The research shortlist
Page updated
SSH PilotTop pick
Free GUI SSH/SFTP client built around OpenSSH config
Metadata checked Aug 18, 2026
Best graphical fit: current macOS installers, direct OpenSSH-config integration, and a broader SSH workflow than a config editor alone.
A desktop client that reads the existing ~/.ssh/config and adds tabbed and split terminals, SFTP/SCP transfers, key transfer, known-hosts management, and secure credential backends.
- 01Works directly with an existing ~/.ssh/config
- 02Tabbed terminal and split-view sessions
- 03Built-in dual-pane SFTP and SCP transfers
- 04Known-hosts and authorized-keys management
- 05macOS DMG releases for Apple Silicon and Intel
- Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
- GTK-based rather than a native Swift/AppKit interface.
Evidence sources (6)
- SSH Pilot official GitHub repositorySource available ·
- SSH Pilot LICENSE — GPL-3.0License ·
- SSH Pilot v5.8.5 releaseRelease ·
- SSH Pilot official homepageWebsite ↗ ·
- README — macOS DMG, architectures, and macOS 14 requirementDocumented macOS path ·
- SSH Pilot application window screenshotScreenshots ·
purple
Terminal SSH manager and config editor for fleet workflows
Metadata checked Aug 18, 2026
Best power-user fit: it directly edits the real OpenSSH config, is actively released, and adds fleet, tunnel, transfer, and container workflows.
Full review — capabilities, 2 caveats, evidence
A Rust TUI that edits ~/.ssh/config with round-trip fidelity, connects to hosts, syncs cloud instances, and adds tunnels, file transfer, snippets, keys, Vault certificates, and remote Docker/Podman management.
- 01Edits ~/.ssh/config while preserving comments and unknown directives
- 02Fuzzy host search and direct SSH connections
- 03Cloud-provider host synchronization
- 04Live tunnel monitoring and port-forward management
- 05Remote file transfer, key push, and container operations
- Terminal UI rather than a native graphical macOS app.
- Cloud-provider synchronization requires the user's own provider credentials.
Evidence sources (6)
- purple official GitHub repositorySource available ·
- purple LICENSE — MITLicense ·
- purple releases — latest v3.26.0Release ·
- purple official homepageWebsite ↗ ·
- purple provider-management screenshotScreenshots ·
- purple host-detail screenshotScreenshots ·
GOTO
Cross-platform terminal SSH manager with host grouping
Metadata checked Aug 18, 2026
A credible lightweight option with current signed releases, macOS binaries, standard SSH integration, and an MIT-licensed host-management workflow.
Full review — capabilities, 2 caveats, evidence
A Go/Bubble Tea terminal manager that reads ~/.ssh/config and included files, groups and searches hosts, connects through the system ssh, and maintains a separate writable YAML host store.
- 01Reads ~/.ssh/config and supports Include directives
- 02Groups and searches SSH hosts
- 03Uses the system ssh client for connections
- 04Writable YAML host store for managed entries
- 05macOS Homebrew cask and Darwin arm64/x86_64 releases
- The existing ~/.ssh/config view is read-only; edits are made in GOTO's separate YAML store.
- Terminal UI, with fewer config-editing and workflow features than the higher-ranked options.
Evidence sources (5)
- GOTO official GitHub repositorySource available ·
- GOTO LICENSE — MITLicense ·
- GOTO v1.6.1 releaseRelease ·
- GOTO macOS Apple Silicon release assetFree at review time ·
- README — macOS Homebrew installation and platform supportDocumented macOS path ·
Specifications, side by side
| Attribute | 1 · SSH Pilot | 2 · purple | 3 · GOTO |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0-only | MIT | MIT |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Status | Checked | Checked | Checked |
| Version | — | — | — |
| Stars | — | — | — |
| Last push | — | — | — |
| Caveats | 2 | 2 | 2 |
About SSH Config Editor
A macOS app for visually managing OpenSSH client configurations and known-hosts files, with host search, connection launch, identities, forwarding, port knocking, templates, key generation, and SSH-agent integration.
Setapp listing: Manage SSH client config files
