v2.32.1 · MIT · desktop

One native workspace foreverything you do over SSH

A fast desktop workspace for terminals, SSH, SFTP, tunnels, and everything around them. Start locally, connect to remote hosts when you need to.

Get Zync for Windows GitHub

Linux Windows macOS

MIT License
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Open source on GitHub
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Local-first by design

Zync workspace: host list, local terminal, vault, and Public URLs

Zync at a glance

What is Zync?

Zync is a free, MIT-licensed desktop SSH client and local-first workspace for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It combines local and remote terminals, SSH hosts, SFTP files, local, remote, and SOCKS tunnels, snippets, and an on-device encrypted credential vault. No account is required for local terminals or SSH connections.

Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
License: MIT open source
Price: Free, no subscription limits
Account: Not required for local or SSH use

Why Zync

Your servers.Your workspace.Your rules.

Zync is a free, open-source SSH workspace for developers who want control over their connections, credentials, and workflow. Local-first. MIT licensed. No account required.

Zync SSH workspace with hosts, local terminal, vault, and Public URLs — 01 No subscription limits Connect without a paywall. Hosts, connections, and tunnels are not gated by a subscription.

Your data

Your SSH workspace belongs to you.

Local by default. Sync only when you choose.

Your SSH workspace stays on your machine. If you enable backup, selected data is encrypted on your device before it reaches your Google Drive.

Local by default

Your machine

Zync workspace

Stored in your local Zync data folder.

Hosts
Tunnels
Snippets
Settings

Optional · on-device

Encrypted vault

Keep SSH passwords and keys in a local encrypted vault. You control the passphrase and recovery key.

Prefer key files? Keys on disk still work.

Encrypted before upload

Optional encrypted backup

Your Google Drive

Upload and restore selected data using your own Google Drive account.

Stored in a hidden folder in your Google Drive (drive.appdata).

No Zync-hosted copy.

No account required.

Use Zync offline by default. Connect Google Drive only when you want encrypted backup. Zync does not host your SSH credentials.

On the roadmap: More personal sync providers and an optional self-hosted team backend.

Capabilities

SSH, files, terminals, vault.
One desktop workspace.

SSH, terminals, files, tunnels, secrets, sync, and AI. One desktop workspace.

One workspace.

Split a host across terminal, Files, and Dashboard without leaving the session.

Zync split workspace: htop in a terminal, a Files list, and a host Dashboard.

02 · Connect

Connect your infrastructure your way.

Local, remote, and SOCKS tunnels. No hand-edited ssh flags.

Local
Remote
SOCKS

Port forwarding board grouped by host, with local, remote, and SOCKS tunnels.

Files with Places for This PC and Linux distros, showing a Debian folder grid.

03 · Files & SFTP

Files without another app.

Browse local and remote files, transfer them, and edit them from the same workspace.

Open the editor preview

In-app editor open on docker-compose.yml on a remote host.

Edit local or remote files in the same workspace.

04 · Vault

Keep your secrets close.

SSH passwords and keys can stay in an on-device encrypted vault.

Local vault unlocked on this device, with stored SSH keys, repair, recovery, and credential list.

Optional · Sync & backup

Sync when you need it.

Optional Google Drive backup, encrypted on this device first.

Sync and Backup with Google Drive connect, encrypt, and unlock steps.

Daily SSH tools

Small tools. A complete workspace.

Compact previews for everyday SSH work.

AI command barCtrl+I

Ctrl+I writes the next command.

Generate a shell command with Ollama or your own provider API key. Review it before running.

Terminal

Local shell first. SSH when you need it.

Use local shells and SSH sessions with ghost suggestions and session restore.

Command paletteCtrl+P

Open any action with Ctrl+P.

Search connections, settings, and workspace actions from the keyboard.

Native speed

Native desktop performance.

A Tauri desktop app with a Rust backend and GPU terminal rendering where supported.

Plugins

Themes, icons, and editor providers.

Add themes, icon packs, and editor providers through the plugin system.

Snippets

Reusable commands.

Save reusable commands globally or for an individual host, then send them to the terminal.

Pro editor

Edit remote files in place.

Edit local and remote files with syntax highlighting, search, and completion.

Config import

Bring in ~/.ssh/config.

Preview and import connections from your SSH config.

Dashboard

See the host while you work.

Inspect CPU, memory, and disk usage for the connected host.

Local-first

Local-first by design.

Keep hosts, settings, and your optional vault on your machine.

Alternatives

Your workflow matters too.

Not every SSH client is built around the same idea. Some put the IDE first. Some put managed access first. Zync puts the entire workspace on your machine.

