PuTTY is still a solid SSH client. The reason to replace it usually isn’t that it has stopped working; it’s that your workflow needs more than a terminal window. Maybe you want tabs, a graphical SFTP browser, or the same saved connections on your laptop and phone.
The useful question is: what do you want your next SSH client to do that PuTTY doesn’t?
Match the tool to the job
| If you need… | A reasonable place to start |
|---|---|
| A terminal and nothing else | OpenSSH on Windows or Linux |
| PuTTY’s familiar approach with tabs | KiTTY |
| A free Windows client with graphical file transfer | Bitvise SSH Client |
| A broad Windows toolbox | MobaXterm |
| Saved connections across desktop and mobile | Termius |
These tools solve different problems, so a long feature checklist can be less useful than deciding what you do most often.
You mainly need a terminal
On Linux, the OpenSSH client is a straightforward command-line alternative. On Windows, OpenSSH is available in Windows 10 and 11, and Windows Terminal can give you tabs and panes around your sessions.
A saved host entry in ~/.ssh/config can make repeat connections simpler:
Host lab
HostName 192.0.2.20
User alex
Connect with:
ssh lab
This is a good fit if you’re comfortable in a terminal and don’t need a graphical session manager or file browser. For a broader look at options, see this comparison of SSH clients for Windows.
You want PuTTY, but with tabs
KiTTY is a PuTTY fork that keeps a similar interface and adds features such as tabs and session filters. That familiarity is its main advantage: you can change the way you organize connections without adopting a completely different style of client.
It remains a terminal-focused option, though. If the problem is that moving files or browsing remote directories is awkward, tabs alone won’t address it.
File transfer is the missing piece
PuTTY includes command-line tools such as psftp and pscp, but it doesn’t provide a graphical file browser inside its terminal window. If you want to browse remote files through a GUI, Bitvise SSH Client is a practical Windows option with a graphical SFTP interface. MobaXterm also includes an SFTP browser alongside its terminal sessions.
The distinction matters: a client can support SFTP without providing a graphical way to use it. If you’re comparing terminal clients, file-transfer applications, and remote desktop access more broadly, this overview of SSH GUI tools explains the different categories.
You want more than an SSH terminal
MobaXterm is an all-in-one Windows toolbox: in addition to SSH sessions, it offers an SFTP browser and supports other remote-access protocols. That breadth can be useful if you regularly switch between different kinds of connections. It can also feel busier than a focused SSH client.
Termius is another option if you want your saved sessions and related information available across desktop and mobile devices. That cross-device workflow is different from simply opening more terminal tabs, so consider whether you’ll actually connect from multiple devices before choosing it.
Don’t replace PuTTY just to replace it
PuTTY may still be the simplest fit when you connect occasionally, need a lightweight terminal client, or work on a computer where it is already installed and approved. It also supports port forwarding, serial connections, Telnet, and rlogin. If one of those is part of your routine, check that a replacement supports it before switching.
A tool with more features isn’t automatically a better tool. More interfaces and settings can mean more to configure and maintain. If a single terminal window does the job, keeping PuTTY is a perfectly sensible choice.
Check keys before you switch
A client change can involve key-format differences. PuTTYgen works with PuTTY key files, while OpenSSH uses ssh-keygen to create and manage keys. Before switching, check that the new client can use your existing key or determine whether it needs conversion.
Treat private keys as credentials: keep them secure, make a protected backup before changing formats, and never share them. Only the public key belongs on the server or in a service’s SSH-key settings.
A simple way to decide
Try to name the one thing that makes your current setup inconvenient:
- Too many separate windows? Try a client with tabs or better session organization.
- Moving files is clumsy? Choose an option with a graphical SFTP browser.
- You only need a terminal? Try OpenSSH before installing another GUI.
- You connect from several devices? Look at cross-device session support.
- You rely on tunneling or serial access? Confirm those capabilities first.
Pick the smallest change that fixes the actual problem. PuTTY is still a useful tool; a replacement is worthwhile when it makes a frequent task easier, not merely because another client has a longer feature list.
I originally published a more detailed version of this guide on the SSHFlow blog.
I'm also building SSHFlow — an SSH client where every server gets its own workspace for terminals, SFTP, code, and databases.
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