TermAI vs PuTTY — for mobile, there's no contest (and that's fine)
Honest comparison from the TermAI team. Updated June 2026.
Disclosure: We make TermAI. We tried to be fair anyway. Read methodology →
PuTTY is a Windows desktop SSH client — there's no official mobile app. If you need SSH on a phone or tablet, choose TermAI. If your work is at a Windows desktop, PuTTY remains the reference and TermAI isn't trying to replace it.
Feature-by-feature at a glance
| Feature | TermAI | PuTTY |
|---|---|---|
| iOS native app | ✓ | — |
| Android native app | ✓ | — |
| Windows desktop | — | ✓ |
| AI command helper | ✓ | — |
| Intelligent monitor (ShellMon) | ✓ | — |
| Tailscale built-in | ✓ | — |
| SFTP file manager | ✓ | ✓ (PSFTP/CLI) |
| Touch-optimized UI | ✓ | — |
| Key management UI | ✓ | ✓ (PuTTYgen) |
| Port forwarding | Coming soon | ✓ |
| Price | Free / $2.99 Pro | Free (FOSS) |
Last verified: June 2026. Feature parity changes — let us know if anything looks off.
Choose TermAI if…
There is no official PuTTY mobile app. TermAI is built mobile-first for exactly this.
PuTTY assumes a physical keyboard and mouse. TermAI's shortcut bar, AI helper and ShellMon are designed for thumbs on glass.
TermAI bundles an SFTP browser and the Tailscale SDK. With PuTTY you'd reach for separate tools.
Choose PuTTY if…
PuTTY is the long-standing reference SSH client on Windows. With a real keyboard and a big screen, it's fast and familiar. TermAI has no desktop version.
PuTTY's plink/pscp/psftp are scriptable on Windows. That's a desktop-automation use case TermAI doesn't target.
Pricing comparison
| TermAI Free | TermAI Pro | PuTTY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $2.99/mo | Free (FOSS) |
| Platform | iOS + Android | iOS + Android | Windows / Unix desktop |
| AI helper | 20/day | Unlimited | — |
| Touch UI | ✓ | ✓ | — |
PuTTY is free and excellent on the desktop. The comparison only matters when you need SSH on mobile — which is where TermAI lives.
FAQ
Is there a PuTTY app for iPhone or Android?
No official one. TermAI is a purpose-built mobile SSH client for both platforms.
Can TermAI use my PuTTY (.ppk) keys?
Convert .ppk to OpenSSH format with PuTTYgen, then paste the private key into TermAI's key manager.
Does TermAI have a desktop version like PuTTY?
Not yet — TermAI is mobile-first. For desktop SSH on Windows, PuTTY is still a solid choice.
Comparisons reflect TermAI v1.1.0 and PuTTY as of June 2026, tested on iOS 17 and Android 14. Pricing is from official sources. Spot an error? Email comparisons@termai.sh.
Ready to try TermAI?
More comparisons: Termius · JuiceSSH · Termux · ConnectBot · PuTTY