SSHTermaq GitHub

Free and open source · Windows and macOS

The SSH client for people who grew up on PuTTY

SSHTermaq keeps everything PuTTY does – your sessions, keys and settings – and adds tabs, split panes and a real file manager. SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, Raw and serial.

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Latest release · Release notes

SSHTermaq with two terminal panes side by side: a live server overview and a scrolling web server log

Everything in one window

Tabs, split panes and broadcast input

Open each server in a tab, split any tab into panes, and type into all of them at once when the same command has to run everywhere.

A file manager, not just a terminal

Every SSH session has an SFTP panel beside the terminal, and a two-pane file manager shows your computer and the server side by side. Drag files between them or to and from Explorer and Finder, watch the transfer queue, resume interrupted transfers, edit remote files in your own editor and keep folders in sync. No SFTP on the server? It falls back to SCP.

Find anything in a keystroke

The command palette finds sessions and commands as you type. Sessions live in folders with colours and notes, and every shortcut can be changed.

The command palette listing sessions and commands
A terminal with the SFTP panel open beside it

SFTP next to the shell

Browse, upload and download without leaving the terminal.

The key generator showing a new Ed25519 key

Key generator

Ed25519, RSA and ECDSA keys, saved as OpenSSH or PuTTY .ppk.

The theme picker with a grid of themes

Themes

Built-in themes from Dracula to Solarized, plus your own colour schemes.

A prompt asking whether to trust a new server's host key

Safe by default

Host keys are checked on every connection, and saved passwords are encrypted by the operating system.

And everything else you expect

  • Protocols: SSH-2, Telnet, Rlogin, Raw TCP and serial ports
  • Sign-in: password, keys, two-factor (keyboard-interactive), Pageant and ssh-agent
  • Forwarding: local, remote and dynamic (SOCKS) ports, agent and X11 forwarding
  • Getting there: jump hosts, SOCKS, HTTP and Telnet proxies, proxy commands
  • Terminal: PuTTY's keyboard modes and character sets, find, zoom, copy on select
  • Links: ssh://, sftp://, scp:// and telnet:// open in SSHTermaq

Coming from PuTTY?

You don't start over. SSHTermaq reads what PuTTY already knows.

  • Imports your saved sessions, Default Settings and trusted host keys – from the registry, a .reg file or ~/.putty
  • Uses your .ppk keys (v2 and v3) and OpenSSH keys
  • Understands PuTTY's command line: -ssh, -P, -l, -i, -load, -L/-R/-D and more
  • Has PuTTY's settings, from keyboard modes to proxy options
  • Also imports hosts from your OpenSSH ~/.ssh/config
The Import from PuTTY dialog listing five sessions

Download

Free, no account, no ads.

Windows

Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit

Microsoft Store

Recommended
Get it from Microsoft Store

Signed by Microsoft, so Windows installs it without warnings, and it updates itself.

Direct download

Installer .exe Portable .zip

Not code-signed yet: SmartScreen warns once (More info › Run anyway). The zip needs no install or admin rights.

Needs the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime, which Windows 11 and up-to-date Windows 10 already have.

macOS

macOS 12 Monterey or later

Disk image

Recommended
Apple silicon .dmg Intel .dmg

Signed and notarized by Apple: it opens without warnings. Also as .zip: Apple silicon, Intel.

Homebrew

brew install --cask f1resh/tap/sshtermaq

Later versions arrive with brew upgrade.

Which one? Apple menu › About This Mac: a chip called "Apple M…" means Apple silicon, an Intel processor means Intel.

Older versions and the source code are on GitHub Releases.

Questions

Is it really free?

Yes. SSHTermaq is open source under the MIT license: no price, no subscription, no account and no ads. The Microsoft Store and Homebrew versions are the same app, free as well.

Where are my sessions stored?

On your computer only: in %APPDATA%\SSHTermaq on Windows and ~/Library/Application Support/SSHTermaq on macOS. On Windows a portable copy can keep everything next to the program instead.

Are my passwords safe?

Saving a password is optional. When you do, it is encrypted with the operating system's protection for your user account (Windows DPAPI, or a key kept in the macOS Keychain). Keys and agents are always the better choice, and both are supported.

Does it send anything anywhere?

No. SSHTermaq connects only to the servers you open, and has no telemetry or update pings. See the privacy policy.

Windows says "Windows protected your PC". Is that normal?

Yes, for the installer and zip from GitHub: they aren't code-signed yet, and SmartScreen warns about programs it doesn't know. The Microsoft Store version is signed by Microsoft and installs without the warning, so we recommend it. If you use the download, choose More info › Run anyway; the source code and every release are public on GitHub.

Which Mac download do I need?

Apple menu › About This Mac: a chip called "Apple M…" means Apple silicon; a processor called "Intel" means Intel.

Is there a Linux version?

Not yet. SSHTermaq runs on Windows and macOS today.

Where do I report a bug or ask for a feature?

On GitHub Issues.