Connection manager
Save every server once and reconnect with one click. Search by name, tag, or hostname. No more typing ssh user@host for the 100th time.
// SSH client for Windows · 2026
The free SSH client for Windows that replaces three tools.
Termax for Windows 10 and 11: SSH terminal, SFTP file manager, SSH key generation, a saved-connection manager, tunnels and a serial console – one installer, no account, no subscription required. The modern alternative to PuTTY + PuTTYgen + WinSCP.
Free, sync included · no account needed · no AI reading along · made in Germany
Connects to any SSH server
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Raspberry Pi
- Proxmox
- Hetzner
- IONOS
- Contabo
- DigitalOcean
- AWS
// What you get
Everything Windows admins were installing separately, in one app
Real xterm.js terminal
Full colour, mouse selection, resizable, with the modern rendering you're used to from Windows Terminal.
SFTP file manager
The panel WinSCP gives you – inside the same window as your terminal, connected to the same session.
SSH key generation
ed25519 or RSA, one click. No PuTTYgen, no ssh-keygen. Keys are stored encrypted at rest.
~/.ssh/config auto-import
If you already use OpenSSH's config file, Termax reads it on first launch and your hosts are ready.
Windows DPAPI encryption
Credentials at rest are encrypted with the Windows platform keystore. Without an account they never leave your device.
Jump hosts (ProxyJump)
Reach the target through up to three bastion hosts, like ssh -J – Termax imports the ProxyJump entries from your ~/.ssh/config as well.
Port forwarding and SOCKS5
Local and remote tunnels plus a dynamic SOCKS5 proxy. “Open web interface…” brings Proxmox, Home Assistant or your router into your browser through a tunnel.
Serial console and Telnet
A COM port for Cisco consoles, routers and microcontrollers, preset to 9600 8N1, plus Telnet for devices without SSH. No need to keep PuTTY around for that any more.
// Windows 11
Isn’t the built-in OpenSSH client enough?
Windows 11 ships an OpenSSH client out of the box, and for a single quick connection it is the fastest thing available. For a working day spread across dozens of servers, a few things are missing.
TaskOpenSSH in Windows 11Termax
Connect to one server once✓ ideal✓
Manage and find dozens of hostsText file only✓ searchable list
Transfer filesscp / sftp on the console✓ graphical file manager
Generate SSH keysssh-keygen on the console✓ one click
Store credentials encrypted×✓ Windows DPAPI
Same hosts on your phone×✓ end-to-end sync
Tunnels and jump hosts-L / -R / -D / -J on the console✓ in the editor
Serial console (COM)×✓ 9600 8N1
Usable without installing anything✓ preinstalled✓ via browser
Termax does not replace ssh.exe — it builds the workspace around it. If you only ever touch one server, you do not need it. If you manage twenty, it saves you time every day. See also the PuTTY alternative and the WinSCP alternative.
// Download
Install Termax on Windows
Standard .exe installer. No adware, no bundled toolbars, no signup.
Termax for Windows
v0.8.3102 MB
Not yet code-signed: on the SmartScreen prompt click "More info" → "Run anyway".
Or try in the browser first
A real SSH terminal directly in your browser. Great for a quick check without installing anything.
// FAQ
SSH client for Windows – common questions
What's the best free SSH client for Windows 10 and 11?
The options people usually pick from are PuTTY, MobaXterm (the free Home edition is capped at 12 sessions and 2 tunnels), WinSCP for files, and Windows Terminal + the built-in
ssh command. Termax is a newer free option that bundles what PuTTY, PuTTYgen and WinSCP do together – real SSH terminal, SFTP file manager, SSH key generation and a saved-connection manager, plus jump hosts, port forwarding with SOCKS5, Telnet and a serial console – and adds a matching Android app with optional end-to-end sync.Does Windows have a built-in SSH client I should just use?
Yes – since Windows 10 there's an OpenSSH client in the command line (
ssh.exe). Fine for one-off connections. For everyday work with dozens of hosts, saved connections, SFTP file transfers and mobile parity, a full client like Termax is a big time-saver.Does Termax work with Windows Terminal or PowerShell?
Termax is a standalone Windows app – you don't need Windows Terminal or PowerShell. It has its own xterm.js-based terminal. Nothing stops you from using both: Windows Terminal for local shells, Termax for managing remote SSH.
Is Termax safe to install on Windows?
Yes. Termax uses Windows DPAPI to encrypt SSH credentials at rest, verifies server host keys against MITM, and has no telemetry by default. The installer is not yet code-signed by a paid EV certificate, so Windows SmartScreen shows a warning on first install – click More info → Run anyway.
Is there a portable version?
Not yet. The current release is a regular Windows installer. A portable ZIP is on the roadmap for people who want to run Termax from a USB stick or in locked-down environments.