VShell Server

Name: VShell Server
Price: 1499 USD

Free trial APILinuxMacSelf-hostedWebWindows

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What VShell Server is

VShell Server is a secure file transfer server for remote access and administration. It supports SSH2, SFTP, FTPS, and HTTPS, with FTP available for legacy systems; listed protocol support also includes SCP, WebDAV, HTTP, and S3. Administrators can grant or deny services to users or groups and restrict file access through virtual roots. Event triggers can run commands or move files after uploads, downloads, or failed logons. VShell integrates with Windows user accounts and groups and can authenticate through an external LDAP server. Enterprise Edition with HTTPS enables browser transfers and supports WebDAV clients. Security options include multiple encryption and message authentication algorithms, with 3DES and MD5 disabled by default. The Windows version can run in FIPS Mode using a FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic library. Logs can be local, sent to the Windows system log, or forwarded to remote syslog or syslog-ng. Windows VShell Monitor shows active connections in real time. Workgroup Edition is limited to 25 concurrent connections; Enterprise editions list unrestricted connections. The listed plans are $599.00 and $999.00 per once, each billed with one year of updates; a 30-day trial is noted.

Who it suits

VShell Server suits administrators who need controlled file transfer and remote administration with event triggers and logging. Organizations can consider Workgroup for up to 25 concurrent connections or an Enterprise edition with unrestricted connections.

What it does well

Supports SSH2, SFTP, FTPS, and HTTPS.
Restricts access with users, groups, and virtual roots.
Triggers can respond to file events and failed logons.
Enterprise HTTPS supports browser transfers and WebDAV.
Windows version can run in FIPS Mode.

What to know first

Workgroup Edition is limited to 25 concurrent connections.
No free plan is listed.
Listed plans include one year of updates.

Limits

Workgroup Edition allows 25 concurrent connections; Enterprise editions list unrestricted connections. The pricing note includes a 30-day trial, while official releases are stated to be available for evaluation without charge for 60 days.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
VShell Enterprise Edition with HTTPS	One Year of Updates · Unlimited concurrent connections · Adds HTTPS and HTTP file transfer	$1,499, paid once
VShell Workgroup Edition	One Year of Updates · 25 concurrent connections · SSH2/SFTP, SCP, shell, port forwarding, remote exec, FTPS and FTP	$599, paid once
VShell Enterprise Edition	One Year of Updates · Unlimited concurrent connections · SSH2/SFTP, SCP, shell, port forwarding, remote exec, FTPS and FTP	$999, paid once

As vandyke.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the VShell Server website.
Choose a VShell edition: Workgroup or Enterprise; Enterprise with HTTPS is also available.
Download an official VShell release for evaluation, available without charge for 60 days.
Install on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Configure services and file access for users or groups.

Verdict

VShell Server offers multiple transfer protocols, access controls, automation triggers, and logging options. Compare the listed connection limits and plan terms with the intended deployment before choosing an edition.

Questions

How much does VShell Server cost?

The pricing note says From $119. Workgroup Edition is listed at $599, paid once, billed with One Year of Updates; Enterprise Edition is $999, paid once, also billed with One Year of Updates.

Is there a free plan or trial?

There is no free plan. The pricing note mentions a 30-day trial, and official releases can be evaluated without charge for 60 days.

Which platforms does it support?

The listed platforms are Windows, macOS, Linux, API, and self-hosted.

What protocols does VShell Server support?

Listed protocols include SSH2, SFTP, SCP, FTPS, HTTPS, WebDAV, S3, FTP, and HTTP. FTP is also described as available for legacy systems.

Does it support browser-based file transfers?

Enterprise Edition with HTTPS lets users transfer files through a browser and supports WebDAV clients.

What connection limits apply?

Workgroup Edition is limited to 25 concurrent connections. Enterprise editions list unrestricted connections.

Facts from VShell Server's own pages

Access control: Administrators can allow or deny shell, file-transfer, forwarding and execution services per user or group. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Authentication: Supported authentication methods include password, public key, GSSAPI, keyboard-interactive, Kerberos, RADIUS SecurID and X.509 certificates, with some Windows-only. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Automation: Triggers can respond to events such as file uploads, downloads, and failed logons by running commands or moving files. · vandyke.com, 4 Oct 2026
Automation triggers: Triggers respond to authentication, login, logout and file events by running commands or copying and moving files. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Browser transfer: The HTTPS edition provides browser-based uploads and downloads without client software or browser plugins. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Command-line tools: The product includes vsftp, vsh, vcp and vkeygen utilities for scripted transfer, shell and key-generation tasks. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Company fact: independent profile: Craft lists VanDyke Software as an active private company founded in 1995 and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. · craft.co, 15 Oct 2026
Company fact: leadership: Craft identifies Jeff P. Van Dyke as founder and CEO, with Frances Brass as COO and Maureen Jett as product director. · craft.co, 15 Oct 2026
Company fact: legal entity: A government-oriented CAGE/DUNS profile identifies Vandyke Software Inc. as a Subchapter S corporation established in 1995 at 4848 Tramway Ridge Drive NE, Albuquerque. · cage.report, 15 Oct 2026
Current release: The download page lists VShell Server 5.0.1 dated September 29, 2026 for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu installers. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Deployment: The server runs on physical machines, virtual machines and cloud-based servers. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Directory integrations: Windows deployments integrate with local or domain accounts and external LDAP servers. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Documentation: Technical resources include FAQs, a Linux/macOS solutions guide, videos, white papers, case studies and installation tips. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Edition limit: The Workgroup Edition is limited to 25 concurrent connections; Enterprise editions list unrestricted connections. · vandyke.com, 4 Oct 2026
Encryption: Supported ciphers include ChaCha20/Poly1305, AES-GCM, AES-CTR, AES and Twofish; legacy 3DES is disabled by default. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Evaluation: Official VShell releases can be downloaded and evaluated without charge for 60 days. · vandyke.com, 4 Oct 2026
FIPS: The Windows version can operate in FIPS 140-2 mode using a validated cryptographic library. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Founded: 1995 · vandyke.com, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA · vandyke.com, 28 Sept 2026
Integrations: VShell integrates with Windows user accounts and groups and can authenticate users against an external LDAP server. · vandyke.com, 4 Oct 2026
Integrity protection: The server supports UMAC and SHA-2 message-authentication codes, while MD5 is disabled by default. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
License: The EULA grants use of proprietary software, prohibits sublicensing and reverse engineering, and limits evaluation use to 60 days. · vandyke.com, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: cost versus open source: ServerWatch noted that freely available OpenSSH alternatives exist while VShell costs hundreds of dollars. · serverwatch.com, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: remote administration UI: ServerWatch reported that the Windows product lacked remote graphical administration and used a local administrative interface. · serverwatch.com, 15 Oct 2026