Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MobaXterm VS Cygwin

Compare MobaXterm VS Cygwin and see what are their differences

MobaXterm logo MobaXterm

Enhanced terminal for Windows with X11 server, tabbed SSH client, network tools and much more

Cygwin logo Cygwin

Cygwin is a set of tools that provide Linux and POSIX functionality to Windows.
  • MobaXterm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-13
  • Cygwin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27

MobaXterm features and specs

  • All-in-one Tool
    MobaXterm combines a variety of network tools such as SSH, RDP, VNC, and more, making it a comprehensive solution for remote computing needs.
  • Portable Version
    It offers a portable version that can be run directly from a USB drive without installation, making it handy for on-the-go use.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    MobaXterm has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that simplifies the management of remote sessions and file transfers.
  • Multiple Protocol Support
    Supports a wide range of protocols such as SSH, SFTP, FTP, RDP, and VNC, allowing users to connect to different types of remote systems easily.
  • Built-in X Server
    Includes a fully-featured X server, allowing users to run X11 applications remotely with ease.
  • Customization and Plugins
    Provides extensive customization options and support for various plugins, enhancing its functionality and adaptability to specific needs.

Possible disadvantages of MobaXterm

  • Cost for Pro Version
    While the free version is feature-rich, some advanced features are locked behind a paywall in the Professional edition, which might be costly for individual users.
  • Resource Intensive
    MobaXterm can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down systems with limited hardware capabilities.
  • Limited to Windows
    It is primarily built for Windows, with no native support for other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Potential Security Concerns
    Given the extensive access capabilities it provides, there could be security risks if MobaXterm is not used carefully or if it falls into the wrong hands.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, some users may experience a learning curve while exploring its rich set of features and customization options.

Cygwin features and specs

  • Unix-like Environment on Windows
    Cygwin provides a large collection of GNU and Open Source tools that give functionality similar to a Unix distribution on Windows. This allows for Unix-like programming and shell scripting without leaving the Windows environment.
  • Package Management
    Cygwin offers a robust package management system, making it easy to install, update, and manage various software packages. This streamlines the development and operational workflow.
  • Interoperability
    Cygwin enables interoperability between POSIX and Windows applications, allowing users to run Linux tools and Windows software side-by-side, enhancing cross-platform development.
  • Broad Tool Set
    It comes with a vast array of tools and libraries, including compilers, text editors, and networking utilities, providing a comprehensive environment for developers.

Possible disadvantages of Cygwin

  • Performance Overhead
    Cygwin introduces a performance overhead as it acts as a compatibility layer between Windows and POSIX systems. This can lead to slower performance compared to native Unix/Linux environments.
  • Complexity
    Setting up and maintaining Cygwin can be complex, especially for new users unfamiliar with Unix/Linux environments. Additional steps are required for configuration and management.
  • Partial Emulation
    While Cygwin offers a Unix-like environment, it doesn’t provide full compatibility with all Unix/Linux programs. Some applications may not run properly or may require additional tweaks.
  • Resource Intensive
    Cygwin can be resource-intensive, consuming significant memory and CPU resources, which might affect the performance of the host system, particularly on less powerful machines.

MobaXterm videos

Product Reviev - MobaXterm & why i use it

More videos:

  • Review - 3) MobaXterm installation and Usage

Cygwin videos

Cygwin Review Part 1: Running Linux programs... on Windows?

More videos:

  • Review - Cygwin Review Part 2 - it didn't quite go to plan, again!
  • Review - What is Cygwin? | How does Cygwin work?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MobaXterm and Cygwin)
SSH
72 72%
28% 28
Server Management
74 74%
26% 26
Terminal Tools
77 77%
23% 23
Server Configuration And Automation

User comments

Share your experience with using MobaXterm and Cygwin. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare MobaXterm and Cygwin

