termique vs MobaXterm

Cross-platform SSH manager vs Windows-only terminal

12 features comparedClaims last reviewed July 26, 2026
MobaXtermtermique
termiquemacOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · AndroidOn-device, E2EEEnd-to-endAll plansFree tier + ProFree · Pro $5/mo
MobaXtermWindowsLocally recoverableFree (12 sessions) · $69
The verdict

The short version.

What MobaXterm does well
  • A built-in X11 server
  • A Unix toolbox in one portable executable
  • A graphical SFTP browser
Where it costs you
  • Windows only
  • The free edition stops at 12 sessions and 2 tunnels
  • Saved credentials are documented as locally recoverable
What termique does instead
  • macOS, Windows and Linux, one synced host list
  • No session or tunnel caps on any plan
  • Key derived on your device from your master password
Bottom line

Need X11 on Windows? Keep MobaXterm. For SSH across machines, termique.

Feature by feature

Every row, side by side.

FeaturetermiqueMobaXterm
PlatformmacOS, Windows, LinuxWindows only
Free tier limit3 hosts, unlimited sessions12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels
Encrypted credential storageAES-GCM, E2EE, on-device key derivationDPAPI (documented as locally recoverable)
Cloud syncYesNo
Built-in X11 serverNoYes
SFTP file transferFree, all plansYes
AI terminal assistantFree tier + ProNo
SSH key managerYesYes
Command audit logsProNo
Mobile appiOS + AndroidNo
RuntimeTauri (native)Native Windows (Cygwin-based)
PriceFree + $5/mo ProFree (12 sessions) + $69 one-time Professional
MobaXterm claims last reviewed July 26, 2026Spotted something out of date? Tell us
Key differences

Where the two part ways.

  1. 01Platforms

    termique
    macOS, Windows and Linux.
    MobaXterm
    Windows only.
    Read the detail

    Windows-only vs cross-platform. MobaXterm has never shipped for macOS or Linux. If your team includes anyone outside Windows, they're on a different tool with a different host list and no way to share configuration. Termique runs natively on all three platforms and syncs the same encrypted host library to every machine.

  2. 02Free tier

    termique
    Unlimited sessions and tunnels.
    MobaXterm
    12 sessions, 2 tunnels.
    Read the detail

    Session caps vs unlimited sessions on the free tier. MobaXterm's free Home edition allows 12 sessions and 2 SSH tunnels before it asks you to buy Professional. That's workable for occasional use, but it's a real ceiling for anyone managing more than a handful of servers. Termique's free tier saves up to 3 hosts but never caps concurrent sessions or tunnels, and SFTP and server monitoring are free on every plan - the upgrade to Pro removes the host cap and adds audit logs and expanded AI usage, not basic connectivity.

  3. 03Credentials

    termique
    Key derived on your device.
    MobaXterm
    DPAPI, documented as locally recoverable.
    Read the detail

    Locally recoverable credentials vs on-device E2EE. MobaXterm encrypts saved credentials using Windows' DPAPI, but independent research has documented that the scheme relies on client-side keys that a local attacker with registry access can use to recover the plaintext. Termique derives its encryption key from your master password via PBKDF2 entirely on-device - the server never sees anything but ciphertext it cannot decode, and there's no equivalent local-recovery path.

Platform by platform

On every device you use.

Windows

MobaXterm is excellent here and bundles an X server plus a Cygwin userland. Termique does not compete on that; it competes on the host list, the credential vault and sync.

macOS and Linux

MobaXterm does not run on either. This is the single most common reason teams move - half the team cannot use the tool the other half standardised on.

Download termique formacOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid
Switching

Moving over from MobaXterm.

  1. 01Export your sessions

    In MobaXterm, right-click the Sessions tree and choose Export sessions to write a .mxtsessions file. It is plain text, so you can read exactly what you are moving.

  2. 02Collect your private keys

    MobaXterm stores keys in its home directory or in the portable slot beside the executable. Copy them out; if any are in .ppk format, convert them with PuTTYgen to OpenSSH.

  3. 03Import into Termique

    Add the keys under SSH keys, then add hosts. If you already keep a ~/.ssh/config for WSL, Termique reads it directly and skips the retyping entirely.

FAQ

Questions people ask.

Something else? Ask us.

Does Termique run on Mac and Linux?

Yes, natively on macOS, Windows and Linux, plus iOS and Android. MobaXterm is Windows-only, which is the main reason teams move.

Does Termique include an X11 server?

No. If you forward graphical Linux applications to Windows, keep MobaXterm for that. Termique covers SSH, SFTP, key management and host organisation.

Can I import .mxtsessions files?

Not as a file format. Export them, then either add the hosts in Termique or move them into ~/.ssh/config, which Termique reads directly.

Is Termique portable like MobaXterm?

No, it installs normally. Its sync is the answer to the same problem: instead of carrying the app on a USB stick, you sign in on another machine and your encrypted host list is there.

How does Termique store passwords compared to MobaXterm?

Credentials are encrypted with AES-GCM using a key derived from your master password on-device, then stored in the OS keychain. Nothing readable is written to disk and the sync server only ever holds ciphertext.

Also compare

Other tools weighed against MobaXterm.

All comparisons
termique vsBitvise SSH ClientWindows client with the best SFTP GUICredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare termique vsXshellPart of the NetSarang suiteCredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare termique vsmRemoteNGTabbed RDP, VNC and SSHCredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare termique vsTera TermSerial consoles and TTL macrosCredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare
Try it side by side

Run it next to MobaXterm.

Free to download on macOS, Windows and Linux. No card. Import your hosts and decide for yourself.

termiqueFree · Pro $5/mo
Download free