// PuTTY alternative · 2026

The best free PuTTY alternative for Windows in 2026.

Termax replaces PuTTY, PuTTYgen and WinSCP with a single modern app: real terminal, integrated SFTP file manager, in-app SSH key generation and — if you want it — end-to-end encrypted sync with your phone. Free, no account required, actively developed, made in Germany.

Download for Windows.exe · Windows 10/11 · 118 MB Try in browserQuick Connect · no install

Free · no account · no subscription · no telemetry without your consent.

Connects to any SSH server

  • Ubuntu
  • Debian
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Proxmox
  • Hetzner
  • IONOS
  • Contabo
  • DigitalOcean
  • AWS

// Termax vs PuTTY

Everything PuTTY does — plus what it's been missing for 20 years

PuTTY has been the default free SSH client on Windows since 1999 — reliable, but frozen in time. Termax gives you the same reliability with the features modern developers expect out of the box.

FeaturePuTTYTermax
SSH terminal (colour, mouse, keyboard)✓✓
Free & open to use✓✓
Modern UI (xterm.js, dark mode)—✓
Built-in SFTP file manager—✓
SSH key generation in-app (no PuTTYgen)—✓
Connection manager (searchable, groups)—✓
Automatic ~/.ssh/config import—✓
Snippets / saved commands—✓
Android version—✓
End-to-end encrypted sync (PC ↔ phone)—✓
Actively developed (2026)—✓
Credentials at rest via OS keystore—✓ DPAPI

PuTTY is still a solid choice for pure terminal use. For most modern workflows — where you also need to move files (SFTP), manage many hosts, or work on both desktop and mobile — Termax removes the need to juggle multiple tools.

// Migration

Moving from PuTTY to Termax in five minutes

  • 01
    Install the Termax .exe. Standard Windows installer, ~118 MB. No account required.
  • 02
    Termax reads your ~/.ssh/config automatically. If you already use OpenSSH's config file (as most modern workflows do), your hosts appear in the connection list at first launch.
  • 03
    For registry-based PuTTY sessions, re-add them once. Termax stores them in an encrypted local vault (Windows DPAPI). This is the last time you'll type those settings.
  • 04
    Generate a new SSH key if you want — directly in Termax. ed25519 or RSA, one click, no ssh-keygen or PuTTYgen. The private key is encrypted at rest.
  • 05
    Optional: enable end-to-end encrypted sync. If you install Termax on Android too, your connections travel with you. The sync server only ever sees ciphertext (Argon2id + AES-256-GCM).

// Download

Try Termax now — it's free.

Windows installer directly here — no signup form, no marketing emails. Android via Google Play or as a direct APK.

Termax for Windows

.exe installer · Windows 10/11 (64-bit)

Download Windows installer

v0.5.3118 MB

Not yet code-signed: on the SmartScreen prompt click "More info" → "Run anyway".

// FAQ

Termax as a PuTTY alternative — common questions

Is Termax really a full PuTTY replacement?
Yes. Termax provides everything PuTTY offers — SSH terminal with colour, mouse and keyboard, host key verification, key-based authentication — and adds what PuTTY is missing: a built-in SFTP file manager, in-app SSH key generation (no PuTTYgen), automatic ~/.ssh/config import, saved connections in a connection manager, and an Android version.
Is Termax free like PuTTY?
Yes. Termax is completely free, with no premium tier, no ads and no telemetry by default. Unlike PuTTY, it's actively developed with a modern UI and bundles features you'd otherwise download three separate tools for (PuTTY, PuTTYgen, WinSCP).
Can Termax import my PuTTY sessions?
Termax reads your standard ~/.ssh/config automatically on Windows, which is the OpenSSH format most modern setups use. PuTTY sessions are stored in the Windows registry in a proprietary format; you can either export them as OpenSSH config or re-enter them once in Termax — a one-time step because the connections are then permanently saved and (optionally) synced across devices.
Does Termax work on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes, Termax runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit). The installer is a standard .exe; the app uses Windows DPAPI to encrypt your credentials at rest.
What about macOS and Linux?
Native macOS and Linux builds are on the roadmap. In the meantime you can use Termax right in your browser via Quick Connect on termax.app — a full terminal that works from any modern browser, no install required.
Is Termax open source?
Termax is freeware, not open source. Your credentials never leave the device unencrypted; the optional sync server stores only ciphertext (Argon2id + AES-256-GCM). If open-source is a hard requirement for you, PuTTY and OpenSSH remain great tools — Termax is aimed at users who want the modern UX and mobile parity without a subscription.