Termique vs Tera Term
Termique vs Tera Term:
which SSH client is right for you?
Tera Term has been a dependable Windows terminal since the 1990s, kept alive as BSD-licensed open source by the Tera Term Project since 2007. Its macro language and serial console support make it genuinely hard to replace for embedded and network work, and nothing here suggests otherwise. But it is Windows-only, host management stops at a connection history dropdown, settings live in a plaintext TERATERM.INI, credentials routinely end up hardcoded in .ttl macro files, and tabbed sessions need a third-party plugin. Termique keeps the speed and directness and adds an encrypted credential vault, grouped hosts, native tabs, and sync across machines.
Competitor claims on this page last reviewed August 25, 2026.
| Feature | Termique | Tera Term |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | macOS, Windows, Linux | Windows only |
| Encrypted credential storage | AES-GCM, E2EE, on-device key derivation | None - credentials often hardcoded in .ttl macros |
| Cloud sync | Included | Not available |
| Host organization | Groups and tags | Connection history dropdown |
| Tabbed sessions | Included | Third-party plugin (TTXTabBar) |
| SFTP file transfer | Free, all plans | SCP and ZMODEM only, no SFTP browser |
| AI terminal assistant | Free tier + Pro | Not available |
| SSH key manager | Included | Key generation via ttssh, no vault |
| Serial / UART console | Not available | Included |
| Macro scripting | Snippets library | Tera Term Language (TTL) |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | Not available |
| Command audit logs | Pro | Not available |
| License | Free + $5/mo Pro | Free, open source (BSD) |
Key differences
Still the right tool for a serial console
Tera Term talks to UART and serial ports, emulates everything from VT100 to VT382 and Tek4010, and drives it all with the Tera Term Language macro system. For flashing firmware or bringing up a switch over a console cable, it remains excellent and Termique does not replace it. The gap shows up once the work is remote: dozens of SSH hosts, shared credentials, and machines that are not all running Windows.
TERATERM.INI and .ttl macros vs an encrypted vault
Tera Term stores its configuration in a plaintext INI file, and because there is no credential store, the common workaround is a .ttl macro that carries the host, username and password in clear text on disk. It works, and it is exactly the kind of file that gets copied to a shared drive or committed by accident. Termique encrypts every credential with AES-GCM using a key derived from your master password on-device, so the ciphertext is all that ever syncs or leaves the machine.
Windows only, in a team that probably is not
Tera Term has run on Windows and nowhere else for its entire life. If part of your team is on macOS or Linux, they need a different client, different saved hosts, and a different way to store credentials. Termique runs natively on macOS, Windows and Linux, with iOS and Android alongside, and the same encrypted host list follows you to all of them.
Platform by platform
Windows
Tera Term's only platform, and still the right one for serial console work over COM ports. Termique does not do serial at all.
macOS and Linux
Not available, and never has been. Termique covers both natively, plus iOS and Android for the same encrypted host list on a phone.
When Tera Term is still the better choice
Tera Term drives serial consoles over COM ports, emulates everything from VT100 to VT382 and Tek4010, and scripts it all with the Tera Term Language. For bringing up a switch over a console cable or flashing firmware, it is still excellent and Termique does not replace it at all. It is also tiny, free and open source.
Switching from Tera Term
Read TERATERM.INI
Tera Term keeps settings in a plaintext INI file next to the executable. Your recent hosts live in the connection history rather than a real session store, so there may be less to migrate than you expect.
Retire your .ttl login macros
Because Tera Term has no credential store, the common workaround is a .ttl macro with the host, username and password in clear text. Delete those files and rotate the passwords in them - they were readable by anything that could read the disk.
Add hosts in Termique
Add the SSH hosts with the rotated credentials. They are AES-GCM encrypted under a key derived from your master password, which is never written anywhere.
Termique vs Tera Term: common questions
Does Termique support serial console connections?
No. Keep Tera Term for COM port work - the two tools do not overlap there.
Does Termique run on macOS and Linux?
Yes. Tera Term has been Windows-only for its entire life, which is usually why mixed teams look elsewhere.
Can Termique replace my .ttl login macros?
For SSH logins, yes - that is what the credential vault is for, and it does not leave a password in a file. For serial or terminal-emulation automation, no.
Is Termique free?
Free to download, with unlimited hosts and sessions and SFTP on the free tier. Pro is $5/mo.
Is Tera Term still maintained?
Yes, it still gets releases. The gap is scope, not upkeep: no credential vault, no host grouping, no sync and no macOS or Linux build.
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