Choosing an SSH Client for Windows: Start With Your Workflow

If you only need to connect to a server and run a command, Windows already has a capable SSH client. A third-party app becomes useful when you want saved sessions, a graphical file browser, multiple terminals, or other tools alongside your shell.

The best choice depends less on which client has the longest feature list and more on what you do after connecting.

First, try the built-in OpenSSH client

Recent Windows 10 and Windows 11 versions include the OpenSSH client. Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell and try:

ssh user@server.example.com

It supports SSH keys and the standard ~/.ssh/config file, so you can save connection details as aliases rather than retyping hostnames and usernames. If the client isn’t installed, Windows lets you add it as an optional feature; PowerShell can also install it with:

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Client

For a connection you use often, a config entry can keep the command short:

Host staging
  HostName server.example.com
  User deploy

Then connect with ssh staging. The built-in client is a good baseline for occasional sessions, scripts, and anyone who prefers the command line. Its trade-off is that it doesn’t provide a graphical session manager or SFTP browser. The PowerShell SSH guide covers more Windows command-line examples, including keys and custom ports.

Match the client to the job

Here’s a practical way to narrow the options:

These are different kinds of tools, not interchangeable versions of the same interface. A file-transfer client may include a terminal, but that doesn’t necessarily make the terminal its main strength. Likewise, a terminal-focused app may not offer a graphical file browser.

When a lightweight client is enough

PuTTY is a straightforward, free, open-source SSH client. It’s a reasonable pick for occasional connections or when you want a small, dedicated application. It supports saved sessions, but doesn’t provide native tabs; its bundled PSFTP and PSCP tools handle file transfers separately from the main client.

Windows Terminal with OpenSSH is another good fit when you don’t need a graphical interface. It uses the familiar ssh command and SSH config, and the sftp command is available for command-line file transfers. You can also use multiple terminal tabs in Windows Terminal, though it doesn’t provide an SSH-specific saved-session browser.

When file transfer is the main task

If most of your remote work involves uploading, downloading, or managing files, start with WinSCP. Its interface is built around file transfer, including SFTP and SCP, and it also supports protocols such as FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, and Amazon S3. It can automate transfers through scripting and a command-line interface.

WinSCP has a basic terminal option, but its primary role is file management. If you’re choosing specifically for file transfers, this comparison of SFTP clients can help distinguish file-focused tools from general SSH terminals.

When you want more than a terminal

MobaXterm bundles several Windows-focused tools, including SSH, an X11 server, RDP/VNC support, embedded Unix commands, and an SFTP browser that opens with an SSH session. That can be convenient if you want one application for varied remote-access tasks. Before deploying it at work, check the edition’s licensing and installation conditions; the free Home and Professional editions have different terms.

Bitvise is another Windows-only option, with terminal access, graphical and command-line SFTP, and tunneling. Its client is free for use without functional restrictions, including in commercial environments.

Tabby is an open-source terminal for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with SSH, built-in SFTP, and plugins. It suits people who value customization and a modern interface. Because it’s an Electron app, it may not feel as lightweight as PuTTY or Bitvise.

Termius is worth considering if you want your host list available across desktop and mobile devices. Its free Starter plan includes SSH and SFTP; cross-device sync is part of Pro, which uses an account-based cloud vault. Consider whether that sync model fits your preferences before choosing it.

A short decision checklist

Before installing anything, ask:

1. How often do I connect? For an occasional shell session, OpenSSH may already be enough.
2. Do I move files regularly? Choose a client where SFTP is a first-class workflow, such as WinSCP.
3. Do I need a toolbox or a focused app? MobaXterm bundles utilities; PuTTY keeps things simple.
4. Do I switch devices? A synced host list can help, but check how the app stores and syncs account data.
5. Does the license fit my use? “Free” and “open source” aren’t synonyms, and some free editions have deployment conditions.

For most Windows users, a sensible starting point is the built-in OpenSSH client. Add a graphical client when a specific need—such as file transfers, session organization, or bundled remote-access tools—makes the extra interface worthwhile.

I originally published a more detailed version of this guide on the SSHFlow blog.

I'm also building SSHFlow — an SSH client where every server gets its own workspace for terminals, SFTP, code, and databases.