MobaXterm alternative
A MobaXterm alternative that leaves Windows behind.
The best idea in MobaXterm is the file panel that appears beside the session you just opened. Ravelon keeps that idea, puts an encrypted vault and saved tunnels around it, and runs on macOS and Linux as well.
MobaXterm is a Windows toolbox that bundles SSH, X11, RDP, VNC and Unix utilities. This page is written and maintained by Ravelon, and MobaXterm is a trademark of its owner.
Ravelon and MobaXterm, side by side
| Compared | Ravelon | MobaXterm |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS and Linux. A native iPhone and iPad app is in development. | Windows only. |
| Licensing | Free on one device. Pro is EUR 19.90 once, Self Hosted EUR 99.90 once. | Free home edition, paid professional licence per user. |
| File panel | SFTP browser on the same connection. | SFTP panel beside the session. |
| Saved connections | AES-256-GCM vault on your device. Sync moves only encrypted data. | Local session list, exportable. |
| Sync between machines | End-to-end encrypted, hosted by us or by you. | Export and import a file. |
| X11, RDP and VNC | Not included. | Included, a main reason people stay. |
| Assistant | Verified Ops with your own provider. | Not part of the product. |
MobaXterm column last reviewed 2026-08
Why people look
Four reasons people look for a MobaXterm alternative
01
The team is not all on Windows
MobaXterm is a Windows product. The moment a colleague is on a Mac or a Linux workstation, the shared setup stops being shared. Ravelon ships the same app on all three, with the same vault format and the same shortcuts.
02
Licences renew per seat
The professional edition is licensed per user, and staying on current versions means renewing. Ravelon Pro is a single purchase, and the Self Hosted licence is a single purchase as well.
03
Sessions do not follow you
Moving a session list between machines means exporting a file and remembering to do it again. Ravelon syncs the encrypted vault to devices you approved in the browser, and the server never holds the key.
04
You want less in the window, not more
MobaXterm bundles an X server, RDP, VNC, a package manager and a lot else. If you only ever use the SSH and SFTP parts, a smaller app that does those well is easier to live in.
Terminal and files on one login
Open the file view from an existing SSH connection. Browse local and remote folders side by side, transfer in both directions and create directories, without signing in a second time. Terminals, the file browser and every tunnel against that host share one connection.
- No second authentication for files
- Local and remote panes side by side
- Works on servers that limit concurrent sessions
A rail that watches the host while you work
Beside the session, a read-only rail shows CPU, memory, file systems and the busiest processes, refreshed every few seconds. Host notes sit next to it, encrypted in the vault and synced with it.
Read-only by design. The monitor never runs anything you did not ask for.
The other side
Where MobaXterm is the better pick
If you forward X11 applications, open RDP and VNC sessions from the same list, or rely on the bundled Unix utilities on a Windows machine, MobaXterm does all of that and Ravelon does none of it.
Its portable edition is also hard to beat when you work on machines where you cannot install anything.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Ravelon have an X server?
No. If you forward graphical Linux applications to a Windows desktop, MobaXterm remains the tool for that job.
Can I move my MobaXterm sessions over?
MobaXterm can export sessions, and Ravelon imports OpenSSH config files including the identity files they reference. Passwords are not part of such an export and are set again in the vault.
Is there a portable build?
Not today. Ravelon ships signed installers for Windows, macOS and Linux and verifies updates before installing them.
Try it first
Keep both for a week.
The desktop app is free on one device, including the encrypted vault, terminal, SFTP and the assistant. Import your ssh config and see whether the day goes better.
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Tabby alternative
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SecureCRT alternative
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