MobaXterm
by MobaXterm
What MobaXterm is
MobaXterm combines remote computing tools and Unix commands in a Windows application for programmers, webmasters, IT administrators, and others working with remote systems. It supports remote sessions over SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, FTP, SFTP, Mosh, and Serial, among other listed protocols. Its embedded X server is based on X.org and supports OpenGL and extensions for running remote graphical applications on Windows. In an SSH session, a graphical SFTP browser lets users drag and drop files between their computer and a remote server. The terminal includes Unix commands, and downloadable plugins or the MobApt package manager can add tools. The session manager can connect through an SSH gateway before reaching an end server. MobaXterm is available as a single executable that can run from a USB stick without admin rights. The Professional Edition includes Customizer software for creating branded copies with custom logos and default settings. The free Home Edition is limited to 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels, and 4 macros. The Professional Edition costs $69 a year for 1–10 users; updates are included for the first year, and renewal is optional.
Who it suits
MobaXterm suits programmers, webmasters, IT administrators, and corporate users who work with Unix/Linux and Windows servers. It is particularly relevant for people who need remote terminal sessions, graphical applications, and file transfers from a Windows computer.
What it does well
- Supports a broad range of remote session protocols, including SSH, RDP, VNC, and SFTP.
- Runs remote graphical applications through its embedded X server.
- Provides a graphical SFTP browser within SSH sessions.
- Can route connections through an SSH gateway.
- The single executable can run from a USB stick without admin rights.
What to know first
- The product is available for Windows only.
- The free Home Edition is limited to 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels, and 4 macros.
- Home Edition licensing does not obligate the maker to provide technical assistance or maintenance.
Limits
The free Home Edition allows 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels, and 4 macros. The Professional Edition costs $69 a year for 1–10 users; updates are included for the first year, and renewal is optional.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Home Edition | 12 sessions · 2 SSH tunnels · 4 macros · 360 seconds for TFTP/NFS/Cron daemons | Free |
| Professional Edition | 12 months of updates; lifetime right to use · Unlimited sessions · unlimited tunnels and macros · unlimited daemon runtime · company deployment · Customizer | $69 a year |
As mobaxterm.mobatek.net lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the MobaXterm website.
- Choose the free Home Edition or the Professional Edition at $69 a year.
- Run the single executable on Windows, including from a USB stick if useful.
- Create a remote session using a supported protocol.
- Connect through an SSH gateway when the route to an end server requires one.
Verdict
Pick MobaXterm if you need a Windows tool that brings remote sessions, Unix commands, graphical applications, and SFTP file transfer together. Look elsewhere if you need a platform other than Windows or Home Edition’s session, tunnel, and macro limits are too restrictive.
Questions
How much does MobaXterm cost?
The Home Edition is free. The Professional Edition costs $69 a year for 1–10 users; updates are included for the first year, and renewal is optional.
What are the Home Edition limits?
It allows 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels, and 4 macros.
Which platforms does MobaXterm support?
MobaXterm is available for Windows.
Which remote protocols does it support?
Listed protocols include SSH, SFTP, SCP, FTP, FTPS, Telnet, Rlogin, RSH, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, Mosh, and Serial.
Who makes MobaXterm?
MobaXterm is made by MobaXterm, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Toulouse, France.
Does MobaXterm offer technical support with the free edition?
The Home Edition license says the maker is not obligated to provide technical assistance or maintenance services.
Facts from MobaXterm's own pages
- Audience
- Mobatek says its MobaXterm and MobaSSH products primarily target corporate users working with Unix/Linux and Windows servers. · mobatek.net, 29 Sept 2026
- Company claims
- Mobatek says its products are designed without spyware or adware and without unwanted internet connections. · mobatek.net, 29 Sept 2026
- Company profile
- Crunchbase lists Mobatek as a private Toulouse software firm with 1–10 employees and no disclosed funding amount. · crunchbase.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company-use restriction
- Home Edition company use is limited to the individual who downloaded and installed it, while shared installations and deployment require Professional Edition. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The official manual contains extensive interface, protocol, settings, troubleshooting and FAQ sections. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Embedded tools
- The product includes embedded daemons, text editing, network utilities and the MobApt package manager. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Official documentation describes command-line switches such as -exec and a plugin format using .mxt3 ZIP packages containing executables, libraries and configuration. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- File transfer
- An SSH session can open a graphical SFTP browser for dragging and dropping files to and from a remote server. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 29 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2008 · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 20 Sept 2026
- Gateways and tunnels
- SSH gateway support enables jump-host connections and a graphical manager creates port-forwarding tunnels. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Google Play listing
- A Google Play app named “Mobaxterm SSH” is attributed to A389 St rather than Mobatek and shows 3.0 out of 5 from 166 reviews. · play.google.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Toulouse, France · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations listed
- GetApp lists Ubuntu and Visual Studio Code as integrations, each with a 5.0 rating from one review. · getapp.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Latest stable release
- The download changelog lists version 26.5 dated 2026-09-11 with updated Xorg, PuTTY, OpenSSL and OpenSSH components plus WebAuthn RDP support. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Legal company facts
- Mobatek is a French SAS registered as SIREN 502 869 258 at 15 chemin de la Crabe, Toulouse, with €3,000 capital. · mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- License
- MobaXterm is proprietary freeware/commercial software; Mobatek retains ownership and third-party components have separate licenses. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: interface and stability
- G2 reviewers describe the interface as dated, report restricted customization and occasional crashes with many active sessions. · g2.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: updates and scaling
- TrustRadius summaries report manual reinstall updates, dated grouping, credential-management difficulties and hangs when opening many sessions. · trustradius.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: user interface
- GetApp reviewers criticize the dated or garish interface and the time needed to customize it. · getapp.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Macros and passwords
- Users can record terminal macros and protect saved session passwords with a master password. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Mobatek is a Toulouse, France software company serving worldwide customers since 2008. · mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Multi-execution
- MultiExec sends the same command to multiple servers at once. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
- Portability
- The executable runs without administrator rights or extra frameworks and can be launched from a USB drive. · mobaxterm.mobatek.net, 15 Oct 2026
Where MobaXterm stands on Freedom251
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- SSH Clients#13 of 33
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- Remote Connection Manager Software#17 of 29