MobaXterm vs Nexterm
MobaXterm
mobaxterm.mobatek.netNexterm
nexterm.devSide by side
| Figure | MobaXterm | Nexterm |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5.75/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Remote Connection Manager Software | 8.7 (#3) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Google Play listing | A Google Play app named “Mobaxterm SSH” is attributed to A389 St rather than Mobatek and shows 3.0 out of 5 from 166 reviews. | The Android listing identifies the app as a prototype mobile client requiring a hosted Nexterm service version 1.0.6 or newer and shows 500+ downloads. |
| License | MobaXterm is proprietary freeware/commercial software; Mobatek retains ownership and third-party components have separate licenses. | Nexterm is distributed under the MIT License. |
| Maker | Mobatek is a Toulouse, France software company serving worldwide customers since 2008. | The docs identify Mathias Wagner in the copyright notice. |
| Purpose | MobaXterm combines remote computing tools and Unix commands in a Windows application for programmers, webmasters, IT administrators, and others handling remote jobs. | Nexterm is open-source server management software for connecting to servers over SSH, VNC, and RDP. |
| Security controls | The Customizer can disable embedded servers, packet capture, network scanners and insecure Telnet/Rlogin features. | Official documentation lists two-factor authentication, session management and encryption as built-in security functions. |
| Support channels | GetApp lists email/help-desk, knowledge-base and FAQ/forum support options. | The project README links to Discord, bug reporting, and feature requests. |
Plans
MobaXterm
- Professional Edition$69 a year
- Home EditionFree
- Professional Edition$69, paid once
- Professional Edition$69 a year
In their own words
MobaXterm
MobaXterm combines remote-computing tools and Unix commands in a Windows application. It supports remote sessions over SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, FTP, SFTP, Mosh, and Serial, among other listed protocols. Its embedded X server supports OpenGL and extensions for running remote graphical applications on Windows. An SSH session can open a graphical SFTP browser for transferring files between a computer and a remote server. The terminal includes Unix commands, and additional tools can be added through downloadable plugins or the MobApt package manager. The session manager can route connections through an SSH gateway before reaching an end server. MobaXterm is offered as a single executable that can run from a USB stick without admin rights. The Home Edition has limits of 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels, and 4 macros; its license does not obligate the maker to provide technical assistance or maintenance. Professional Edition costs $69 per user per year, with first-year updates and optional renewal. The maker, MobaXterm, was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Toulouse, France.
Nexterm
Nexterm is free, open-source server management software for connecting to servers over SSH, VNC and RDP, with Telnet also listed among its supported protocols. It includes SFTP file management, real-time CPU, memory and process monitoring, and tools for deploying applications via Docker and managing Proxmox LXC and QEMU containers. Organizations can share server access with team members; command snippets and customizable scripts help manage and automate repetitive tasks. The project lists two-factor authentication and OIDC single sign-on, while its documentation also covers LDAP and Active Directory authentication. It documents server-side encryption for passwords and private keys and requires an encryption key for secure data storage. Deployment options include all-in-one, server-only and engine-only Docker images, with split server and engine deployments for distributed setups. Connector downloads are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Nexterm is distributed under the MIT License. Its installation documentation says it is still in beta and recommends regular backups and reporting issues on GitHub.