PuTTY Alternatives on Windows

Users debate PuTTY's relevance as a Windows SSH client and recommend alternatives like MobaXterm, Bitvise, KiTTY, WinSSHTerm, and native options such as OpenSSH with Windows Terminal or WSL.

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Keywords

COD powershell.exe YzShadow TOAD SSH PC IDE NetConnection WSL2 HN putty ssh windows terminal exe cygwin shell powershell window client

Sample Comments

p-st Feb 3, 2017 View on HN

You could check out WinSSHTerm, a wrapper for PuTTY

andrewguenther Jan 17, 2013 View on HN

It is a nice alternative to Putty on Windows

setq Dec 20, 2016 View on HN

I use putty. Haven't found a compelling reason to use anything else yet.

wruza Dec 12, 2021 View on HN

I’m using WinSSHTerm instead (it joins putty, pageant, file transfer and multiple configs together into a very nice ui, and its terminal works as expected). It is like an IDE of putty-related tools. Putty may be a default ssh window to the unix world, but it’s ui never felt good to me.Some screenshots to get the idea of its ui: https://www.google.com/search?q=winsshterm&tbm=isch<

dingo_bat Feb 22, 2017 View on HN

Try WSL, I think it is a good putty substitute.

nailer Mar 22, 2019 View on HN

Putty was great in 2005, but Windows now includes OpenSSH as part of the OS. Combine that with Fluent Terminal, Hyper 3 Canary or Terminus (or maybe alacritty if you have a tabbed WM) and you can have a much better terminal than what Putty provides.

nailer Aug 8, 2008 View on HN

For Windows, try Poderosa rather than Putty - it's got tabs.

gambiting Dec 13, 2017 View on HN

Bitvise SSH Client is the best one on Windows that I have ever tried. I agree - using Putty sucks massively.

cute_boi Oct 19, 2022 View on HN

actually many people don't use putty and recommending putty in 2022 is not that good. Windows terminal etc can easily do ssh without any hassles.

el_duderino Nov 8, 2015 View on HN

Should check out XShell5. One of the best SSH clients I've used on Windows.