Top GUI SSH Clients for Linux: PuTTY, EasySSH, and Terminator

PuTTY

PuTTY is a widely used SSH client originally for Windows but also available in Linux repositories. It provides a graphical interface for saving sessions, configuring alternative ports, selecting connection types, logging, keyboard and appearance options, local and remote tunnel configuration, proxy support, and X11 forwarding.

Save and load session profiles

Connect by IP address or hostname

Define non‑standard SSH ports

Choose connection type (SSH, Telnet, etc.)

Logging of session output

Keyboard, bell, appearance and connection options

Local and remote port forwarding

Proxy support

X11 tunneling

Installation on Debian‑based distributions: sudo apt-get install -y putty Run the GUI with putty. In the "PuTTY Configuration" window enter the host name or IP address, adjust the port if it differs from the default 22, select "SSH" as the connection type, and click Open . To save a session, type a name in the "Saved Sessions" field and click Save . Later you can load the saved profile and open the connection without re‑entering the details.

EasySSH

EasySSH is a lightweight, tab‑based SSH client that focuses on ease of use. It allows multiple connections to be opened in separate tabs and supports local and remote port forwarding.

Tab grouping for efficient workflow

Save username and password (stored locally)

Customizable appearance

Support for local and remote tunnels

Installation via Flatpak (Flatpak must be installed first):

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
sudo flatpak install flathub com.github.muriloventuroso.easyssh

Run the application: flatpak run com.github.muriloventuroso.easyssh After launch, click the " + " button, fill in the SSH host, username and optional password, then save the connection. Select the saved entry from the left navigation pane and press "Connect" to start the session.

Security note: EasySSH stores saved credentials on the local machine. Ensure the desktop is locked when unattended and use strong passwords to prevent unauthorized access.

Terminator

Terminator is not a dedicated SSH GUI; it is a terminal emulator that can split a single window into multiple panes. Each pane can run a standard ssh user@host command, allowing simultaneous monitoring of several remote sessions.

Installation on Debian‑based systems: sudo apt-get install -y terminator After launching ( terminator), right‑click inside the window and choose "Split Horizontally" or "Split Vertically" to create additional panes. In each pane execute the desired ssh command. Terminator does not save sessions, so credentials must be entered each time.

Choosing the Right Tool

For a full‑featured client with persistent session profiles, PuTTY is the most reliable choice. If a lightweight, tab‑based interface is preferred and you can secure stored passwords, EasySSH offers a simple workflow. When the primary need is to view multiple SSH sessions side‑by‑side without session management, Terminator’s split‑pane approach is the most efficient.

References

Elementary OS – https://elementary.io/

PuTTY – https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html

EasySSH – https://github.com/muriloventuroso/easyssh