PuTTY vs OpenSSH

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

PuTTY is a Network & Admin solution with tags like terminal-emulator, ssh-client, remote-access, command-line.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including 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.

On the other hand, OpenSSH is a Security & Privacy product tagged with ssh, remote-access, encryption, secure-shell.

Its standout features include 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 it shines with pros like Highly secure and reliable, Free and open-source software, Widely adopted and well-supported, Customizable and extensible, Cross-platform compatibility.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

PuTTY

PuTTY

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.

Categories:
terminal-emulator ssh-client remote-access command-line

PuTTY Features

  1. SSH client
  2. Telnet client
  3. Rlogin client
  4. Raw socket connection
  5. Serial port connection
  6. Basic file transfer (SCP and SFTP)
  7. Proxying for tunneling connections through HTTP proxies
  8. Local terminal emulator (with VT100 and VT52 emulation)
  9. Configurable keyboard shortcuts
  10. Session logging

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

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


OpenSSH

OpenSSH

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.

Categories:
ssh remote-access encryption secure-shell

OpenSSH Features

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

Pricing

  • Open Source

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