Best PuTTY Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to PuTTY? In this comparison, we take a closer look at PuTTY alongside similar software solutions including PuTTY, Xshell and Bitvise SSH Client.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how PuTTY, Xshell and Bitvise SSH Client stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

	License and Cost	Supported Protocols	Key Features
PuTTY	Free and open-source software under the MIT license.	Supports SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, raw TCP, and serial connections.	Lightweight terminal emulator with dynamic port forwarding, SSH key authentication, portable version available.
Xshell	Paid software with a 30-day trial version; requires a license after trial.	Supports SSH (SSH-1 and SSH-2), Telnet, Rlogin, Serial connections, SFTP, SOCKS4/5.	Highly customizable interface with tabbed sessions, powerful scripting capabilities (JScript, VBScript, Python), built-in file transfer manager.
Bitvise SSH Client	Offers a fully functional, non-expiring free version for personal use; commercial use requires a license.	Supports SSH, SFTP, SCP with several standard encryption algorithms.	User-friendly interface with flexible file transfers, strong encryption methods (AES, Blowfish), support for remote access and administration.

License and Cost

PuTTY	Free and open-source software under the MIT license.
Xshell	Paid software with a 30-day trial version; requires a license after trial.
Bitvise SSH Client	Offers a fully functional, non-expiring free version for personal use; commercial use requires a license.

Supported Protocols

PuTTY	Supports SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, raw TCP, and serial connections.
Xshell	Supports SSH (SSH-1 and SSH-2), Telnet, Rlogin, Serial connections, SFTP, SOCKS4/5.
Bitvise SSH Client	Supports SSH, SFTP, SCP with several standard encryption algorithms.

Key Features

PuTTY	Lightweight terminal emulator with dynamic port forwarding, SSH key authentication, portable version available.
Xshell	Highly customizable interface with tabbed sessions, powerful scripting capabilities (JScript, VBScript, Python), built-in file transfer manager.
Bitvise SSH Client	User-friendly interface with flexible file transfers, strong encryption methods (AES, Blowfish), support for remote access and administration.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how PuTTY stacks up against PuTTY, Xshell and Bitvise SSH Client in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.

	Size	License	Popularity
PuTTY	0.5MB	Open Source	100%
Xshell		Freeware	0%
Bitvise SSH Client	21.9MB	Commercial	4%

Size

PuTTY	0.5MB
Xshell
Bitvise SSH Client	21.9MB

License

PuTTY	Open Source
Xshell	Freeware
Bitvise SSH Client	Commercial

Rating

PuTTY
Xshell
Bitvise SSH Client

Popularity

PuTTY	100%
Xshell	0%
Bitvise SSH Client	4%