Switched to Mac recently and can’t find PuTTY? You’re not alone. While PuTTY is a go-to SSH and Telnet tool for Windows users, it doesn’t come preloaded on macOS. The good news? Some brilliant, free alternatives for Mac offer even more features and flexibility.
From developers to sysadmins to tech enthusiasts, these top 5 PuTTY alternatives for Mac in 2025 are worth trying out.
Why Do You Need a PuTTY Alternative for Mac?
Let’s face it — managing SSH connections and working with remote terminals is something most tech folks deal with regularly. On Windows, PuTTY makes this easy.
But a Mac already comes with a built-in terminal that supports SSH, so you don’t need PuTTY — you just need something a bit more advanced.
These alternatives bring a lot more to the table — think tabbed sessions, saved profiles, GUI-based connections, encryption support, cross-device syncing, and more.
The goal? To make your remote work faster, simpler, and less frustrating.
Let’s dive into the top tools.
Termius
Need something cross-platform that looks sleek and syncs across devices? Termius is your answer. It’s one of the most popular SSH clients outside of PuTTY, and it works on Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Highlights include:
- Encrypted sync of sessions, keys, and credentials
- Tabbed sessions and command history
- Snippets for frequently used commands
- Support for Mosh, SSH, and Telnet
- Beautiful UI and dark mode (yes, it matters!)
Even though Termius offers a premium plan, the free version is solid for everyday use. If you like managing your servers from your laptop and phone alike, this is the tool for you.
Attune
Traditional tools like PuTTY have long been popular for their simplicity — providing a basic command-line interface (CLI) to connect remotely to servers. However, as IT environments grow larger and more complex, the need for more powerful and flexible solutions becomes clear.
That’s where Attune steps in.
Unlike PuTTY, which primarily offers a manual connection to a remote system, Attune is designed to automate and manage entire IT environments. It empowers teams to go beyond simple command execution. With Attune, you can easily automate tasks like:
- Application deployments
- System upgrades and patching
- Scheduled backups and disaster recovery routines
- Ad-hoc operations across multiple servers
In addition to running individual commands, Attune provides a robust framework for building, scheduling, and executing complex scripts across multiple systems, consistently and reliably. Whether you need to perform a one-time task or manage continuous, large-scale automation, Attune offers a powerful and scalable solution.
In short:
While PuTTY gives you a window into a remote system, Attune gives you a control panel to orchestrate and automate your entire infrastructure.
Here’s why it stands out:
- Clean GUI for managing SSH sessions
- Group sessions for projects
- Pre-configured scripts and command automation
- Built-in security and key management
- Designed specifically for macOS and Linux systems
Attune isn’t just a terminal — it’s more like a command and control hub for your remote machines. If you find yourself repeating SSH commands often or working in DevOps, Attune can be a real time-saver.
iTerm2
If you’re looking for a top-tier terminal emulator that’s completely free and open-source, iTerm2 should be your go-to. It’s basically Terminal on steroids.
With features like:
- Split panes (run multiple sessions side-by-side)
- Hotkey window (quickly bring up your terminal)
- Session restoration
- Search and autocomplete
- Scripting and automation
It’s a productivity powerhouse. iTerm2 is extremely customisable and integrates beautifully with macOS. Whether you’re SSHing into a server or running multiple scripts, iTerm2 makes it smooth and efficient.
Kitty
Not to be confused with KiTTY (a fork of PuTTY for Windows), Kitty is a modern terminal emulator for Mac and Linux that focuses on speed and performance. It’s GPU-accelerated, which makes it lightning-fast even when handling heavy output.
What’s great about it?
- Font ligatures and emoji support
- Tabs and layouts for managing multiple sessions
- Scripting support with Python
- Startup session control (automate what opens)
Kitty is great if you care about responsiveness and aesthetics but want to keep things light and minimal.
OpenSSH (Built-in Terminal)
Let’s not forget the good old Terminal app that comes with macOS. It supports OpenSSH natively, meaning you can easily run:
ssh user@your-server.com
If you’re comfortable with the command line and don’t need fancy features, this does the trick just fine. No bells and whistles, but it’s reliable, secure, and always available.
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to replacing PuTTY on a Mac — it really depends on how you work. But if you want something that’s free, powerful, and designed to make remote work easier, any of the tools above will serve you well.
To recap:
- Go for iTerm2 if you love flexibility and customisation.
- Try Attune if you want smart session management and automation.
- Use Termius for cross-platform access and a modern UI.
- Choose Kitty for a fast and minimal experience.
- Stick with OpenSSH if you’re a fan of simple command lines.
Whatever you choose, you’ll find it’s easier than ever to manage your remote servers — no PuTTY required.
