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PuTTY vs Xshell: catalog facts
PuTTY	Xshell
Free Free and open source under the MIT licence.	Paid Commercial software sold by NetSarang.
Windows, Linux, macOS	Windows
One small executable that runs without installation A full suite: PSCP and PSFTP for files, Plink for scripts, Pageant as a key agent	Session manager with shared authentication profiles Triggers, quick commands and script recording
The interface shows its age next to modern terminals There is no Mac port from the project; the Unix build is X11-based	Windows only Commercial licence required
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: MIT	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.