termique vs SSH Config file

Visual SSH manager vs manual config files

12 features comparedClaims last reviewed July 26, 2026
SSH Config filetermique
termiquemacOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · AndroidOn-device, E2EEEnd-to-endAll plansFree tier + ProFree · Pro $5/mo
SSH Config fileAny OSFree
The verdict

The short version.

What SSH Config file does well
  • Works with every SSH tool: ssh, scp, rsync, Ansible, git
  • Scriptable, diffable and version-controllable
  • No vendor, no account
Where it costs you
  • Passwords and passphrases are not stored
  • No UI; one bad edit breaks everyone
  • No sync between machines
What termique does instead
  • A visual host manager anyone can edit safely
  • Credentials encrypted end-to-end
  • Imports your existing ~/.ssh/config
Bottom line

Keep the file if a dozen hosts live in your head. Once a team shares them, termique is easier and safer.

Feature by feature

Every row, side by side.

FeaturetermiqueSSH Config file
Visual host managementYesNo
Encrypted credential storageAES-GCM, E2EENo
Cloud syncYesNo
Multi-tab SSH sessionsYesNo
SFTP file transferFree, all plansNo
AI terminal assistantFree tier + ProNo
SSH key managerYesManual
Command audit logsProNo
Import from SSH configYesN/A
Works without terminal knowledgeYesNo
Cross-platformYesPartial
PriceFree + $5/mo ProFree
SSH Config file claims last reviewed July 26, 2026Spotted something out of date? Tell us
Key differences

Where the two part ways.

  1. 01Editing

    termique
    A visual manager anyone can use safely.
    SSH Config file
    A shared text file nobody wants to touch.
    Read the detail

    The config file nobody dares to touch. Every team has a shared SSH config that's grown organically for years. Nobody knows what half the entries do, and editing it means risking breaking everyone's workflow. Termique replaces it with a visual manager anyone can use safely.

  2. 02Credentials

    termique
    Encrypted vault, one-click connect.
    SSH Config file
    In your clipboard or your head.
    Read the detail

    Credentials in plaintext vs encrypted vault. SSH config stores hostnames and keys - but passwords and passphrases still live in your clipboard or head. Termique encrypts your credentials end-to-end with AES-GCM, syncs them to the cloud, and connects in one click. No plaintext, no clipboard exposure.

  3. 03Setup

    termique
    Add a host, click connect.
    SSH Config file
    Syntax, chmod and silent failures.
    Read the detail

    From zero to session without a manual. Setting up SSH config requires knowing the syntax, managing key permissions with chmod, and troubleshooting silently failing entries. Termique is a UI - add a host, click connect, done.

Platform by platform

On every device you use.

macOS and Linux

~/.ssh/config is already there and already works. Termique reads it on first launch and leaves it in place as your source of truth.

Windows

OpenSSH ships with Windows 10 and 11, so %USERPROFILE%\.ssh\config works too, though far fewer people keep one. Termique gives Windows the host list the file never really provided there.

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Switching

Moving over from SSH Config file.

  1. 01Nothing to migrate

    Termique reads ~/.ssh/config on first launch. Your Host blocks, HostName, Port, User and IdentityFile entries all come across.

  2. 02Keep the file

    Termique does not take the file over. Keep editing it by hand for scripting and Ansible; use Termique when you want search, grouping and a credential vault.

  3. 03Add what the file cannot hold

    Passwords are the one thing ~/.ssh/config cannot store, which is why they end up in a password manager and the clipboard. Add them in Termique once, AES-GCM encrypted on-device.

FAQ

Questions people ask.

Something else? Ask us.

Will Termique overwrite my ~/.ssh/config?

No. It reads the file to import hosts and leaves it as your source of truth. You can keep editing it directly.

Why use an app if the config file works?

Three things a text file cannot do: store credentials safely, sync encrypted across machines, and give you a searchable list when the file has grown to two hundred entries.

Does Termique support ProxyJump and bastion hosts?

Jump-host configuration defined in ~/.ssh/config is respected on import. Complex multi-hop chains are still easier to express in the file itself.

Can I keep using ssh and scp on the command line?

Yes. Termique does not change how the system ssh client behaves, and it uses standard OpenSSH keys.

Is Termique free?

Yes to download, with unlimited hosts, unlimited sessions and SFTP on the free tier.

Also compare

Other tools weighed against SSH Config file.

All comparisons
termique vsPuTTYThe classic, single-binary clientCredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare termique vsWarpAI-first local terminalCredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare termique vsMobaXtermAll-in-one toolbox with an X11 serverCredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare termique vsFinalShellSSH with a live server monitorCredentialsSyncSFTPAICompare
Try it side by side

Run it next to SSH Config file.

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

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