--- title: Xshell canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/xshell/ category: SSH Clients points: 61 rank: 8 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Xshell Paid Windows SSH client with a one-time licence, a master password, PKCS#11 login and scripting. 61 points out of 100. #8 of 12 SSH clients. Vendor: NetSarang Computer, Inc.. Website: https://www.netsarang.com/en/xshell/ - Xshell 8 is a one-time licence at $119 for one seat, with one year of maintenance included [3]. - The free licence covers personal and educational use only, not commercial use [4]. - It runs on Windows 8 or later; the download page lists no other system [5]. - It lists SFTP, agent forwarding, X11 forwarding, tunnelling, jump hosts, serial, Telnet and RDP [2]. - The latest build, 0110, was released on 2 September 2026 [6]. Verdict: Xshell suits Windows admins who manage many servers and prefer to pay once. The feature list covers jump hosts, PKCS#11 login, a master password, scripting and session folders [2]. The catches: the free licence bars work use, there is no sync or portable version in the feature list, and it runs on Windows only [2][4][5]. CyberScoop reported in 2017 that a backdoor was found in Xshell 5.0 [7]. Best for: Windows admins who want a one-time licence and many session tools. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Connections | Built-in SFTP file transfer | Yes | 7/7 | Features list FTP/SFTP file transfer and a File Manager; Xftp is a separate product [2][6]. | | Connections | SSH agent forwarding | Yes | 6/6 | Lists Xagent for agent authentication and forwarding [2]. | | Connections | X11 forwarding | Yes | 5/5 | Lists TCP/IP and X11 forwarding under tunnelling; Xmanager is the X server [2]. | | Connections | Port forwarding | Yes | 4/4 | Lists TCP/IP forwarding, dynamic SOCKS forwarding and a tunnelling pane [2]. | | Connections | Jump hosts | Yes | 6/6 | Features list Jump Host Proxy; release notes mention multi-step jump host sessions [2][6]. | | Connections | Serial port connections | Yes | 4/4 | Protocol list includes SERIAL [2]. | | Connections | Other protocols | Telnet, RDP | 2/3 | Protocol list names Telnet and RDP; VNC is not listed [2]. | | Keys and security | Key generator and key agent | Yes | 5/5 | Lists a New Key Wizard for RSA, ECDSA and ED25519 keys, and the Xagent key agent [2][6]. | | Keys and security | Security key or smart card login | Yes | 6/6 | Lists SSH PKCS#11 and CAPI support [2]. | | Keys and security | Saved logins locked by a master password | Not published | 0/6 | A Master Password encrypts the password section of session data [8]. Neither page says it also locks saved keys or passphrases [2][8]. | | Keys and security | Open source | Not published | 0/6 | Not stated on the vendor's pages; the product is sold under a perpetual licence [3]. | | Keys and security | SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's pages [1][2]. | | Sessions and workflow | Saved sessions in folders | Yes | 4/4 | Sessions dialog supports a folder and tree view [2]. | | Sessions and workflow | Scripting or automation | Yes | 5/5 | Lists VB, JScript and Python scripting, script recording and login scripts [2]. | | Sessions and workflow | Sync saved sessions between devices | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's features page; it lists only import and export of sessions [2]. | | Sessions and workflow | Portable version | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's features page [2]. | | Sessions and workflow | Updated in the last 12 months | Yes | 3/3 | Update history lists Xshell 8 Build 0110, dated 2 September 2026 [6]. | | Other systems | Other systems | None | 0/8 | Download page lists Windows 8 or later only [5]. | | Price | Free for work use | No | 0/6 | The free licence is for personal and educational use only, not commercial use [4]. | | Price | Cheapest uncapped edition, per year | $39.67/yr | 4/8 | Xshell 8 one-time perpetual licence, $119 for one user, divided by 3 [1][3]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free (personal and educational) | Free [4] | $0 | | Xshell 8 | $119 one-time [3] | - | | Xshell 8 Educational | $71 one-time [3] | - | The store lists the licence as perpetual with one year of maintenance; extra maintenance years are sold separately [3]. The scored price counts $119 divided by 3. ## Strengths - One-time $119 licence, with one year of maintenance included [3]. - Lists PKCS#11 and CAPI support, so smart card and token login are possible [2]. - A master password can encrypt saved passwords [2]. - Scripting in VB, JScript and Python, plus script recording [2]. - Build 0110 came out in September 2026 [6]. ## Limits - The free licence is for personal and educational use only, so work use needs a paid licence [4]. - Windows only; the download page lists Windows 8 or later [5]. - The feature list shows no session sync and no portable version [2]. - Further years of maintenance are an extra cost after the first year [3]. ## Concerns - Cyberscoop reported on 16 August 2017 that a ShadowPad backdoor was active in NetSarang software, including Xshell 5.0, from 17 July to 4 August 2017; the article links to a NetSarang update [7]. ## Sources 1. [Xshell](https://www.netsarang.com/en/xshell/), NetSarang, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Xshell Features and Specs](https://www.netsarang.com/en/xshell-all-features/), NetSarang, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Online Store](https://sales.netsarang.com/e_sales/online_store.html), NetSarang, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Free License for Home and School](https://www.netsarang.com/en/free-for-home-school/), NetSarang, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Xshell Download](https://www.netsarang.com/en/xshell-download/), NetSarang, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Xshell Update History](https://www.netsarang.com/en/xshell-update-history/), NetSarang, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [ShadowPad backdoor in NetSarang software](https://cyberscoop.com/shadowpad-backdoor-netsarang-kaspersky-hong-kong/), CyberScoop, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Xshell 8 User Manual](https://cdn.netsarang.net/docs/Xshell8_manual.pdf), NetSarang, accessed 2026-10-08