--- title: Tera Term canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/tera-term/ category: SSH Clients points: 50 rank: 11 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Tera Term Free open-source terminal emulator for Windows with SSH, Telnet, serial and a macro language. 50 points out of 100. #11 of 12 SSH clients. Vendor: Tera Term Project. Website: https://teratermproject.github.io/ - Open source under a 3-clause BSD licence, with no paid edition listed [8]. - Opens SSH, Telnet and serial port connections [1]. - Lists local, remote and dynamic port forwarding, X11 forwarding and agent forwarding [4][5]. - A built-in macro language automates logins and commands [1]. - Version 5.7.0 was released on 2026.09.04 [9]. Verdict: Tera Term suits Windows admins who want a free, open-source client with serial ports, tunnels, X11 and a macro language [1][5][8]. Version 5.7.0 came out in September 2026 [9]. The catch: its File menu lists SCP for file transfer, its proxy page lists no jump-host option, its launcher documents no folders for saved sessions and its requirements page lists only Windows [7][10][11][12]. Best for: Windows admins who need a free client with serial ports and macros. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Connections | Built-in SFTP file transfer | Not published | 0/7 | Not published on the vendor's File menu page [7]; only SCP file transfer is described. | | Connections | SSH agent forwarding | Yes | 6/6 | The TTSSH command line has /ssh-A to enable agent forwarding [4]. | | Connections | X11 forwarding | Yes | 5/5 | SSH Forwarding has an X11 option, and /ssh-X enables X11 forwarding; you supply a local X server [4][5]. | | Connections | Port forwarding | Yes | 4/4 | SSH Forwarding sets local, remote and dynamic (SOCKS) forwarding [5]. | | Connections | Jump hosts | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's proxy page [10]; it lists HTTP, Telnet, SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 proxies. | | Connections | Serial port connections | Yes | 4/4 | The manual lists serial port connections, with a Serial port setup menu [1]. | | Connections | Other protocols | Telnet | 1/3 | TCP/IP connections include Telnet; RDP and VNC are not listed [1]. | | Keys and security | Key generator and key agent | Not published | 0/5 | Includes an SSH KeyGenerator [3]; no built-in agent is described, only use of Pageant [3][6]. | | Keys and security | Security key or smart card login | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's SSH authentication page [6]. | | Keys and security | Saved logins locked by a master password | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's SSH pages [3][6]. | | Keys and security | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | Licensed under a 3-clause BSD licence [8]. | | Keys and security | SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's project pages [1][2]. | | Sessions and workflow | Saved sessions in folders | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's menu page [11]; its launcher saves entries but documents no folders. | | Sessions and workflow | Scripting or automation | Yes | 5/5 | The manual documents a built-in macro language and a macro command line [1]. | | Sessions and workflow | Sync saved sessions between devices | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's manual index [1]. | | Sessions and workflow | Portable version | Yes | 2/2 | The project's GitHub release lists portable ZIP downloads (teraterm-5.7.0-x64.zip, x86 and arm64) [13]. | | Sessions and workflow | Updated in the last 12 months | Yes | 3/3 | Version 5.7.0 is dated 2026.09.04 [9]. | | Other systems | Other systems | None | 0/8 | The requirements page lists Windows versions only [12]. | | Price | Free for work use | Yes | 6/6 | Free software under a BSD-style licence; the licence text does not restrict work use [8]. | | Price | Cheapest uncapped edition, per year | $0 | 8/8 | Free software; no paid edition is listed [8]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [8] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free and open source under a 3-clause BSD licence [8]. - Lists serial port connections and a macro scripting language [1]. - Lists local, remote and dynamic port forwarding and X11 forwarding [5]. - Key generator creates RSA, DSA, ECDSA and ED25519 keys [3]. - Release 5.7.0 is dated 2026.09.04 [9]. ## Limits - File transfer is SCP; the File menu does not name SFTP [7]. - Proxy support lists HTTP, Telnet, SOCKS4 and SOCKS5, not a jump host [10]. - Windows only; the requirements page lists Windows versions [12]. - The saved-connection launcher documents no folders or groups [11]. ## Sources 1. [Tera Term 5 manual](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Tera Term Project](https://teratermproject.github.io/), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [SSH connection](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/usage/ssh.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [TTSSH command line](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/commandline/ttssh.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [SSH Forwarding setup](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/menu/setup-sshforward.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [SSH Authentication setup](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/menu/setup-sshauth.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [File menu](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/menu/file.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Copyright](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/about/copyright.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [History](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/about/history.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Proxy connection](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/usage/proxy.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [TeraTerm Menu](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/usage/TTMenu/TTMenu.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Requirements](https://teratermproject.github.io/manual/5/en/about/requirements.html), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Tera Term 5.7.0 release](https://github.com/TeraTermProject/teraterm/releases/latest), Tera Term Project, accessed 2026-10-08