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Putty for Mac vs Xshell

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs.

Putty for Mac icon
Putty for Mac
Xshell icon
Xshell

Putty for Mac vs Xshell: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

Putty for Mac: Putty is a popular SSH and telnet client for Windows. For Mac users, some good alternatives are Termius, Secure Shellfish, and iTerm2. These provide similar connectivity options with added features like multi-tab terminal access, encrypted connection saving, and rich text formatting.

Xshell: Xshell is a terminal emulator and SSH client for Windows and macOS. It provides secure remote access, file transfer, and network troubleshooting capabilities via SSH, Telnet, RDP, VNC, SFTP, and other protocols.

Both tools serve their respective audiences. Compare the features, pricing, and user ratings above to determine which best fits your needs.

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature Putty for Mac Xshell
Sugggest Score — —
Category Network & Admin Network & Admin
Pricing Open Source —

Product Overview

Putty for Mac
Putty for Mac

Description: Putty is a popular SSH and telnet client for Windows. For Mac users, some good alternatives are Termius, Secure Shellfish, and iTerm2. These provide similar connectivity options with added features like multi-tab terminal access, encrypted connection saving, and rich text formatting.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

Xshell
Xshell

Description: Xshell is a terminal emulator and SSH client for Windows and macOS. It provides secure remote access, file transfer, and network troubleshooting capabilities via SSH, Telnet, RDP, VNC, SFTP, and other protocols.

Type: software

Key Features Comparison

Putty for Mac
Putty for Mac Features
  • SSH client
  • Telnet client
  • Serial console client
  • SCP file transfer
  • Proxying features
  • Session logging
Xshell
Xshell Features
  • Secure remote access via SSH, Telnet, RDP, VNC, SFTP, and other protocols
  • Tabbed interface for managing multiple sessions
  • Scripting and automation capabilities
  • Port forwarding and tunneling support
  • Customizable terminal emulation
  • SFTP browser and file transfer
  • SSH key management and authentication
  • Session recording and replay

Pros & Cons Analysis

Putty for Mac
Putty for Mac

Pros

  • Free and open source
  • Lightweight and fast
  • Supports many network protocols
  • Highly configurable
  • Available for many platforms

Cons

  • No native Mac version
  • Limited UI compared to alternatives
  • Fewer features than competitors
Xshell
Xshell

Pros

  • Secure and stable remote access
  • Powerful terminal emulation and SSH client
  • Easy to use interface
  • Good scripting support
  • Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Cons

  • Expensive licensing model
  • Limited free version
  • Steep learning curve for advanced features

Pricing Comparison

Putty for Mac
Putty for Mac
  • Open Source
Xshell
Xshell
  • Not listed

Related Comparisons

Learn More About Each Product

Putty for Mac
Putty for Mac
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →
Xshell
Xshell
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →

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