MobaXterm Reviews

10 Best PuTTY Alternatives To Try in 2024
MobaXterm is a set of networking tools that are available in both free and paid versions. The license cost depends on the number of concurrent users, starting at $41 for over 500 concurrent users and going up to $69 for 1 to 10 users.
10 Best PuTTY Alternatives for SSH Remote Connection
In one window, MobaXterm provides a myriad of features and tools tailored for system and network administrators, developers, engineers, and pretty much everyone who is working remotely.
Source: www.tecmint.com
Looking for MobaXterm Alternative? Here are Some Options to Consider
MobaXterm is a popular remote desktop and SSH client that offers a wide range of features for developers and system administrators. However, it's not the only option available, and you may be looking for alternatives that suit your needs better. In this article, we'll explore some of the best MobaXterm alternatives and discuss their features, pros, and cons.
Top 12 BEST SSH Clients For Windows – Free PuTTY Alternatives
MobaXterm is a portable and light application i.e. you will be able to start from a USB stick. In a single portable .exe file, you will get remote network tools like SSH, X11, RDP, etc. and UNIX commands like bash and ls to the Windows desktop. MobaXterm provides a text editor.
MobaXterm for Mac: Best Alternatives to MobaXterm for Mac
MobaXterm is an advanced terminal software for programmers and webmasters. But the MobaXterm for Mac is currently not available. If you have a MacBook or Mac computer then you have to find out Best Alternative of MobaXterm. Here we provide the best alternatives to MobaXterm for Mac which provide similar features and great performance.

Cygwin Reviews

10 Termux Alternatives
Cygwin is open-source software with a collection of GNU and provides all functions similar to the Linux shell environment on windows. This software also has the functionality of API manager that has premium packages to have complete control on your files and move them to other software based on your requirement. This app also has the functionality of editing different files...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MobaXterm should be more popular than Cygwin. It has been mentiond 41 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

MobaXterm mentions (41)

  • Creating a Ubuntu VM (instance) on AWS using EC2 and accessing it using MobaXterm
    If you don't already have MobaXterm installed, download and install it from the official MobaXterm website. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Microsoft CTO: "Thoughts on OpenAI" (2019)
    > I don't know a single techie person who uses Windows (other than for gaming) I'd say that Windows actually has some nice software, like MobaXTerm: https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/ which in my eyes is better than Remmina or pretty much anything I've found on nix, short of just running the same thing on Wine. WinSCP is also pretty cool, albeit nothing particularly special: https://winscp.net/eng/index.php PowerToys... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Hard disk LEDs and noisy machines
    For working with remote machines that I need to ssh into I've found mobaXTerm[1] to be a very useful terminal emulator. It has an optional remote monitoring feature that shows the usual stats as a small bar under the active terminal window. It's a windows only application though. [1] https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Day 1 - Get to know your server
    There are various SSH clients available for Windows (PuTTY, Solar-PuTTY, MobaXterm, Termius, etc) but if you use Windows versions older than 10, the installation of PuTTY is suggested. Source: over 1 year ago
  • What old, outdated apps you still use on Windows and find useful.
    Everything - find files by name fast (using the ntfs journal, so strange this is not in windows itself) SpaceMonger old free version - show visually what takes the most space on the HD MobaXterm not outdated - the best SSH terminal. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Cygwin mentions (12)

  • dotnet cross-platform interop with C via Environment.ProcessId system call
    Altough, built-in libc on Windows doesn't support POSIX API and dotnet uses WinAPI instead, POSIX support can be added externally via cygwin, WSL or MinGW. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Bash vs. Zsh: Key differences and when to use each
    Download Cygwin from the official site by first downloading the .exe file. Click on the downloaded .exe file to get the full package: During installation, type in Zsh as the shell you want to get, and click Next:. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Groovy 🎷 Cheat Sheet - 01 Say "Hello" from Groovy
    Alternatively, you can use sdkman. A great tool to install your Software Development Kit. The downside is that it only works on *nix systems. So for Widnows users, you will have to use WSL or Cygwin as the official page suggests. It is really simple to use sdkman. After a successful installation, just type those commands into your *nix shell:. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • How do you even get started programming in c++ on Windows?
    You could try Cygwin. I never leave home without it. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What exactly IS gitbash?
    It's launching MSYS2, which is in turn based on cygwin, which is a collection of common Linux utilities built for windows and an incomplete POSIX abstraction layer. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing MobaXterm and Cygwin, you can also consider the following products

PuTTY - Popular free terminal application. Mostly used as an SSH client.

ConEmu - ConEmu-Maximus5 is a full-featured local terminal for Windows devs, admins and users. Get better console window with tabs, splits, Quake style, copy+paste, DosBox and PuTTY integration, and much more.

PowerShell - Download WMF. Windows Management Framework contains the latest versions of PowerShell, DSC, WMI, and WinRM for older versions of Windows. PowerShell Module Browser. Search for PowerShell modules and cmdlets.

KiTTY - KiTTY is a fork from version 0.70 of PuTTY. It adds extra features to PuTTY.

iTerm2 - A terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things.

Console - Console is a Windows console window enhancement.