Electerm
Free open-source SSH/SFTP terminal with AI assistant, RDP, VNC, and cloud sync
Electerm delivers an impressive range of protocols (SSH, RDP, VNC, Spice) and an AI assistant, all free and open-source. If you need a feature-rich desktop terminal and don't require mobile access or paid support, it's a solid pick. The AI feature requires your own API key, but that's a small trade-off for the flexibility.
- System administrators managing multiple remote servers via SSH and RDP/VNC
- Developers who want an integrated terminal, file manager, and AI assistant
- IT professionals needing a unified desktop client for diverse protocols
- Users transitioning from Guake-style drop-down terminals to a feature-rich alternative
- Users needing a fully cloud-based or web-only terminal solution
- Those requiring dedicated native mobile apps for remote access
- Teams wanting enterprise-level support, SLAs, or compliance certifications
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In short
Electerm — Free open-source SSH/SFTP terminal with AI assistant, RDP, VNC, and cloud sync. Best for System administrators managing multiple remote servers via SSH and RDP/VNC, Developers who want an integrated terminal, file manager, and AI assistant, IT professionals needing a unified desktop client for diverse protocols. Free to use.
What's new in Electerm
Checked 14 days agoAcross the latest 1 update: 1 changelog entry.
What independent users actually report about Electerm
We ran a structured research pass across product reviews, community discussions, and post-purchase forum threads to surface the patterns vendors won't publish themselves. Below: the recurring strengths, the hidden costs people mention most, and the cohort that consistently regrets adopting this tool.
54 mentions across 3 sources (YouTube, Bluesky, GitHub).
- +Supports 8+ protocols in a single free application.
- +Cross-platform on Windows, macOS, and Linux (including ARM).
- +Built-in AI assistant that works with any OpenAI-compatible API.
- +Cloud sync via GitHub Gist, Gitee, or WebDAV.
- +Global hotkey for drop-down terminal (Guake-style).
- −Recent CVEs raise serious security concerns.
- −File uploads and Zmodem transfers sometimes freeze or corrupt.
- −Windows UI window duplication bug persists.
- −No native mobile app for on-the-go management.
- −No official enterprise support channel.
Viability Score
How likely is Electerm to still be operational in 12 months? Based on 4 signals — momentum (how recently it shipped), wrapper dependency, revenue model, and web presence.
Last calculated: July 2026
How we score →Key Features
- SSH terminal with public key and password authentication
- SFTP file manager with drag-and-drop and remote editing
- FTP, Telnet, Serial port, RDP, VNC, Spice client
- AI assistant with command generation, script creation, agent mode
- MCP widget for external AI tool integration
- Deep links (ssh://) to open connections from URLs
- Cloud sync via GitHub/Gitee secret gists or WebDAV
- Zmodem (rz/sz) and Trzsz (trz/tsz) file transfers
- Multi-tab terminal with split panes and quick input
- Global hotkey (default Ctrl+2) for drop-down terminal
- UI and terminal themes with background images and transparency
- Multi-language support (14+ languages)
- SSH tunneling, agent forwarding, port forwarding, X11 forwarding
- Global and per-session proxy support, connection hopping
- Cross-platform: Windows 7+, macOS 10.15+, Linux (x64/ARM64/Loong64)
About Electerm
Electerm is a free, open-source terminal client that bundles SSH, SFTP, FTP, Telnet, Serial Port, RDP, VNC, and Spice into a single desktop app. Designed for developers and system administrators, it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux (x64, ARM64, Loong64) and even offers a browser-based live demo. The latest version v3.15.138 (released 2026-07-14) continues the project's tradition of delivering a comprehensive, zero-cost tool for remote server management and file transfers. A standout feature is the built-in AI assistant, which connects to any OpenAI-compatible LLM API to generate commands, scripts, or execute tasks in agent mode. Electerm also provides an MCP widget for AI tool integrations and supports deep links (ssh:// URLs). Cloud sync via GitHub/Gitee secret gists or WebDAV keeps bookmarks, themes, and quick commands consistent across machines. Security isn't an afterthought: public key and password authentication, SSH tunneling, agent forwarding, port forwarding, X11 forwarding, and proxy support (global and per-session) are all available. The multi-tab terminal with split panes, Zmodem/Trzsz file transfers, and global hotkey (Ctrl+2) mirror Guake-style efficiency. With community translations for 14+ languages and extensive theme customization (including transparent windows), electerm adapts to diverse workflows. Compared to paid alternatives like Termius or SecureCRT, electerm offers the same (or broader) protocol support at zero cost. It lacks a native mobile app, enterprise support, or built-in multi-factor authentication, but for desktop-focused server management, it's a compelling open-source choice that doesn't compromise on features.
Behind the Verdict
Electerm packs a serious punch for a free tool. With v3.15.138 now live, it supports SSH, RDP, VNC, Spice, serial, and more—all in one app. The AI assistant is a nice addition: plug in any OpenAI-compatible API and generate commands or scripts. It's not a substitute for Copilot or Cursor, but for terminal users who want occasional help, it's handy. Where electerm shines is breadth. Instead of juggling PuTTY for SSH, a separate RDP client, and an FTP tool, you get one app with cloud-synced bookmarks, themes, and quick commands. The global hotkey (Ctrl+2) and drop-down terminal feel snappy on all platforms. We'd reach for this when managing a mixed environment of Linux servers and Windows desktops. That said, it's not for everyone. There's no mobile app—if you need on-the-go access, Termius or a web-based tool beats it. Enterprise features like SSO, audit logs, or managed access are absent; teams needing those should look at Teleport or Royal TS. The AI feature won't replace a dedicated LLM tool—expect basic command generation, not deep context understanding. Integration-wise, you get cloud sync via GitHub/Gitee gists and WebDAV, plus MCP widget for external AI. No native Slack or Notion integrations, so keep expectations in check. For individual devs and sysadmins who want a free, all-in-one desktop terminal, electerm is hard to beat. Just know what you're trading: zero cost for zero support and a desktop-only approach.
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Use Cases
- Manage multiple SSH connections with saved bookmarks and proxy support
- Transfer files via SFTP with drag-and-drop and remote editing
- Use AI to generate complex commands or scripts from natural language
- Access remote desktops via RDP or VNC from within the same tool
- Sync your terminal configuration across machines using GitHub Gists
- Run shell commands simultaneously across multiple terminal tabs
Limitations
- The AI assistant requires a separate API key from an OpenAI-compatible provider, incurring usage costs.
- Cloud sync is limited to GitHub/Gitee secret gists or WebDAV; there is no built-in electerm cloud service.
- The application is desktop-only with no mobile app, and advanced features like connection hopping may have a learning curve.
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