Termique vs SecureCRT
Termique vs SecureCRT:
which SSH client is right for you?
SecureCRT is a long-trusted, genuinely cross-platform commercial terminal with a mature session manager and solid Python/VBScript scripting support. The trade-offs are cost and scope: licenses run $119-190 per seat with recurring maintenance fees, a dedicated file-transfer client (SecureFX) is a separate purchase, there's no cloud sync, and no AI. Termique is free to start, syncs everything end-to-end encrypted at no extra licensing cost, bundles SFTP into the same app, and includes an AI assistant scoped to your terminal session.
Competitor claims on this page last reviewed July 26, 2026.
| Feature | Termique | SecureCRT |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | macOS, Windows, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Pricing model | Free + $5/mo Pro | $119-190 per seat, perpetual + maintenance |
| Encrypted credential storage | AES-GCM, E2EE, on-device key derivation | AES-256-CBC, local only |
| Cloud sync | Included | Not available |
| AI terminal assistant | Free tier + Pro | Not available |
| SFTP file transfer | Free, all plans | Separate purchase (SecureFX) |
| SSH key manager | Included | Included |
| Command audit logs | Pro | Not available |
| Scripting | AI assistant | Python, VBScript, JScript |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | iOS |
Key differences
Per-seat perpetual license vs $5 a month
SecureCRT costs $119 per seat for one year of updates, or $190 for three - before considering SecureFX for file transfer. For a five-person team, that's several hundred dollars upfront plus renewal costs to stay current. Termique gives every plan SFTP for free, cloud sync included - Pro is $5/month per user and adds the AI assistant and audit logs, so $25/month covers the same five-person team with no perpetual license math to track.
Bundled SFTP vs a second product to buy
SecureCRT's SFTP support means switching to SecureFX, a separately licensed application that happens to share session configuration. Termique's SFTP is the same application, the same encrypted credential store, no second purchase or second login required.
No cloud sync, even in 2026
SecureCRT stores sessions and credentials locally with no built-in cloud sync - moving to a new machine means manually exporting and re-importing configuration. Termique syncs your full host library and encrypted credentials automatically; sign in on a new machine with your master password and everything is there.
Platform by platform
Windows
Both run here. SecureCRT keeps one .ini per session under %APPDATA%\VanDyke\Config\Sessions; Termique keeps hosts in a local SQLite database and credentials in the Windows Credential Manager.
macOS and Linux
SecureCRT covers both, so this is not a platform argument - it is a price and workflow argument. The licence is per platform per seat; Termique's account covers every device you sign in on.
When SecureCRT is still the better choice
SecureCRT has things Termique does not and will not soon: a mature scripting engine (VBScript, JScript, Python) that a lot of network automation is already written against, terminal emulations beyond VT - Wyse, SCO ANSI, Linux console - and FIPS-validated cryptography that some procurement processes require by name. If your compliance team asks for FIPS 140 or your team has years of .vbs session scripts, VanDyke is the answer and a $5/mo subscription is not.
Switching from SecureCRT
Find your session store
SecureCRT keeps one .ini per session. On Windows that is %APPDATA%\VanDyke\Config\Sessions, on macOS ~/Library/Application Support/VanDyke/SecureCRT/Config/Sessions. Each file names the hostname, port and username in plain text.
Export your keys
SecureCRT can save keys in OpenSSH format via Tools > Create Public Key, or you can convert existing ones. Termique uses standard OpenSSH keys.
Rebuild hosts in Termique
Add the hosts and group them by environment or client. Credentials go in once and are AES-GCM encrypted on-device before syncing.
Termique vs SecureCRT: common questions
How does the price compare?
SecureCRT is a perpetual licence, listed around $99 per seat, with paid version upgrades afterwards. Termique is free to download and $5/mo for Pro. Which is cheaper depends entirely on how long you keep a version - a perpetual licence held for five years is not obviously worse.
Does Termique support scripting?
Not in the SecureCRT sense. There are reusable command snippets and an AI assistant that proposes commands, but no VBScript or Python session automation API.
Is Termique FIPS validated?
No. Termique uses AES-256-GCM and PBKDF2 implemented in Rust, but it has not been through FIPS 140 validation. If your organisation requires that on paper, SecureCRT is the correct choice.
Does Termique do cloud sync?
Yes, end-to-end encrypted. Credentials are encrypted on your device before upload; the server stores ciphertext only.
Can I run Termique on Linux?
Yes - macOS, Windows and Linux, with x86_64 and arm64 Linux builds.
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