OpenSSH
OpenSSH is a free software suite for encrypted remote login and file transfers using the SSH protocol.
What OpenSSH is
OpenSSH is a free software suite for encrypted remote login and file transfers using the SSH protocol. Its tools include ssh, scp, and sftp for remote operations, plus ssh-keygen, sshd, and ssh-agent for key management and server-side SSH services. It supports SSH 2, SFTP, and SCP, with both SFTP client and server support. Encryption options include AES, ChaCha20, RSA, ECDSA, and Ed25519, and encryption begins before authentication. Users can forward TCP/IP connections through an encrypted channel or encrypt X Window System traffic with X11 forwarding. Authentication options include public keys and one-time passwords; the portable release also supports Kerberos. Agent forwarding keeps keys with a local authentication agent rather than on other machines in the network, and OpenSSH applies path-based restrictions to key use. Optional compression is available for slow network links. OpenSSH supports Linux, macOS, Cygwin on Windows, and other Unix systems. The project dates to 1999 and permits commercial use under its freely available source license.
Good
- Includes tools for remote access, transfers, and SSH services.
- Supports SSH 2, SFTP, and SCP.
- Offers several encryption and authentication methods.
- Port forwarding carries TCP/IP connections over encryption.
- Source may be used commercially.
Watch out
- Compatibility with other implementations is not guaranteed.
- Older protocols, ciphers, and key types may be disabled.
Who it suits
OpenSSH suits people who need encrypted SSH access, file transfer, or connection forwarding on Linux, macOS, Windows through Cygwin, or other Unix systems. It is also relevant to administrators managing SSH services and keys.
Verdict
OpenSSH covers encrypted remote login, file transfers, key handling, and forwarding in a free suite. Readers should account for its routine disabling of options with known weaknesses and its lack of guaranteed interoperability.
Plans and prices
From OpenSSH's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| OpenSSH | Free | Free SSH protocol suite · BSD-style license · commercial use permitted |
The facts
Each one read from OpenSSH's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Authentication
- Listed authentication methods include public keys, one-time passwords, and, in the portable release, Kerberos.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- Interoperability is a goal but not a promise; older protocols, ciphers, key types, and other options with known weaknesses are routinely disabled.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Compression
- OpenSSH can optionally compress data before encryption to improve performance on slow network links.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Current release
- The project homepage states that OpenSSH 10.6 was released October 6, 2026.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- It offers cryptography including AES, ChaCha20, RSA, ECDSA, and Ed25519, and starts encryption before authentication.checked 11 Oct 2026
- File transfer
- OpenSSH includes SFTP client and server support.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Key handling
- Agent forwarding lets a local authentication agent hold keys without storing them on other machines in the network, and OpenSSH adds path-based restrictions on key use.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The project says its source is freely available, has no restrictive license, and may be used for commercial purposes.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenSSH provides encrypted connectivity for remote login and remote file transfers using the SSH protocol.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security process
- OpenSSH says it is developed using the security process of the OpenBSD group and provides a private developers list for reporting security issues.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Suite tools
- The suite includes tools for remote operations, key management, and server-side SSH services, including ssh, scp, sftp, ssh-keygen, sshd, and ssh-agent.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support and bug reports
- Portable OpenSSH bugs can be reported through the project's problem-report channels; issues in vendor-modified copies should generally be reported to the vendor unless reproducible in unmodified OpenSSH.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Tunneling
- Port forwarding carries TCP/IP connections over an encrypted channel, and X11 forwarding encrypts X Window System traffic.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1999checked 23 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- The portable release is designed for Unix systems including Linux and macOS, as well as Cygwin, and says more systems are being added.checked 11 Oct 2026
