MobaXterm vs Xshell

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.

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.