SSH client · Mobatek

MobaXterm

Windows terminal with an SSH client, SFTP browser, X server and RDP and VNC sessions, free in a capped Home edition.

76/100

#3 of 12 SSH clients
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

Home Edition is free, with up to 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels and 4 macros¹.
Professional costs $69 per user, excluding tax, with a lifetime right to use and 12 months of updates¹.
The licence lets an individual use Home at work, but bars company-wide deployment or a shared installation⁴.
The built-in tools cover an SFTP browser, X11 forwarding, SSH gateways (jump hosts), serial, Telnet, RDP and VNC^2,3.
Version 26.5 came out on 2026-09-11; the vendor describes a Windows application with no other system listed^5,6.

MobaXterm suits Windows admins who want connections, SFTP, X11 and remote desktop in one tabbed window^2,3. The free Home edition is capped at 12 sessions, 2 tunnels and 4 macros, so heavy users need Professional at $69¹. The catch: the vendor describes only a Windows application, and the licence does not allow modifying the software^4,6.

Best for: Windows admins who want SSH, SFTP, X11 and remote desktop in one window.

Where the points come from

Connections35 of 35

Keys and security11 of 25

Sessions and workflow18 of 18

Other systems0 of 8

Price12 of 14

Connections 35 of 35 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Built-in SFTP file transfer	YesGraphical SFTP browser opens beside an SSH session; SFTP sessions are also listed^2,3.	7 / 7
SSH agent forwarding	YesRelease 22.2 lets you enable or disable agent authentication and agent forwarding for each SSH session⁵.	6 / 6
X11 forwarding	YesBuilt-in X server with X11 forwarding over SSH, documented in section 4.1^2,3.	5 / 5
Port forwarding	YesA graphical SSH tunnels manager creates port forwards^2,3.	4 / 4
Jump hosts	YesSection 4.10 covers connecting through an SSH gateway (jump host); release 20.3 added multiple jump hosts^3,5.	6 / 6
Serial port connections	YesSerial is a listed session type^2,3.	4 / 4
Other protocols	Telnet, RDP, VNCTelnet, RDP and VNC are listed session types².	3 / 3

Keys and security 11 of 25 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Key generator and key agent	YesMobaKeyGen creates SSH keys; the embedded MobAgent SSH agent loads them^3,5.	5 / 5
Security key or smart card login	YesRelease 26.4 (2026-06-11) added smart card certificate authentication in SSH sessions through Microsoft CryptoAPI⁵.	6 / 6
Saved logins locked by a master password	Not publishedA master password protects saved session passwords; the pages do not say it also locks saved keys or passphrases^2,3.	0 / 6
Open source	NoLicence is freeware under a vendor agreement and does not allow modifying the software; source is offered for some components only⁴.	0 / 6
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's home or licence pages^4,6.	0 / 2

Sessions and workflow 18 of 18 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Saved sessions in folders	YesSessions are saved in a sidebar and organised in session folders³.	4 / 4
Scripting or automation	YesCommand-line parameters such as -exec run a command; macros replay recorded input^2,3.	5 / 5
Sync saved sessions between devices	YesDocumented: put a sessions file or the .ini configuration on a shared location and point other installs to it³.	4 / 4
Portable version	YesThe Home Edition download offers a portable edition and an installer edition^1,5.	2 / 2
Updated in the last 12 months	YesVersion 26.5 is dated 2026-09-11 in the changelog⁵.	3 / 3

Other systems 0 of 8 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Other systems	NoneHome page calls it a single Windows application; documentation presents it as a Windows tool and lists no other system^3,6.	0 / 8

Price 12 of 14 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free for work use	YesFree Home Edition with no time limit; the licence lets an individual use it in a company, with restrictions on deployment and sharing⁴.	6 / 6
Cheapest uncapped edition, per year	$23/yrProfessional: $69 per user, lifetime right to use, so $69 divided by 3. Home is capped at 12 sessions¹.	6 / 8

The rule behind each line: how we score SSH clients.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
Home Edition1 person (individual end user)	Free^1,4	$0	Up to 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels, 4 macros; portable and installer builds
Professional Edition1 person per licence	$69 per user, one-time¹	–	Unlimited sessions, tunnels and macros; lifetime right to use; 12 months of updates; excludes tax

The $69 Professional price is shown excluding tax, with volume discounts available; the page lists 12 months of updates¹.

Strengths

SSH, Telnet, RDP, VNC, serial and SFTP sessions open from one window^2,3.
Jump hosts, X11 forwarding, tunnels and a graphical SFTP browser are built in^2,3.
Release notes list SSH agent forwarding per session and, since 26.4, smart card certificate sign-in for SSH⁵.
Professional is a one-off $69 with a lifetime right to use¹.
Portable and installer builds of Home are both offered^1,5.

Limits

Home Edition caps sessions at 12, SSH tunnels at 2 and macros at 4¹.
Home cannot be deployed inside a company or shared on one installation⁴.
Only Windows is described; no macOS, Linux or mobile app is listed^3,6.
The licence does not allow modifying the software⁴.
Professional includes 12 months of updates, not lifetime updates¹.

Other SSH clients

1
TabbyPeople who want a free, open-source terminal with SSH built in
81/100
$0cheapest uncapped edition, per year
2
TermiusPeople who connect from a PC and a phone and want saved hosts to sync
80/100
$0cheapest uncapped edition, per year
4
SecureCRTAdmins who want a paid, scriptable client with a one-time licence
71/100
$39.67/yrcheapest uncapped edition, per year
5
Royal TSAdmins who manage many servers over SSH, RDP and VNC from one document
69/100
$18.27/yrcheapest uncapped edition, per year

MobaXterm vs Tabby · MobaXterm vs Termius · All 12 SSH clients

Sources

MobaXterm download: Home and Professional editions, Mobatek. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
MobaXterm features, Mobatek. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
MobaXterm documentation, Mobatek. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
MobaXterm licence, Mobatek. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
MobaXterm Home Edition download and changelog, Mobatek. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
MobaXterm: enhanced terminal for Windows, Mobatek. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: mobaxterm.mobatek.net · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Mobatek.