Alternatives to MobaXterm
A Windows remote-computing toolbox: tabbed SSH, an X11 server, RDP, VNC, FTP and Unix commands in one portable executable. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
MobaXterm
A Windows remote-computing toolbox: tabbed SSH, an X11 server, RDP, VNC, FTP and Unix commands in one portable executable.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as MobaXterm.
PuTTY
The small, stubbornly reliable SSH and Telnet client that has been on every Windows admin’s desktop for twenty-five years.
PuTTY is a small MIT-licensed SSH and Telnet client with PSCP, PSFTP and Pageant, but it has no X11 server, RDP, VNC or bundled Unix commands.
Tabby
A terminal, SSH client and serial console in one window, with a connection manager and an encrypted secret store.
Tabby is an open-source Electron app for Windows, macOS and Linux combining local shells, SSH, Telnet and serial with an encrypted secret store, but no RDP, VNC or X11 server.
WindTerm
A fast SSH, SFTP, telnet, serial and tmux client for Windows, macOS and Linux, free for commercial use.
WindTerm is a native SSH, SFTP, telnet, serial and tmux client for Windows, macOS and Linux, free for commercial use without session limits, though only partly open source.
Electerm
Manage terminal and remote-file connections in one application.
Electerm is an open-source MIT client for Windows, macOS and Linux combining terminal and remote-file connections over SSH and SFTP, with fewer bundled tools than MobaXterm.
KiTTY
A PuTTY fork for Windows that adds session filtering, automatic login scripts and portability.
KiTTY is an open-source PuTTY fork for Windows with a session filter, login scripts and a portable build, lacking MobaXterm's X11, RDP and VNC features.
Tera Term
Long-running Windows terminal emulator for SSH, Telnet and serial connections.
Tera Term is an open-source Windows terminal for SSH, Telnet and serial with a macro language, but it has a dated interface and no graphical remote protocols.
Remote Desktop Manager
A connection manager that keeps RDP, VNC, SSH and other remote sessions in one workspace.
Remote Desktop Manager keeps RDP, VNC, SSH and other sessions in one workspace with a credential vault, on desktop and mobile, but has no bundled X11 server.
Termius
A cross-platform SSH client for desktop and mobile that syncs hosts, keys and snippets between devices.
Termius is a freemium SSH client for desktop and mobile that syncs hosts, keys and snippets between devices, without RDP, VNC or an X11 server.
Also worth comparing
These listings name MobaXterm as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Bitvise SSH Client
A Windows SSH client combining a terminal, SFTP file transfer and port forwarding.
MobaXterm adds an X11 server, RDP, VNC and Unix commands to SSH and SFTP, but its free Home Edition caps saved sessions and tunnels.
C-Kermit
A scriptable command-line program for serial and network connections, terminal sessions and file transfer.
MobaXterm bundles serial, SSH, telnet, FTP and more in one Windows executable, but it is closed source and the free edition caps sessions and macros.
Cmder
Carry a configured Windows console environment between machines.
MobaXterm ships Unix commands and tabbed SSH in one portable Windows executable, but is closed source and its free Home Edition caps saved sessions.
SecureCRT
A commercial SSH and Telnet client with session management and scripting for Windows, macOS and Linux.
MobaXterm is a freemium Windows toolbox adding an X11 server, RDP, VNC and SFTP next to tabbed SSH, with the free edition capping saved sessions and macros.
Solar-PuTTY
A free tabbed SSH, Telnet, SCP and SFTP session manager for Windows, built on PuTTY.
MobaXterm is a freemium Windows toolbox with tabbed SSH, graphical SFTP, an X11 server, RDP and VNC in one portable executable, with limits in the free edition.
Xshell
A tabbed SSH, Telnet and serial terminal client for Windows from NetSarang.
MobaXterm is a Windows toolbox with tabbed SSH, an X11 server, RDP, VNC and SFTP, offering a free Home Edition that caps sessions, tunnels and macros.
ZOC Terminal
A commercial SSH, Telnet and serial terminal emulator for Windows and macOS.
MobaXterm bundles SSH, telnet, serial, X11, RDP and VNC in one Windows-only portable app, with a free edition that caps saved sessions.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Windows Terminal
Microsoft’s tabbed terminal for Windows, hosting Command Prompt, PowerShell and WSL in one GPU-rendered window.
Wave Terminal
A terminal with file previews, a remote file editor, web browsing and AI assistance arranged as blocks in one window.
Wishlist
Choose SSH destinations from an interactive directory.
assh
Wrapper that adds regex hosts, templates, gateways and hooks to SSH configuration.
tmux
Keeps terminal sessions alive on a server after you disconnect, and splits one window into many.
