Xshell
Xshell is a Windows terminal for connecting to remote hosts and managing sessions.
What Xshell is
Xshell is a Windows terminal for connecting to remote hosts and managing sessions. It supports SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, Telnet, Rlogin, serial, and RDP, with port forwarding and SFTP file transfer. Session, quick command, tab, and file managers help organize connections. Users can create command buttons, trigger actions from terminal patterns, compose multiline input, and generate scripts from terminal input and output; scripting is available in VB, JScript, and Python. Authentication profiles store variables for one or more sessions, with 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 protection for saved passwords. Xshell interoperates with Xmanager, Xagent, and Xftp. The free license is for personal, home, and educational use only; commercial use is prohibited. Paid perpetual single-user licenses are $119.00 USD once for Xshell, $139.00 USD once for Xshell Plus, and $399.00 USD once for Xmanager Power Suite. The listed systems include Windows 10/11 and Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022. A 30-day trial is available without a credit card.
Good
- Supports seven listed protocols, including SSH and RDP
- Includes SFTP and port forwarding
- Offers session managers and workflow tools
- Supports scripting in VB, JScript, and Python
- 30-day trial requires no credit card
Watch out
- Free license prohibits commercial use
- Paid Xshell license costs $119.00 USD once
- Windows is the only listed platform
Who it suits
Xshell suits engineers and others managing remote servers on the listed Windows systems, particularly those needing several connection protocols and session tools. The free license is limited to personal, home, and educational use, while commercial users need to consider paid licensing.
Verdict
Xshell combines a wide protocol list with session organization and terminal workflow features for Windows users. Check the free-license restriction and the one-time cost of paid licenses against your intended use.
Plans and prices
From Xshell's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free license | Free | Personal, home, and educational use only · Non-commercial use |
| Xshell | $119, paid once | Xshell license — single user · 1 year free updates & support · Use on up to 2 devices · Single user · Perpetual license; 1 year of maintenance included |
| Xshell Plus | $139, paid once | Xshell + Xftp · Single user · Perpetual license; 1 year of maintenance included |
| Xmanager Power Suite | $399, paid once | Xmanager · Xshell · Xftp · Xlpd · Single user · Perpetual license; 1 year of maintenance included |
The facts
Each one read from Xshell's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Authentication profiles
- Authentication profiles let users save auth variables and apply them to one or many sessions, with profile changes reflected in dependent sessions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Xshell interoperates with Xmanager for X11 forwarding, Xagent for agent authentication and forwarding, and Xftp for file transfers.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- NetSarang describes its products as tools for engineers and for accessing and managing remote servers.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Offline activation
- The maker describes license activation on machines without internet using a request file and a one-time offline response key.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- NetSarang says it does not sell collected information to third parties and says paid licenses are excluded from analytics and lead-generation uses listed in its privacy policy.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- Xshell lists support for SSH1, SSH2, SFTP, Telnet, Rlogin, serial, and RDP protocols.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Xshell is an SSH terminal with protocols including SFTP, Telnet, and RDP, plus tools for managing sessions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Security features
- Listed security capabilities include public-key, password, and keyboard-interactive authentication; SSH PKCS#11 and CAPI; multiple encryption algorithms; and master-password encryption for saved passwords.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Session management
- It includes session, quick command, tab, and file managers for organizing remote hosts.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- One year of updates and technical support is included with the listed perpetual licenses as maintenance.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The download page offers a signed installer for Windows 8 and later, and the feature page lists Windows 10/11 and Windows Server versions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Terminal features
- The product supports multiple tabs and tab groups in one window, plus scripting in VB, JScript, and Python.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Workflow tools
- Users can create command buttons, trigger actions from terminal patterns, compose multiline input, and generate scripts from terminal I/O.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1997checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free-license restriction
- The free Xshell license is authorized for personal and educational use only, and its terms prohibit commercial use.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Trial
- The maker offers a 30-day evaluation with no credit card required.checked 8 Oct 2026
