PuTTY

Active

chiark.greenend.org.uk

Country: United Kingdom (GB)
Founded: 1999
Developer: Simon Tatham
Pricing: Free (open-source)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS

Indexes

Terminal Emulators

Overview

PuTTY is a terminal emulator, serial console, and network file transfer application that supports protocols including SSH, Telnet, rlogin, SCP, and raw socket connections. Originally developed for Windows, it enables users to connect to remote systems securely. Companion tools include PSCP and PSFTP for file transfers, Plink for command-line connections, Pageant for SSH agent functionality, and PuTTYgen for key generation.

Key Features

SSH Client - Supports SSH versions 1 and 2 with public-key authentication and key agents.
Telnet and Rlogin - Provides clients for Telnet, rlogin, and raw TCP connections.
Terminal Emulation - Emulates xterm, VT102, VT220, and other terminal types with customizable settings.
Saved Sessions - Allows saving host configurations, protocols, and connection settings for quick access.
Key Management - PuTTYgen generates and converts SSH keys; Pageant manages keys in memory.
File Transfer - PSCP and PSFTP enable secure file copy over SSH.
Port Forwarding - Supports local, remote, and dynamic port forwarding via SSH.
Serial Connections - Connects to serial ports for device communication.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free Edition	Free	Full access to PuTTY and all companion tools.

Platforms & Requirements

Primarily designed for Windows (x86 and AMD64), with official ports available for Unix-like systems including Linux and macOS. Experimental ARM support exists. No mobile or web versions; requires standard desktop environments with no specific minimum requirements beyond supported architectures.

Integrations & Ecosystem

SSH public/private key authentication
Pageant SSH agent
PSCP/SCP file transfer
PSFTP secure FTP
Plink command-line SSH
PuTTYgen key generation/conversion
OpenSSH key format compatibility
xterm/VT terminal protocols

Alternatives

App	Difference
OpenSSH	Command-line focused, native to Unix systems, lacks graphical configuration interface.
MobaXterm	All-in-one Windows tool with X11 forwarding and tabbed sessions, includes proprietary features.
KiTTY	PuTTY fork with added features like automatic password handling and session filters.
SuperPuTTY	Windows wrapper for PuTTY providing tabbed multi-session management.
Termius	Cross-platform app with mobile support, sync, and modern UI but freemium model.

Reputation

PuTTY is widely regarded as a reliable, lightweight SSH client with strong Windows support and extensive configuration options. Its open-source MIT license and long history since 1999 contribute to its popularity among system administrators and developers. Criticisms include a dated interface, lack of native multi-session tabs, and occasional issues with modern SSH features on some servers.

Sources (9)