Termique vs MobaXterm
Termique vs MobaXterm:
which SSH client is right for you?
MobaXterm is a well-regarded Windows terminal with a built-in X11 server and a graphical SFTP browser, popular among Windows developers who need to forward Linux GUI apps. The trade-offs: it only runs on Windows, the free Home edition caps you at 12 sessions and 2 SSH tunnels, its credential encryption has been documented as recoverable by a local attacker with registry access, and there's no cloud sync or AI. Termique runs identically on macOS, Windows, and Linux, encrypts your credentials with a key derived on-device, and never caps concurrent sessions or tunnels - even on the free tier, which saves up to 3 hosts (unlimited on Pro).
Competitor claims on this page last reviewed July 26, 2026.
| Feature | Termique | MobaXterm |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | macOS, Windows, Linux | Windows only |
| Free tier limit | 3 hosts, unlimited sessions | 12 sessions, 2 SSH tunnels |
| Encrypted credential storage | AES-GCM, E2EE, on-device key derivation | DPAPI (documented as locally recoverable) |
| Cloud sync | Included | Not available |
| Built-in X11 server | Not available | Included |
| SFTP file transfer | Free, all plans | Included |
| AI terminal assistant | Free tier + Pro | Not available |
| SSH key manager | Included | Included |
| Command audit logs | Pro | Not available |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | Not available |
| Runtime | Tauri (native) | Native Windows (Cygwin-based) |
| Price | Free + $5/mo Pro | Free (12 sessions) + $69 one-time Professional |
Key differences
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.
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.
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
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.
When MobaXterm is still the better choice
MobaXterm bundles an X11 server and a full Cygwin userland - rsync, awk, sed, ssh, scp - into one portable Windows executable. If you run graphical Linux applications over X11 forwarding from Windows, or you want Unix tools on a machine where you cannot install WSL, nothing else does that in one download. Termique does not ship an X server and does not intend to. Different job.
Switching from MobaXterm
Export 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.
Collect 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.
Import 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.
Termique vs MobaXterm: common questions
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.
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