The best free SSH clients in 2026 (mobile & desktop)

The best free SSH clients, honestly

"Free" means two different things here: fully free open-source apps (Termux, ConnectBot, PuTTY) and free tiers of commercial apps (Termius Starter, Blink Classic, TermAI free). The right pick depends on your platform and how much you want for $0. Quick version: on Android, Termux or ConnectBot are genuinely free and capable; on desktop, PuTTY is the classic; and if you want a modern mobile client with AI help and SFTP for free, TermAI's free tier is the most generous of the commercial free tiers. Details below.

The options at a glance

Free terms change — verify on each store/site. Accurate as of mid-2026.

Best free on Android

Termux is a fully free, open-source Linux environment — you get a real shell with apt packages, and SSH is just one of the things it does. It's powerful but it's not a managed SSH client (no saved-host GUI). ConnectBot is the opposite: a simple, free, open-source SSH client that's been around forever — great if you just want to connect and type. Both cost nothing and have no upsells. For the full picture — including modern apps with AI and free tiers — see our best SSH client for Android guide.

Best free on desktop

Most "best free SSH client" searches are really about the desktop, especially Windows, where there's no built-in terminal for years of habit. The genuinely free desktop options:

• PuTTY — the free Windows classic: minimal, reliable, open source. Still the default reference point.
• Windows Terminal + OpenSSH — modern Windows now ships the ssh client built in; pair it with the free Windows Terminal app and you may not need PuTTY at all.
• MobaXterm (Home Edition) — free tier bundling SSH, SFTP, X11, and a tabbed UI — the most feature-rich free Windows option.
• WinSCP — free and open source, focused on SFTP/SCP file transfer with a GUI (pairs well with PuTTY).
• KiTTY / Solar-PuTTY — PuTTY forks/wrappers that add sessions, tabs, and saved credentials for free.
• macOS / Linux — the built-in ssh command in Terminal is already free and excellent; add a free terminal like Tabby or Ghostty if you want a nicer UI.

(Note: there's no official PuTTY mobile app — avoid fake APKs on phones.)

Best free modern mobile client

The free tiers of commercial apps differ a lot in what they actually give you. Termius Starter covers the basics but puts sync behind Pro; Blink Classic is free but iOS-only and power-user-focused. TermAI's free tier is unusually generous for a modern client: real SSH and SFTP, built-in Tailscale, and 5 AI requests/day — so even without paying you get the headline feature (describe a task, get a command to review) a handful of times daily, plus the ability to reach private servers.

Best free SSH client by platform

• Windows → PuTTY or the built-in OpenSSH in Windows Terminal; MobaXterm Home if you want SFTP + X11 in one.
• macOS → the built-in ssh in Terminal (free); add Tabby/Ghostty for a nicer UI.
• Linux → the built-in ssh — already there, already free.
• Android → ConnectBot (simple, open source) or Termux (a full Linux environment); TermAI's free tier adds AI + SFTP.
• iPhone / iPad → TermAI free tier or Blink Classic; there's no fully open-source iOS client, so a free tier is the route (see best SSH client for iPhone).

What to watch for in "free"

• Free tier vs free trial: a 1-2 week trial isn't free — check whether the free state is permanent.
• What's gated: sync, SFTP, port forwarding, and AI are common paywall lines. Decide which you actually need.
• Open source ≠ maintained: some free clients are abandoned. Prefer actively updated ones (security matters for SSH).
• Fake "free" apps: especially "PuTTY for iPhone/Android" — there's no official one; use a maintained client instead.

FAQ

What is the best free SSH client?
On Android, Termux (full Linux) or ConnectBot (simple SSH) are fully free. On desktop, PuTTY or the built-in ssh command. For a modern mobile client with AI help and SFTP for free, TermAI's free tier is the most generous of the commercial free tiers.

Is Termius free?
Termius has a free Starter tier, but cloud sync and advanced features require Pro (~$9.99/mo annually). For a cheaper paid tier with AI command generation, TermAI Pro is $2.99/mo.

Is there a free SSH client for iPhone?
Yes — Blink Classic is free (iOS), and TermAI's free tier includes real SSH/SFTP plus 5 AI requests/day. Termius Starter is also free with sync gated behind Pro.

Are free open-source SSH clients safe?
Generally yes if actively maintained — open source means the code is auditable. Avoid abandoned apps and fake clones, especially anything calling itself "PuTTY" on mobile.

What's the best free SSH client for Windows?
PuTTY is the classic, but modern Windows ships OpenSSH built in — run ssh in Windows Terminal and you may not need anything else. For SSH + SFTP + X11 in one free app, MobaXterm Home Edition is the most capable; for file transfer, WinSCP.

Is there a free SSH client with SFTP?
Yes. WinSCP (Windows) and MobaXterm Home are free with SFTP; on mobile, TermAI's free tier includes SFTP, and Secure ShellFish surfaces SFTP in the iOS Files app.

Is PuTTY still the best free SSH client?
It's still solid and free, but it's showing its age — no tabs, dated UI. Windows Terminal + OpenSSH, MobaXterm, or KiTTY are more modern free choices on Windows.

Quick Facts

• Fully free (open source): Termux & ConnectBot (Android), PuTTY (Windows), built-in ssh (Mac/Linux)
• Free tiers: Termius Starter, Blink Classic, TermAI free
• Most generous mobile free tier: TermAI — real SSH/SFTP, built-in Tailscale, 5 AI requests/day
• Watch for: trial-not-tier, gated sync/SFTP, abandoned apps, fake "PuTTY mobile"