SecureCRT

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 1995
Developer: VanDyke Software
Pricing: Commercial license; pricing varies by platform and version
Open source: No
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Indexes

Terminal Emulators

Overview

SecureCRT is a terminal emulation and secure remote access client that provides encrypted Secure Shell (SSH1 and SSH2) connections, along with support for Telnet, RLogin, Raw sockets, and RDP protocols. Designed for system administrators, network engineers, and IT professionals who need reliable remote access to servers and network devices, SecureCRT emphasizes session management, security, and customization. The application has been in continuous development since 1995 and is known for robust credential management, extensive session organization capabilities, and support for automated logon scripts.

Key Features

Session Management - Save and organize thousands of sessions with connection information, authentication methods, and customization settings for quick access and reuse.
Secure Shell Support - Full support for SSH1 and SSH2 protocols with multiple authentication methods and encrypted connections.
Multiple Protocol Support - Connect via SSH, Telnet, RLogin, Raw sockets, and RDP for diverse remote access scenarios.
Credential Management - Global credentials category allows centralized management of saved credentials across multiple connection types without replication.
Automated Logon Scripts - Record and replay logon sequences using script recorder and expect-send capabilities for automated authentication and session configuration.
Session Logging - Automatic logging of session data to files with customizable naming using date, time, hostname, and session-specific variables.
Terminal Customization - Extensive customization options including color schemes, keyword highlighting, font selection, scrollback buffer size, and terminal emulation types.
Quick Connect - Rapid connection capability through Session Manager, Connect bar, desktop shortcuts, and command-line interface.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Standard License	Varies by platform	Full SecureCRT functionality including SSH, Telnet, RDP, session management, and scripting capabilities.
Bundle with SecureFX	Varies	Combined terminal emulation and secure file transfer solution with unified credential management.

Platforms & Requirements

SecureCRT runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. The application requires appropriate system resources for each platform and supports both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures where applicable. Configuration folders and license storage locations vary by operating system, with Windows using registry entries and macOS/Linux using configuration directories in user home folders.

Integrations & Ecosystem

SSH key management and authentication
RDP protocol integration
Telnet and Raw socket connections
Script automation and expect-send sequences
Session data export and import
Log file generation with variable substitution
Global credentials system with SSH1, SSH2, and RDP support
Command-line interface for session launching

Alternatives

App	Difference
PuTTY	Free and open-source alternative with basic SSH/Telnet support but limited session management and customization compared to SecureCRT.
MobaXterm	Offers integrated X11 server and file transfer alongside terminal emulation, with a freemium model versus SecureCRT's commercial licensing.
Termius	Cloud-based terminal client with cross-platform synchronization and modern UI, targeting individual users and small teams rather than enterprise administrators.
OpenSSH	Command-line SSH client included with most Unix-like systems, lacking graphical interface and session management features of SecureCRT.

Reputation

SecureCRT is well-regarded in enterprise and professional IT environments for its reliability, comprehensive session management, and security features. Users appreciate its long development history, stability, and extensive customization options. The application is considered a standard tool for system administrators managing multiple remote systems. Some users note that the commercial pricing and learning curve for advanced features may deter individual users or small organizations compared to free alternatives, though the feature set and professional support justify the cost for enterprise deployments.

Sources (10)