application Split panes, encrypted SSH secrets, themes, and automation-oriented plugins	Free portable operation without installation Tabbed SSH, Telnet, SCP, and SFTP sessions Graphical SFTP transfers with saved credentials and keys
Cons	Desktop-focused coverage may not suit teams seeking broader client availability Configuration sync relies on the sync-config plugin, Gist, or Gitee Its wide feature set may be more than users need for basic SSH sessions	Windows-only platform coverage Port forwarding is not included in the feature set No paid tiers or team-sharing features
Our verdict	Tabby is an open-source terminal emulator for developers and system administrators who need more than a basic SSH window. It combines local shell access with integrated SSH, serial, and Telnet clients across Windows, macOS, and Linux.… Read the review →	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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Tabby — where it wins

  • Integrated SSH client with jump hosts, forwarding, SFTP, and connection management
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and a self-hosted web application
  • Split panes, encrypted SSH secrets, themes, and automation-oriented plugins

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop-focused coverage may not suit teams seeking broader client availability
  • Configuration sync relies on the sync-config plugin, Gist, or Gitee
  • Its wide feature set may be more than users need for basic SSH sessions

• 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

• Tabby9.2/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source terminal with broad shell support and advanced SSH workflows.

  Visit TabbyFull verdict →
• SPSolar-PuTTY8.9/10 · Free plan

  A portable, free Windows client with tabs, file transfer, and automatic reconnection.

  Visit Solar-PuTTYFull verdict →