TermDesk
TermDesk is a free, open-source desktop app for SSH, SFTP, VNC, and RDP connections, with a local vault for connection data and credentials.
What TermDesk is
TermDesk is a free, open-source desktop app for SSH, SFTP, VNC, and RDP connections, with a local vault for connection data and credentials. It can read an existing SSH configuration and organize saved hosts into tagged groups, tabs, and split views. SSH tools include jump hosts, agent and port forwarding, and drag-and-drop SFTP transfers. VNC sessions are tunneled through SSH; Windows hosts can connect over RDP with trust-on-first-use certificate pinning. The vault stores hosts, keys, snippets, and known hosts in local SQLite storage, while passwords and passphrases are protected with the operating system’s keychain. Named options include macOS Keychain, Windows DPAPI, and Linux libsecret. Its MCP server can list hosts and run commands through Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients; agent access is off by default and requires approval. The project says there is no mandatory cloud account or telemetry, and that hosts, keys, and history remain on the user’s machine. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, but currently runs from source; prebuilt signed installers are on the way.
Good
- Supports SSH, SFTP, VNC, and RDP.
- Stores connection data in a local vault.
- Reads the existing SSH configuration.
- No mandatory cloud account or telemetry.
- MIT-licensed and free.
Watch out
- Currently runs from source.
- Prebuilt signed installers are not yet available.
Who it suits
TermDesk suits desktop users who need SSH, file transfer, or remote desktop connections and want connection details stored locally. It may also suit developers using MCP clients, provided they are comfortable building from source for now.
Verdict
TermDesk brings several remote access protocols together with a local vault and desktop keychain support. Its source-based availability is an important consideration for users who want a prebuilt installer.
Plans and prices
From TermDesk's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free forever | Free | MIT-licensed; runs from source today; prebuilt signed installers are on the way |
The facts
Each one read from TermDesk's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI integrations
- Its built-in MCP server supports Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients for listing hosts and running commands; agent access is off by default and approval-gated.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Availability limit
- The site says TermDesk runs from source today and that prebuilt signed installers are on the way.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Keychain support
- The site names macOS Keychain, Windows DPAPI and Linux libsecret as supported secret-storage systems.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Open source
- TermDesk is MIT-licensed, developed in public and available to build from source.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The site says there is no mandatory cloud account or telemetry and that hosts, keys and history stay on the user's machine.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- TermDesk is an open-source desktop app for SSH, SFTP, VNC and RDP with a local encrypted vault.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Remote desktop
- VNC sessions are tunneled over SSH, and Windows hosts connect over RDP with trust-on-first-use certificate pinning.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Security controls
- The site says the renderer is sandboxed without Node access and secrets remain in the main process behind a Zod-validated IPC contract.checked 5 Oct 2026
- SSH and SFTP
- It supports saved hosts, jump hosts, agent and port forwarding, drag-and-drop SFTP transfers, tabs, splits and tagged host groups.checked 5 Oct 2026
- SSH configuration
- TermDesk reads the user's existing ~/.ssh/config.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site directs users to GitHub Issues for bugs and feature requests and provides a contact form for other questions and security disclosures.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Vault storage
- Hosts, keys, snippets and known hosts are stored in a local SQLite vault, while passwords and passphrases are encrypted using the operating system keychain.checked 5 Oct 2026
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