SSH clients and terminals for Linux
Most Linux users already have OpenSSH on the command line. These tools add a window, saved hosts or file transfer on top of it.
28 tools · facts checked 2026-10-20 · how we check
| name | platforms | price | source | SSH | SFTP | Port forwarding | AI agents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MXterm Pro made by us SSH client Developers who run AI coding agents and SSH sessions together and want one native window, plus phone access to those sessions. | macOSWindowsLinux | Freemium | Proprietary | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| AgentsRoom Agent workspace Developers juggling many projects and agents who want status, backlog and mobile oversight on any desktop OS. | macOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid | Freemium | ? | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Alacritty Terminal Users who want a lean terminal and already handle layouts with tmux or a tiling window manager. | macOSWindowsLinux | Free | Open source | – no | – no | – no | ? not verified |
| Claude Code Desktop Agent workspace Claude subscribers who want a GUI for several parallel Claude Code sessions with worktrees, review and phone continuation. | macOSWindowsLinux | Subscription | ? | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Codex app (now the ChatGPT desktop app) Agent workspace Developers with a ChatGPT subscription who want a first-party GUI for parallel Codex tasks with worktrees and phone follow-up. | macOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid | Freemium | ? | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Cyberduck SFTP client Mac or Windows users who move files between SFTP servers and many cloud storage services. | macOSWindowsLinux | Free | Open source | ? not verified | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified |
| Electerm SSH client Users who want SSH, SFTP and RDP/VNC/serial in one free, open-source app across desktop and mobile. | macOSWindowsLinuxAndroidiOSWeb | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| Emdash Agent workspace Developers on any desktop OS who want a free, open-source worktree-per-task agent manager with SSH remote support and issue-tracker intake. | macOSWindowsLinux | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Ghostty Terminal Mac or Linux users who want a fast native terminal with sensible defaults and little configuration. | macOSLinux | Free | Open source | – no | – no | – no | ? not verified |
| Herdr Agent workspace Developers who live in a terminal and want persistent, status-aware multi-agent sessions across local and SSH machines. | macOSLinuxWindows | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Hyper Terminal Web developers who want a themeable, JavaScript-extensible local terminal. | macOSWindowsLinux | Free | Open source | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified |
| Kitty Terminal Linux or macOS users who want a scriptable GPU terminal with built-in layouts instead of tmux locally. | macOSLinux | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | – no | ? not verified | ? not verified |
| Orca Agent workspace Developers who want a free, open-source, cross-platform app to run several coding agents side by side in separate worktrees. | macOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| Paseo Agent workspace Developers running several coding agents at once who want to monitor and steer them from a phone. | macOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroidWeb | Free | Open source | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| SecureCRT SSH client Network and systems admins who need scripted access to SSH, Telnet and serial devices from Windows, macOS or Linux. | WindowsmacOSLinux | Paid | Proprietary | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ? not verified |
| Splash Agent workspace Developers who want a free, open-source GUI to run several ACP-compatible agents in parallel worktrees across macOS, Windows or Linux. | macOSWindowsLinux | Free | Open source | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Superset Agent workspace Mac developers who want parallel worktree-based agents with scheduled automations and phone follow-up, and can accept a source-available license. | macOSLinuxiOS | Freemium | Proprietary | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| T3 Code Agent workspace Developers who run several agent CLIs and want one open-source UI usable from desktop, browser and phone. | macOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroidWeb | Free | Open source | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Tabby Terminal Users who want one desktop app for local shells, SSH and serial ports with split panes. | macOSWindowsLinuxWeb | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ✓ yes | ? not verified |
| Termius SSH client People who manage the same set of servers from a laptop and a phone and are willing to pay for sync. | macOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid | Freemium | ? | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| Tern Agent workspace Developers running several coding agents in parallel who want worktree isolation, review queue and phone approval for free. | macOSLinux | Free | Proprietary | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Voltius SSH client Windows or Linux users wanting an open-source Termius-style client with self-chosen sync backends. | macOSWindowsLinuxAndroid | Freemium | Open source | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ? not verified |
| Warp Terminal Developers who want an AI-agent-centric terminal with shared workflows and optional team plans. | macOSWindowsLinux | Freemium | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Wave Terminal Terminal Developers who want a graphical, widget-based terminal with remote file editing and AI over SSH. | macOSWindowsLinux | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| WezTerm Terminal Users who want one Lua-scripted terminal with built-in multiplexing and SSH on Windows, macOS and Linux. | macOSWindowsLinux | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified |
| WindTerm Terminal Individuals who want a free multi-protocol terminal with built-in SFTP and tmux support across desktop OSes. | WindowsmacOSLinux | Free | ? | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes | ? not verified |
| Xum (formerly Mux) Agent workspace Developers who want an open-source, model-agnostic agent workspace with worktree and SSH runtimes and browser access. | macOSLinuxWindowsWeb | Free | Open source | ✓ yes | ? not verified | ? not verified | ✓ yes |
| Zellij Terminal Developers who want a modern, configurable multiplexer with layouts and plugins on macOS, Linux or Windows. | macOSLinuxWindows | Free | Open source | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified | ? not verified |
~/notes
- MXterm Pro made by us best for: Developers who run AI coding agents and SSH sessions together and want one native window, plus phone access to those sessions. look elsewhere if: Anyone who needs an X11 server, RDP/VNC, serial consoles or a hosted team vault today.
- AgentsRoom best for: Developers juggling many projects and agents who want status, backlog and mobile oversight on any desktop OS. look elsewhere if: Users wanting an open-source tool or a plain SSH/SFTP client.
