---
title: SecureCRT
canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/securecrt/
category: SSH Clients
points: 71
rank: 4 of 12
facts_checked: 2026-10-08
---

# SecureCRT

Paid terminal client for Windows, macOS and Linux with SSH, Telnet, serial, tabs and scripting.

71 points out of 100. #4 of 12 SSH clients. Vendor: VanDyke Software. Website: https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/

- A single-user licence costs $119 with 1 year of updates, or $190 with 3 years [3].
- The licence is perpetual; the update period is what expires [4].
- Opens SFTP tabs, X11 sessions, serial (COM port) and Telnet connections, and RDP on Windows [1].
- Supports PIV/CAC smart cards and PKCS#11 tokens for sign-in [1].
- Version 9.7.3 was released on July 1, 2026 [7].

Verdict: SecureCRT suits admins who want one paid client with SFTP, agent and X11 forwarding, serial ports, smart cards and several scripting languages [1]. The $119 licence is perpetual, so we count it as about $40 a year [3][4]. The catch: the licence includes only a year of updates, and the pages show no free edition beyond a 30-day evaluation [3][9]. Best for: Admins who want a paid, scriptable client with a one-time licence.

## Points

| Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connections | Built-in SFTP file transfer | Yes | 7/7 | An SFTP tab opens inside a connected SSH2 session without signing in again [1]. |
| Connections | SSH agent forwarding | Yes | 6/6 | The features page lists agent forwarding for authentication to linked servers [1]. |
| Connections | X11 forwarding | Yes | 5/5 | The features page lists encrypted X11 sessions for remote X applications [1]. |
| Connections | Port forwarding | Yes | 4/4 | The features page lists TCP/IP port forwarding to the SSH server and dynamic port forwarding [1][10]. |
| Connections | Jump hosts | Yes | 6/6 | A session can depend on another SSH session, which allows connecting through a jump host [1]. |
| Connections | Serial port connections | Yes | 4/4 | Connects to serial devices through COM ports [1]. |
| Connections | Other protocols | Telnet, RDP | 2/3 | Telnet, plus RDP in tabs on Windows only; VNC is not listed [1]. |
| Keys and security | Key generator and key agent | Yes | 5/5 | Generates keys in OpenSSH format, and an SSH agent keeps registered keys [1]. |
| Keys and security | Security key or smart card login | Yes | 6/6 | Supports X.509 smart cards (PIV/CAC) and PKCS#11 tokens [1][2]. |
| Keys and security | Saved logins locked by a master password | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's features page [1]; it lists password and passphrase caching only. |
| Keys and security | Open source | Not published | 0/6 | Not stated on the vendor pricing or evaluation pages; the product is sold under a licence with a 30-day evaluation [3][9]. |
| Keys and security | SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's features or product pages [1][2]. |
| Sessions and workflow | Saved sessions in folders | Yes | 4/4 | Sessions can be organised in nested folders [1]. |
| Sessions and workflow | Scripting or automation | Yes | 5/5 | Scripts in VBScript, JScript, PerlScript and Python, plus a recorder that writes code [1]. |
| Sessions and workflow | Sync saved sessions between devices | Yes | 4/4 | The features page says the personal data folder can sit in the cloud or on a network drive [1]; no sync service is described. |
| Sessions and workflow | Portable version | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's features page [1]. |
| Sessions and workflow | Updated in the last 12 months | Yes | 3/3 | Changes in SecureCRT 9.7.3 are dated July 1, 2026 [7]. |
| Other systems | Other systems | macOS, Linux, iOS | 6/8 | macOS and Ubuntu builds are listed [5]; SecureCRT for iOS is on the App Store [8]. No Android app is listed. |
| Price | Free for work use | No | 0/6 | Only a 30-day evaluation licence; no free edition is listed [2][9]. |
| Price | Cheapest uncapped edition, per year | $39.67/yr | 4/8 | Single user at $119 with 1 year of updates; the licence is perpetual, so $119 divided by 3 [3][4]. |

## Plans

| Plan | Price | Per month (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Single user, 1 year of updates | $119 [3][4] | - |
| Single user, 3 years of updates | $190 [3][4] | - |

After the update period, an upgrade costs $48 for 1 year of updates or $119 for 3 years [3]. A 30-day evaluation is free [9].

## Strengths

- Perpetual licence from $119 with 1 year of updates [3][4].
- Supports agent forwarding, X11 forwarding and jump-host sessions [1].
- Scripts in VBScript, JScript, PerlScript or Python, with a recorder that writes code [1].
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux and an iOS app [5][8].
- Sessions are kept in nested folders [1].

## Limits

- Only a 30-day evaluation; no free edition [2][9].
- Updates and support last 1 or 3 years; later releases need an upgrade purchase [3][4].
- The pages list no master password for saved logins, only password caching [1].
- No Android app and no VNC connections are listed [1][8].

## Sources

1. [SecureCRT features](https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/features.html), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
2. [SecureCRT](https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
3. [License pricing](https://www.vandyke.com/pricing/index.html), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
4. [Software updates policy](https://www.vandyke.com/support/updates.html), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
5. [System requirements](https://www.vandyke.com/products/system_req.html), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
6. [SecureCRT downloads](https://www.vandyke.com/cgi-bin/releases.php?product=securecrt), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
7. [SecureCRT version history](https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/history.txt), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
8. [SecureCRT for iOS](https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/securecrt_ios.html), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
9. [About evaluation](https://www.vandyke.com/support/about_evaluation.html), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08
10. [Dynamic port forwarding](https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/dynamic_port_forwarding.html), VanDyke Software, accessed 2026-10-08