SSH client · VanDyke Software

SecureCRT

Paid terminal client for Windows, macOS and Linux with SSH, Telnet, serial, tabs and scripting.

71/100

#4 of 12 SSH clients
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

A single-user licence costs $119 with 1 year of updates, or $190 with 3 years³.
The licence is perpetual; the update period is what expires⁴.
Opens SFTP tabs, X11 sessions, serial (COM port) and Telnet connections, and RDP on Windows¹.
Supports PIV/CAC smart cards and PKCS#11 tokens for sign-in¹.
Version 9.7.3 was released on July 1, 2026⁷.

SecureCRT suits admins who want one paid client with SFTP, agent and X11 forwarding, serial ports, smart cards and several scripting languages¹. The $119 licence is perpetual, so we count it as about $40 a year^3,4. The catch: the licence includes only a year of updates, and the pages show no free edition beyond a 30-day evaluation^3,9.

Best for: Admins who want a paid, scriptable client with a one-time licence.

Where the points come from

Connections34 of 35

Keys and security11 of 25

Sessions and workflow16 of 18

Other systems6 of 8

Price4 of 14

Connections 34 of 35 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Built-in SFTP file transfer	YesAn SFTP tab opens inside a connected SSH2 session without signing in again¹.	7 / 7
SSH agent forwarding	YesThe features page lists agent forwarding for authentication to linked servers¹.	6 / 6
X11 forwarding	YesThe features page lists encrypted X11 sessions for remote X applications¹.	5 / 5
Port forwarding	YesThe features page lists TCP/IP port forwarding to the SSH server and dynamic port forwarding^1,10.	4 / 4
Jump hosts	YesA session can depend on another SSH session, which allows connecting through a jump host¹.	6 / 6
Serial port connections	YesConnects to serial devices through COM ports¹.	4 / 4
Other protocols	Telnet, RDPTelnet, plus RDP in tabs on Windows only; VNC is not listed¹.	2 / 3

Keys and security 11 of 25 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Key generator and key agent	YesGenerates keys in OpenSSH format, and an SSH agent keeps registered keys¹.	5 / 5
Security key or smart card login	YesSupports X.509 smart cards (PIV/CAC) and PKCS#11 tokens^1,2.	6 / 6
Saved logins locked by a master password	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's features page¹; it lists password and passphrase caching only.	0 / 6
Open source	Not publishedNot stated on the vendor pricing or evaluation pages; the product is sold under a licence with a 30-day evaluation^3,9.	0 / 6
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's features or product pages^1,2.	0 / 2

Sessions and workflow 16 of 18 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Saved sessions in folders	YesSessions can be organised in nested folders¹.	4 / 4
Scripting or automation	YesScripts in VBScript, JScript, PerlScript and Python, plus a recorder that writes code¹.	5 / 5
Sync saved sessions between devices	YesThe features page says the personal data folder can sit in the cloud or on a network drive¹; no sync service is described.	4 / 4
Portable version	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's features page¹.	0 / 2
Updated in the last 12 months	YesChanges in SecureCRT 9.7.3 are dated July 1, 2026⁷.	3 / 3

Other systems 6 of 8 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Other systems	macOS, Linux, iOSmacOS and Ubuntu builds are listed⁵; SecureCRT for iOS is on the App Store⁸. No Android app is listed.	6 / 8

Price 4 of 14 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free for work use	NoOnly a 30-day evaluation licence; no free edition is listed^2,9.	0 / 6
Cheapest uncapped edition, per year	$39.67/yrSingle user at $119 with 1 year of updates; the licence is perpetual, so $119 divided by 3^3,4.	4 / 8

The rule behind each line: how we score SSH clients.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
Single user, 1 year of updates1 person	$119^3,4	–	Perpetual licence; 1 year of updates and support
Single user, 3 years of updates1 person	$190^3,4	–	Perpetual licence; 3 years of updates and support

After the update period, an upgrade costs $48 for 1 year of updates or $119 for 3 years³. A 30-day evaluation is free⁹.

Strengths

Perpetual licence from $119 with 1 year of updates^3,4.
Supports agent forwarding, X11 forwarding and jump-host sessions¹.
Scripts in VBScript, JScript, PerlScript or Python, with a recorder that writes code¹.
Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux and an iOS app^5,8.
Sessions are kept in nested folders¹.

Limits

Only a 30-day evaluation; no free edition^2,9.
Updates and support last 1 or 3 years; later releases need an upgrade purchase^3,4.
The pages list no master password for saved logins, only password caching¹.
No Android app and no VNC connections are listed^1,8.

Other SSH clients

1
TabbyPeople who want a free, open-source terminal with SSH built in
81/100
$0cheapest uncapped edition, per year
2
TermiusPeople who connect from a PC and a phone and want saved hosts to sync
80/100
$0cheapest uncapped edition, per year
3
MobaXtermWindows admins who want SSH, SFTP, X11 and remote desktop in one window
76/100
$23/yrcheapest uncapped edition, per year
5
Royal TSAdmins who manage many servers over SSH, RDP and VNC from one document
69/100
$18.27/yrcheapest uncapped edition, per year

All 12 SSH clients

Sources

SecureCRT features, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
SecureCRT, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
License pricing, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Software updates policy, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
System requirements, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
SecureCRT downloads, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
SecureCRT version history, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
SecureCRT for iOS, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
About evaluation, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Dynamic port forwarding, VanDyke Software. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with VanDyke Software.