SheepTerm vs SecureCRT

SecureCRT is the long-established, scriptable terminal client from VanDyke Software, with deep protocol and emulation support. SheepTerm is a free, much smaller terminal for network engineers: SSH, serial and a local shell, with highlighting tuned to switch, router and firewall output.

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Last checked: 2026-10. SecureCRT facts are taken from the vendor pages listed under Sources; confirm current prices and features there before you buy.

SheepTerm and SecureCRT side by side

SheepTerm compared with SecureCRT
	SheepTerm	SecureCRT
Price	Free.	Commercial licence. For one new licence VanDyke lists $190 with 3 years of updates or $119 with 1 year; volume tiers are lower per seat. Each release can be evaluated for 30 days.
Platforms	macOS 26.4+ (Apple Silicon) and Windows 10/11 x64. Linux planned.	Windows, macOS and Linux. One licence is not tied to a platform.
Licence	Mac app: MIT, source on GitHub. Windows build: free, source not published.	Commercial, proprietary.
Protocols	SSH, serial, local shell, device web pages in tabs.	SSH2 and SSH1, Telnet, Telnet/TLS and serial. RDP is listed for Windows only.
Serial console	Baud 9600 to 230400, fixed 8N1, no flow control. Send Break.	Supported; its serial options were not compared here.
Scripting and automation	No scripting engine. Snippets with variables and a Broadcast to Tabs command.	VBScript, JScript, PerlScript and Python, with a script recorder. Python 3 runs on Windows, macOS and Ubuntu Linux.
File transfer	None built in.	SFTP, Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem and Kermit; more protocols through SecureFX.
Terminal emulations	SheepTerm's own terminal emulator, tuned for network devices.	VT100/102/220, TN3270, ANSI, SCO ANSI, Wyse 50/60, Xterm and Linux console.
Tabs and panes	Tabs plus split panes you can drag between.	Tabs and tab groups, arranged vertically or horizontally.
Network-vendor highlighting	Built-in packs for ten device families. Colours are fixed.	Not compared here.
Sync	Optional, end-to-end encrypted through your own Google Drive.	Not compared here.

Which one should you choose?

Choose SecureCRT if…

You rely on scripts, including recorded ones, in VBScript, JScript, Perl or Python.
You need Zmodem, Xmodem, Ymodem or Kermit transfers, TN3270 or an unusual terminal emulation.
You want a mature, vendor-supported product on Windows, macOS and Linux with a paid support relationship.
You need RDP inside the same tool on Windows.

Choose SheepTerm if…

You want a free tool and your work is interactive: SSH and console sessions to network gear.
You value output highlighting that recognises Cisco, Aruba, Huawei, H3C/HPE, Juniper, Palo Alto, Fortinet and Check Point output.
You want searchable plain-text logs of every session without configuring anything.
You want hosts synced between a Mac and a Windows PC without a server of your own.

What to know about SheepTerm before you switch

It is young and narrow on purpose. SheepTerm does SSH, serial consoles, a local shell and device web pages in tabs. It has no SFTP file browser, Telnet, X11, RDP/VNC, port-forwarding manager or scripting engine.
The Mac app is not notarized. It is signed with a self-signed certificate, so on first launch you right-click the app and choose Open (or clear the quarantine flag once). It needs macOS 26.4 or later on Apple Silicon.
The Windows app is version 0.1. It is an unsigned portable zip, so SmartScreen may warn on first run (More info, then Run anyway). Its serial support has not yet been checked by the author on real COM hardware.
Licence. The Mac app is MIT-licensed and its source is on GitHub. The Windows build is free to use; its source is not published.
Linux is planned but not available yet.

Questions

Is there a free alternative to SecureCRT on Mac?

SheepTerm is free on Mac and Windows and covers SSH, serial and a local shell. It has no scripting, no Zmodem or Kermit and no SFTP, so it suits interactive network work rather than automation.

Does SheepTerm have scripting like SecureCRT?

No. SheepTerm has snippets with variables and a command that sends text to several tabs at once, but no scripting language and no recorder. If you depend on scripts, SecureCRT is the better fit.

Can SheepTerm connect through a serial console cable?

Yes. On a Mac, use File, New Serial Console, pick the cu device, choose a baud rate and connect. Send Break is under Edit. The serial console guide walks through it.

Try SheepTerm alongside SecureCRT