SSH, or Secure Shell, is a protocol that allows you to securely connect to remote servers and devices over the internet. SSH is widely used by system administrators, developers, and IT professionals to perform various tasks such as remote login, file transfer, command execution, port forwarding, and tunnelling. SSH clients for Linux is a great tool for accessing your Linux desktop or server from anywhere in the world.
But how do you choose an SSH client for Linux? There are many factors to consider, such as the features, the performance, the security, the compatibility, the user interface, and the cost. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the 8 most popular SSH clients for Linux in 2024.
But the truth is Linux doesn’t need any SSH clients because it already have an app named Terminal which has the most functionalities that are need to be done on your server or system. To have a additional functionalities you can try one of them below, most of them have cross-platform support with Windows and MacOS also.
A detailed comparison of top 8 SSH clients is provided below:
SSH Clients | Open Source | Usability | Price |
---|---|---|---|
PuTTY | Yes | Easy | Free |
Termius | No | Easy | Freemium |
OpenSSH | Yes | Intermediate | Free |
MobaXterm | No | Intermediate | Freemium |
Remmina | Yes | Intermediate | Free |
SecureCRT | No | Advanced | Freemium |
KiTTY | Yes | Easy | Free |
Solar-PuTTY | No | Easy | Free |
Most Popular SSH Clients for Linux
PuTTY
PuTTY is one of the most well-known and widely used SSH clients for Linux. PuTTY is a free and open source software that supports SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, and Serial protocols. PuTTY has a simple and intuitive user interface that allows you to configure and manage multiple SSH sessions. PuTTY also offers many features such as:
- SSH key generation and authentication
- SSH port forwarding and tunneling
- SSH compression and encryption
- and many more…
Install PuTTY
To install PuTTY on Linux, you can use the package manager of your Linux distribution, such as apt, yum, or pacman. Execute the below commands to install PuTTY.
sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y putty
PuTTY pros:
- Free and open source
- Lightweight and fast
- Easy to use and configure
PuTTY cons:
- Plain and outdated user interface
- Lacks some basic and advanced features such as file transfer, remote desktop, and scripting
- May have some security vulnerabilities and bugs
Best Premium SSH Clients for Linux
Termius
Termius is a modern and stylish SSH client for Linux. Termius is a freemium software that offers a free version with some limitations and a premium version with more features. Termius supports SSH, Telnet, Mosh, and Serial protocols. Termius has a sleek and intuitive user interface that allows you to manage multiple SSH sessions in tabs. Termius also offers many features such as:
- SSH key generation and authentication
- SSH port forwarding and tunneling
- SSH compression and encryption
- SSH agent forwarding and proxy support
- File transfer and synchronization using SSH
- Cloud synchronization and backup of SSH sessions
- and many more…
To install Termius on Linux, you can download the AppImage file from the official website and run it. You can then add a new SSH host and enter the hostname or IP address of the remote server, the port number, and the username. You can also save your SSH sessions for future use.
Termius pros:
- Sleek and intuitive user interface
- Modern and innovative set of features
- High performance and stability
- Good customer support and documentation
- It has a free version and a reasonable price for the premium version
Termius cons:
- Paid version has the full features
- Subscription based billing
- Not compatible with some Linux distributions and SSH servers
Other Common SSH Clients for Linux
OpenSSH
OpenSSH is the default and standard SSH client for Linux. OpenSSH is a free and open source software that implements the SSH protocol and provides a suite of tools for secure network communication. Many Linux distributions has the SSH clients installed by default.
