OpenSSH vs PuTTY

Struggling to choose between OpenSSH and PuTTY? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

OpenSSH is a Security & Privacy solution with tags like ssh, remote-access, encryption, secure-shell.

It boasts features such as Secure remote login, Secure file transfer, Secure port forwarding, Support for various authentication methods (e.g., password, public key), Encryption of network traffic using strong ciphers, Support for various operating systems (e.g., Linux, macOS, Windows), Compatibility with a wide range of network devices and protocols and pros including Highly secure and reliable, Free and open-source software, Widely adopted and well-supported, Customizable and extensible, Cross-platform compatibility.

On the other hand, PuTTY is a Network & Admin product tagged with terminal-emulator, ssh-client, remote-access, command-line.

Its standout features include SSH client, Telnet client, Rlogin client, Raw socket connection, Serial port connection, Basic file transfer (SCP and SFTP), Proxying for tunneling connections through HTTP proxies, Local terminal emulator (with VT100 and VT52 emulation), Configurable keyboard shortcuts, Session logging, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Lightweight and fast, Supports multiple network protocols, Available for Windows, with unofficial ports for other platforms, Highly configurable with many options, Actively developed and maintained.

Feature	OpenSSH	PuTTY
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Security & Privacy	Network & Admin

Product Overview

OpenSSH

Description: OpenSSH is a free and open source suite of network connectivity tools for remote login and other secure network services over an unsecured network. It provides secure encrypted communication channels between two devices.

PuTTY

Description: PuTTY is a popular open-source terminal emulator and SSH client for Windows. Developed by Simon Tatham, PuTTY provides a lightweight and versatile tool for connecting to remote servers using various network protocols, including SSH, Telnet, and Rlogin. It is widely used for secure and convenient command-line access to remote systems.

Key Features Comparison

OpenSSH Features

• Secure remote login
• Secure file transfer
• Secure port forwarding
• Support for various authentication methods (e.g., password, public key)
• Encryption of network traffic using strong ciphers
• Support for various operating systems (e.g., Linux, macOS, Windows)
• Compatibility with a wide range of network devices and protocols

PuTTY Features

• SSH client
• Telnet client
• Rlogin client
• Raw socket connection
• Serial port connection
• Basic file transfer (SCP and SFTP)
• Proxying for tunneling connections through HTTP proxies
• Local terminal emulator (with VT100 and VT52 emulation)
• Configurable keyboard shortcuts
• Session logging

Pros & Cons Analysis

OpenSSH

Pros

• Highly secure and reliable
• Free and open-source software
• Widely adopted and well-supported
• Customizable and extensible
• Cross-platform compatibility

Cons

• Requires some technical knowledge to configure and use
• May have performance overhead compared to some proprietary alternatives
• Lacks some advanced features found in commercial SSH clients

PuTTY

Pros

• Free and open source
• Lightweight and fast
• Supports multiple network protocols
• Available for Windows, with unofficial ports for other platforms
• Highly configurable with many options
• Actively developed and maintained

Cons

• Official builds only for Windows
• Limited file transfer capabilities compared to FTP/SFTP clients
• Minimalist interface lacks some conveniences of other SSH clients
• Lacks advanced SSH features like agent forwarding or port tunneling
• No official support offered

Pricing Comparison

OpenSSH

• Open Source

PuTTY

• Free
• Open Source