Alternative

A free MobaXterm alternative that runs everywhere

MobaXterm packs SSH, SFTP, X11 forwarding and a pile of network tools into one Windows app. Its catch: it only runs on Windows, and the paid edition unlocks the full feature set.

If you switched to a Mac, or you want the same remote setup on every machine you own, Pane is a free, open-source alternative for macOS, Windows and Linux, plus your phone's browser.

When MobaXterm is the right choice

  • You live on Windows and need X11 forwarding for graphical Linux apps.
  • You want SSH, RDP, VNC, serial and FTP sessions in one tabbed tool.
  • You manage network gear and use its built-in utilities.

When Pane fits better

  • You're on a Mac or Linux, or you switch between operating systems.
  • You develop on a remote machine and want its terminals, file browser and editor, and dev servers at localhost.
  • You run coding agents and want to manage them from your laptop or phone.
  • You want open source. Pane is AGPL-3.0, free, with no paid tier needed for remote access.

What carries over

MobaXterm features and their Pane equivalents
You used MobaXterm forIn Pane
SSH sessionsTerminals on the remote host, over Tailscale or an SSH tunnel
SFTP side panelBuilt-in file browser and editor for the host's files
Port forwarding to a dev serverAutomatic: the host's dev servers open at localhost on your computer
Saved sessionsSaved connections to each host
X11 appsNot supported. Keep MobaXterm or use an X server for these.

  • SSH sessions

    In Pane
    Terminals on the remote host, over Tailscale or an SSH tunnel

  • SFTP side panel

    In Pane
    Built-in file browser and editor for the host's files

  • Port forwarding to a dev server

    In Pane
    Automatic: the host's dev servers open at localhost on your computer

  • Saved sessions

    In Pane
    Saved connections to each host

  • X11 apps

    In Pane
    Not supported. Keep MobaXterm or use an X server for these.

Switch in five minutes

  1. Install Pane on your remote machine and on the computer you sit at.
  2. On the remote machine, open Settings → Remote Access → Connection codes → Set Up Host and copy the pane-remote:// code.
  3. Paste the code into Pane on your computer under Settings → Remote Access → Your computers → Add with a Code.

Related

Sources

Corrections
If anything here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it and update the date at the top. Open an issue on GitHub
Sources
or
Download*
Windows SmartScreen warningDirect downloads can show a SmartScreen warning while Pane is unsigned. Pane is fully open source, so you can audit the code and build from source yourself.1. Click More info2. Click Run anyway3. Continue the installerThe PowerShell install downloads the official release directly and avoids most browser download friction.npm global install
Paste that in PowerShell.Linux

By Parsa Khazaeepoul, co-founder of Pane. .