OpenSSH supports SSH, SCP, SFTP, and SSHFS protocols. OpenSSH also offers many features such as:
- SSH key generation and authentication
- SSH port forwarding and tunneling
- SSH compression and encryption
- SSH agent forwarding and proxy support
- and more…
To install OpenSSH on Linux, you can use the package manager of your Linux distribution, such as apt, yum, or pacman as shown below.
sudo apt install openssh-server
sudo systemctl enable ssh
sudo systemctl start ssh
OpenSSH pros:
- Free and open source
- Default and standard SSH client
- It is compatible with most Linux distributions and SSH servers
- It is widely used and supported
OpenSSH pros:
- Requires some technical knowledge
- Complex and verbose configuration
- Lacks a graphical user interface and some user-friendly features
MobaXterm
MobaXterm is one of the most popular and professional SSH clients for Linux. MobaXterm is a commercial software that offers a free version with some limitations and a paid version with more features. MobaXterm has a modern and elegant user interface that allows you to manage multiple SSH sessions in tabs. MobaXterm also offers many features such as:
- SSH key generation and authentication
- SSH port forwarding and tunneling
- SSH compression and encryption
- SSH agent forwarding and proxy support
- and more…
MobaXterm pros:
- Modern and elegant user interface
- Rich and comprehensive set of features
- High performance and stability
- Good customer support and documentation
MobaXterm cons:
- Not free and open source
- Premium version has full features
Remmina
Remmina is a versatile and powerful SSH client for Linux. Remmina is a free and open source software that supports SSH, RDP, VNC, NX, XDMCP, SPICE, and EXEC protocols. Remmina also offers many features such as:
- SSH key generation and authentication
- SSH port forwarding and tunneling
- SSH compression and encryption
- SSH agent forwarding and proxy support
- and more…
You can install Remmina by executing the below commands
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:remmina-ppa-team/remmina-next
sudo apt update
sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp remmina-plugin-secret
Remmina pros:
- Free and open source
- Versatile and powerful
- Multi-lingual in 67 languages
- Vompatible with most Linux distributions and SSH servers
Remmina cons:
- It has a steep learning curve and requires some technical knowledge
- It has a complex and verbose configuration
- It may have some compatibility and security issues with some features
SecureCRT
SecureCRT is also a professional and secure SSH clients for Linux. SecureCRT is a commercial software that offers a free trial version and a paid version. SecureCRT supports SSH, Telnet, Serial, and RDP protocols. SecureCRT also offers many features such as:
- SSH key generation and authentication
- SSH port forwarding and tunneling
- SSH terminal emulation and customization
- File transfer and synchronization using SSH
- Remote desktop and graphical applications using SSH
- Scripting and automation using SSH
- and more…
To install SecureCRT on Linux, you can download the executable file from the official website and run it.
SecureCRT pros:
- Professional and secure
- Sophisticated and robust
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Multi-session launch
- SFTP, FTPS (FTP/TLS), HTTPS (WebDAV and Amazon S3), SCP, FTP, and HTTP
SecureCRT cons:
- Not free and open source
KiTTY
KiTTY is a fork and improvement of PuTTY, one of the most well-known and widely used SSH client for Linux which is capable of using GPU. KiTTY is a free and open source software that supports SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, and Serial protocols. KiTTY also offers many features such as:
- SSH key generation and authentication
- SSH port forwarding and tunneling
- Plugins and extensions for SSH
- Programmable
- and more…
KiTTY pros:
- Free and open source
- Programmable tabs
- Support graphics, with images and animations
KiTTY cons:
- Plain and outdated user interface
- Need some technical knowledge to use it
Solar-PuTTY
Solar-PuTTY is a modern and enhanced version of PuTTY, one of the most well-known and widely used SSH client for Linux. Solar-PuTTY is a free software that supports SCP, SSH, Telnet, SFTP protocols. Solar-PuTTY also offers many features such as:
- SSH agent forwarding and proxy support
- SSH keepalive and reconnection
- SSH logging and debugging
- File transfer and synchronization using SSH
- and more…
Solar-PuTTY pros:
- Modern and elegant user interface
- Multi tabbed interface for multiple sessions
- Auto-reconnecting capability
- SFTP file transfer
Solar-PuTTY cons:
- Outdated user interface
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you to find the best SSH clients for Linux. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. And if you liked this article, please share it with your friends and colleagues. Thank you for reading!
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