A subscription-free Termius alternative for macOS
Termius is a feature-rich, cross-platform SSH client. But it requires mandatory cloud accounts, recurring subscriptions, and runs on Electron. Here is how Upshell offers a native, sandboxed, and cost-effective alternative for your Mac.
Termius has built a solid tool for multi-device terminal access, but it comes at a cost: a mandatory cloud account, a steep recurring subscription, and an Electron-based interface that feels alien on macOS. For developers and sysadmins who work mostly on a Mac, these trade-offs are hard to justify.
Upshell keeps the power-user features — multi-pane terminal splits, host manager, saved snippets, bastion routing, port forwarding, and integrated file transfers — and rebuilds them as a native macOS app in Swift & SwiftNIO. Your credentials live in the macOS Keychain, your sessions run inside Apple's Sandbox, and you own the app for a single lifetime purchase instead of a monthly fee.
Upshell vs Termius, feature by feature
An honest snapshot — a ✓ means the feature ships today, notes mark the differences that matter.
| Feature | Upshell | Termius |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free · Annual 19,90 € · FULL 99,00 € once | 99 $ / year (Pro plan) |
| SSH & PTY terminal splits | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native macOS app (Swift & SwiftNIO) | ✓ | Electron (Javascript wrapper) |
| No cloud account required | ✓ | — |
| Passwords & private keys in macOS Keychain | ✓ | Proprietary Cloud Sync |
| App Sandbox & Mac App Store secure | ✓ | — |
| Local, Remote, and SOCKS Port Forwarding | FULL | ✓ |
| Multi-hop ProxyJump (Bastion) | FULL | ✓ |
| In-process secure Agent Forwarding | FULL | System Agent only |
| Keyboard-interactive 2FA / TOTP prompting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Co-session SFTP (no second login) | ✓ | Separate tab / browser |
| Saved snippets & Multi-host execution | FULL | Pro version only |
| Import from ~/.ssh/config | FULL | ✓ |
| Environment colors on tabs & backdrops | FULL | Basic themes |
| Cross-platform (Windows / Linux / Mobile) | — | ✓ |
Where Termius is still the right choice
- You need the same client on Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android — Upshell is built exclusively for macOS.
- You rely heavily on team sharing of credentials and SSH host registries.
- You need mobile sync to run commands from your phone on the go.
Where Upshell pulls ahead on a Mac
- 100% Native App: built with SwiftUI & SwiftNIO for instant load times, minimal memory footprint, and low CPU usage — no Electron overhead.
- Total Privacy: no mandatory cloud accounts. Saved servers and settings sync over your personal iCloud (CloudKit) and credentials live in the macOS Keychain.
- Apple Sandbox secure: strictly limits disk access, protecting your sensitive keys from external processes.
- Co-session SFTP: browse and transfer files using the same SSH channel, without setting up a secondary session or re-authenticating.
- Pricing: pay once and own it forever, or pick a low-cost annual plan. No forced subscription loops.
Migrate your host registry in seconds
Point Upshell FULL at your ~/.ssh/config and every host, port, username, and ProxyJump setup comes across immediately. Select your private keys via Apple's secure file picker, and they are saved safely in your Keychain.
Common questions
Can Upshell import my ~/.ssh/config?
Is Upshell free to use?
Where are my passwords and keys stored?
Try Upshell free, decide later
The core is free forever — unlimited SSH host connections, tabs, and co-session SFTP. No trial clock, no subscription.
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