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SPECIFICTION
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Xshell

xshell.com

Free plan Windows
Visit xshell.com
Spec score 7.6 #24 of 33 in SSH Clients

What it is

Xshell is a Windows terminal for connecting to remote hosts and managing sessions. It supports SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, Telnet, Rlogin, serial, and RDP, with SFTP and port forwarding among its listed capabilities. Session, quick command, tab, and file managers help organize remote hosts. Users can create command buttons, trigger actions from terminal patterns, compose multiline input, and generate scripts from terminal input and output. Multiple tabs and tab groups can sit in one window; scripting is available in VB, JScript, and Python. Authentication profiles can store authentication variables for one or more sessions, with profile changes reflected in dependent sessions. Security features include public-key, password, and keyboard-interactive authentication, SSH PKCS#11 and CAPI, multiple encryption algorithms, and master-password encryption for saved passwords. Xshell interoperates with Xmanager, Xagent, and Xftp. The free license is restricted to personal, home, and educational use, excluding commercial use. Paid perpetual single-user options include Xshell at $119, paid once, Xshell Plus at $139, paid once, and Xmanager Power Suite at $399, paid once. A 30-day evaluation is offered without a credit card.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Xshell is an SSH terminal with protocols including SFTP, Telnet, and RDP, plus tools for managing sessions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Trial
The maker offers a 30-day evaluation with no credit card required.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Integrations
Xshell interoperates with Xmanager for X11 forwarding, Xagent for agent authentication and forwarding, and Xftp for file transfers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Privacy
NetSarang says it does not sell collected information to third parties and says paid licenses are excluded from analytics and lead-generation uses listed in its privacy policy.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Support
One year of updates and technical support is included with the listed perpetual licenses as maintenance.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Founded
1997Read 28 Sep 2026 · xshell.com
Authentication profiles
Authentication profiles let users save auth variables and apply them to one or many sessions, with profile changes reflected in dependent sessions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Free-license restriction
The free Xshell license is authorized for personal and educational use only, and its terms prohibit commercial use.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Intended audience
NetSarang describes its products as tools for engineers and for accessing and managing remote servers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Offline activation
The maker describes license activation on machines without internet using a request file and a one-time offline response key.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Protocols
Xshell lists support for SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, Telnet, Rlogin, serial, and RDP protocols.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Security features
Listed security capabilities include public-key, password, and keyboard-interactive authentication; SSH PKCS#11 and CAPI; multiple encryption algorithms; and master-password encryption for saved passwords.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Session management
It includes session, quick command, tab, and file managers for organizing remote hosts.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Supported systems
The download page offers a signed installer for Windows 8 and later, and the feature page lists Windows 10/11 and Windows Server versions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Terminal features
The product supports multiple tabs and tab groups in one window, plus scripting in VB, JScript, and Python.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Workflow tools
Users can create command buttons, trigger actions from terminal patterns, compose multiline input, and generate scripts from terminal I/O.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com

Plans and prices

Free license Free Personal, home, and educational use only · Non-commercial use Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Xshell $119, paid once Single user · Perpetual license; 1 year of maintenance included Xshell license — single user · 1 year free updates & support · Use on up to 2 devices Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Xshell Plus $139, paid once Single user · Perpetual license; 1 year of maintenance included Xshell + Xftp Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com
Xmanager Power Suite $399, paid once Single user · Perpetual license; 1 year of maintenance included Xmanager · Xshell · Xftp · Xlpd Read 8 Oct 2026 · xshell.com

Every Xshell plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports SSH, SFTP, Telnet, Rlogin, serial, and RDP.
  • Manages sessions with tabs, groups, and command tools.
  • Offers scripting in VB, JScript, and Python.
  • Includes multiple authentication and encryption capabilities.
  • 30-day evaluation requires no credit card.

Limits

  • Windows is the only listed platform.
  • Free license excludes commercial use.
  • Xshell costs $119, paid once.

Who it suits

Xshell suits engineers and other users who need to access and manage remote servers on supported Windows systems. Its free license is limited to personal, home, and educational use, while paid perpetual licenses are available for single users.

Verdict

Xshell offers broad protocol support alongside session organization, scripting, and authentication features for Windows. Its free license is non-commercial; the listed Xshell perpetual license costs $119 as a one-time purchase.

Where Specifiction places it

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