01 / IDE-first
VS Code Remote
Remote development centered around the editor.
02 / Local-first
Zync
Terminal, files, tunnels, vault, and workspace on your desktop.
TerminalFilesTunnelsVault
03 / Windows toolbox
MobaXterm
Terminal, X11, SFTP, and networking tools for Windows.
04 / Managed SSH
Termius
SSH across devices with managed sync and collaboration features.

Side by side

What changes in practice.

Four tools can connect you to a remote machine. What changes is what they put around that connection.

Detail stays pinned. Swipe across the product columns.

Detail	ZyncLocal-first SSH workspace	VS Code RemoteIDE remote development	MobaXtermWindows terminal toolbox	TermiusManaged cross-device SSH
Best fit	Day-to-day SSH work in one local-first desktop app	Editing, building, and debugging on a remote host	Windows terminal, X11, and network tools	Managed SSH across desktop and mobile
Platforms	Linux, Windows, macOS	VS Code desktop with SSH hosts	Windows	Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Workspace	Hosts, terminals, files, tunnels, and vault together	Remote editor window with terminal and extensions	Tabbed terminal with X11 and embedded tools	SSH client with vaults, groups, and snippets
Files / SFTP	Local files, SFTP, Places, in-app editing	Remote explorer inside the IDE	Graphical SFTP beside sessions	Built-in SFTP client
Port forwarding	Local, remote, and SOCKS. Public URLs is separate.	Forwarded ports for remote sessions	Graphical SSH tunnels manager	Port forwarding in the SSH client
Credentials	On-device vault. Zync does not host secrets.	Keys, agent, and host auth you configure	Passwords behind a master password	Local vault on Starter. Cloud vaults on paid plans.
Sync	Optional encrypted backup to your Google Drive	No built-in sync in Remote SSH	Sessions stored locally	Paid plans sync desktop and mobile
License	MIT, open source	Microsoft license. Remote extensions are not OSS.	Proprietary Home and Professional	Proprietary
Pricing	Free. No subscription limits.	Free with VS Code and Remote SSH	Free Home edition, paid Professional	Free Starter, paid individual and team plans

Compared against current public product information. Plan details can change. Zync is desktop only.

Customization

Yours, truly.

11 built-in themes for the app shell and terminal. Add community packs from the marketplace.

Site

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Install

Get Zync

Linux, Windows, and macOS. MIT licensed. No account required.

View downloads for Windows View on GitHub

Linux Windows macOS All downloads

Latest releasev2.32.1
LicenseMIT
AccountNot required
Workspace dataStored locally

Support

Questions

Have something else?

Is Zync really free?

Yes. Zync is MIT licensed and free to use, with no subscription-gated features.

Is Zync a good free SSH client?

Zync is a strong fit if you want a free desktop SSH client with terminals, SFTP, tunnels, snippets, and an encrypted local vault in one app. It is MIT licensed and does not require an account for local terminals or SSH connections.

Is Zync a Termius alternative?

Yes, for developers who want a local-first desktop SSH workspace instead of a managed cross-device SSH service. Zync is desktop only, MIT licensed, and keeps credentials on-device unless you choose optional encrypted backup.

How does Zync compare with MobaXterm?

MobaXterm is a Windows-focused terminal toolbox. Zync runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS, and focuses on a local-first workspace with terminals, SFTP files, SSH tunnels, vault, sync, plugins, and themes.

Can Zync replace ControlOps or operations platforms?

Zync is an SSH client and desktop workspace, not an incident, observability, or control-plane platform. It can sit beside those tools when you need hands-on terminal, file, tunnel, and credential workflows.

Where are my SSH keys and passwords stored?

Passwords and keys can live in an on-device vault. Hosts, tunnels, and settings stay on your machine. Optional sync encrypts records to your Google Drive before upload. No Zync account is required.

What is the Vault?

An encrypted on-device store for SSH passwords and private keys. Unlock with a passphrase. A recovery key can be saved offline.

Where does sync data go?

Encrypted records go to your Google Drive (drive.appdata). Zync does not keep a copy on its servers. Sync is optional.

Does it support ProxyJump / bastion hosts?

Yes. Configure jump hosts in connection settings. Zync follows the jump chain.

I am on Windows. Do I need WSL?

No. Zync runs natively. WSL is optional. PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Git Bash work out of the box.

Which platforms are supported?

Native binaries for Windows 10/11, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), and major Linux distributions.

What are Public URLs?

Public URLs (Beta) shares a localhost port with an HTTPS link. It is not SSH port forwarding. Sign in with GitHub or Google (a Zync share account, not Drive Sync).

Is there a plugin system?

Yes. Themes, editor providers, and extensions. Browse the marketplace or see zync-extensions on GitHub.

Open an issue on GitHub