MobaXterm vs TermDesk
MobaXterm
mobaxterm.mobatek.netTermDesk
termdesk.proSide by side
| Figure | MobaXterm | TermDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5.75/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Remote Connection Manager Software | 8.7 (#3) | 7.3 (#25) |
| Purpose | MobaXterm combines remote computing tools and Unix commands in a Windows application for programmers, webmasters, IT administrators, and others handling remote jobs. | TermDesk is an open-source desktop app for SSH, SFTP, VNC and RDP with a local encrypted vault. |
| Security controls | The Customizer can disable embedded servers, packet capture, network scanners and insecure Telnet/Rlogin features. | The site says the renderer is sandboxed without Node access and secrets remain in the main process behind a Zod-validated IPC contract. |
| Support | The Home Edition license says Mobatek is not obligated to provide technical assistance or maintenance services. | The site directs users to GitHub Issues for bugs and feature requests and provides a contact form for other questions and security disclosures. |
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.