- Alacritty best for: Users who want a lean terminal and already handle layouts with tmux or a tiling window manager. look elsewhere if: Anyone who wants built-in tabs, splits, saved SSH hosts or a GUI settings screen.
- Claude Code Desktop best for: Claude subscribers who want a GUI for several parallel Claude Code sessions with worktrees, review and phone continuation. look elsewhere if: Users who want to mix agents from several vendors or need a fully open-source workspace.
- Codex app (now the ChatGPT desktop app) best for: Developers with a ChatGPT subscription who want a first-party GUI for parallel Codex tasks with worktrees and phone follow-up. look elsewhere if: Teams wanting an open-source workspace or one that drives Claude Code and other vendors' agents.
- Cyberduck best for: Mac or Windows users who move files between SFTP servers and many cloud storage services. look elsewhere if: Users who need an interactive SSH terminal or Linux desktop client.
- Electerm best for: Users who want SSH, SFTP and RDP/VNC/serial in one free, open-source app across desktop and mobile. look elsewhere if: Users who need team sharing, audit or admin controls, which the sources do not list.
- Emdash best for: Developers on any desktop OS who want a free, open-source worktree-per-task agent manager with SSH remote support and issue-tracker intake. look elsewhere if: Users who need a mobile companion or a lightweight terminal-only tool.
- Ghostty best for: Mac or Linux users who want a fast native terminal with sensible defaults and little configuration. look elsewhere if: Windows users, or anyone who wants saved SSH hosts, SFTP or tunnels built into the terminal.
- Herdr best for: Developers who live in a terminal and want persistent, status-aware multi-agent sessions across local and SSH machines. look elsewhere if: Users wanting a graphical app with built-in diff review, browser panes or a phone companion.
- Hyper best for: Web developers who want a themeable, JavaScript-extensible local terminal. look elsewhere if: Users who need a built-in SSH/SFTP session manager, serial or port-forwarding UI.
- Kitty best for: Linux or macOS users who want a scriptable GPU terminal with built-in layouts instead of tmux locally. look elsewhere if: Windows users, or anyone wanting a saved-host SSH manager with SFTP and tunnels.
- Orca best for: Developers who want a free, open-source, cross-platform app to run several coding agents side by side in separate worktrees. look elsewhere if: Users who want a plain terminal emulator or SSH client without agent and git-worktree workflow.
- Paseo best for: Developers running several coding agents at once who want to monitor and steer them from a phone. look elsewhere if: Users wanting a general SSH/SFTP client or a hosted, zero-setup agent service.
- SecureCRT best for: Network and systems admins who need scripted access to SSH, Telnet and serial devices from Windows, macOS or Linux. look elsewhere if: Users who want a free tool or built-in cross-device sync.
- Splash best for: Developers who want a free, open-source GUI to run several ACP-compatible agents in parallel worktrees across macOS, Windows or Linux. look elsewhere if: Anyone needing a mature, supported product or a native phone app for steering agents.
- Superset best for: Mac developers who want parallel worktree-based agents with scheduled automations and phone follow-up, and can accept a source-available license. look elsewhere if: Windows users or teams that require an OSI-approved open-source license.
- T3 Code best for: Developers who run several agent CLIs and want one open-source UI usable from desktop, browser and phone. look elsewhere if: Anyone who needs a stable, fully documented, contribution-friendly project today.
- Tabby best for: Users who want one desktop app for local shells, SSH and serial ports with split panes. look elsewhere if: Users who need built-in desktop SFTP file browsing or first-party cloud sync of connections.
- Termius best for: People who manage the same set of servers from a laptop and a phone and are willing to pay for sync. look elsewhere if: Anyone who wants a no-account, fully offline, self-hosted tool or needs documented X11 forwarding.
- Tern best for: Developers running several coding agents in parallel who want worktree isolation, review queue and phone approval for free. look elsewhere if: Users needing a general SSH/SFTP client, Windows support, or open source.
- Voltius best for: Windows or Linux users wanting an open-source Termius-style client with self-chosen sync backends. look elsewhere if: Mac-first users who want a mature, non-experimental macOS build or an iOS app today.
- Warp best for: Developers who want an AI-agent-centric terminal with shared workflows and optional team plans. look elsewhere if: Users who want a classic SSH/serial/port-forwarding client or a terminal with no AI or paid-tier surface.
- Wave Terminal best for: Developers who want a graphical, widget-based terminal with remote file editing and AI over SSH. look elsewhere if: Users who need serial, Telnet, X11 or documented tunnel/SFTP management.
- WezTerm best for: Users who want one Lua-scripted terminal with built-in multiplexing and SSH on Windows, macOS and Linux. look elsewhere if: People who want a GUI host manager, SFTP browser or tunnel manager.
- WindTerm best for: Individuals who want a free multi-protocol terminal with built-in SFTP and tmux support across desktop OSes. look elsewhere if: Users who need Mosh, scripting, sync or active vendor support, or who require fully open source.
- Xum (formerly Mux) best for: Developers who want an open-source, model-agnostic agent workspace with worktree and SSH runtimes and browser access. look elsewhere if: People who want a polished stable Windows app or to run vendor CLIs such as Claude Code inside the app.
- Zellij best for: Developers who want a modern, configurable multiplexer with layouts and plugins on macOS, Linux or Windows. look elsewhere if: Users who want a standalone terminal app, an SSH connection manager, or file transfer.
# MXterm Pro is made by the owner of this site. It is pinned first and labelled; the rest are alphabetical.