Bast.sh/MobaXterm
Bast vs MobaXterm
MobaXterm is a Windows Swiss-army kit: SSH, X11, sniffers, and a pile of network tools in one installer. Bast is narrower on purpose: a terminal-native OpenSSH host picker for people who already have a Unix shell.
| Topic | Bast | MobaXterm |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Focused SSH host/key/SFTP TUI | Broad Windows toolbox (SSH, X11, network utilities) |
| Platform | macOS and Linux terminals | Windows-first desktop app |
| SSH stack | System OpenSSH | Embedded SSH session engine inside MobaXterm |
| Host storage | ~/.ssh/config as source of truth | Sessions inside the MobaXterm workspace |
| Cloud VMs | GCP, AWS, and Azure via provider CLIs | Mostly manual session setup |
| Licensing | Free MIT open source | Free Home edition with limits; Professional is paid |
| Automation | CLI + --json for scripts and agents | Desktop-oriented workflows |
Toolbox vs specialized tool
MobaXterm's pitch is breadth. One Windows download covers remote terminals, file transfer, X11 forwarding, and a long list of network utilities. That is useful when your machine is Windows and you want a single vendor suite.
Bast's pitch is depth on one job: make OpenSSH hosts fast to find, organize, and reach without leaving the terminal. It does not try to replace Wireshark, an X server, or a general Windows admin console.
Config you can share with everything else
MobaXterm sessions live inside MobaXterm. That is convenient until you need the same inventory in a shell script, a remote editor, or a teammate's pure OpenSSH setup.
Bast reads and extends ~/.ssh/config. Hosts stay portable. Delete Bast and nothing about your SSH connectivity is stranded in a proprietary session store.
Licensing without edition math
MobaXterm's Home edition is free with constraints; Professional unlocks the broader commercial feature set. For teams, that turns into license tracking.
Bast is MIT-licensed. The host picker, SFTP, cloud import, vault sync of Bast-managed state, and JSON CLI are not sitting behind a paid edition gate.
Cloud fleets and agent workflows
Bast can import live VMs from GCP, AWS, and Azure through the CLIs you already authenticate. Synced hosts stay read-only reflections of cloud inventory.
The same binary exposes bast --json for scripts and AI agents. MobaXterm is built for operators clicking through a Windows desktop. Bast is built for operators who type, automate, and stay in the shell.
When MobaXterm is still the better choice
Stay on MobaXterm if:
- You need one Windows suite that also covers X11 and assorted network tools.
- Your workplace standardizes on MobaXterm sessions and training.
- You are not moving to macOS/Linux terminals as your primary SSH environment.
- You want a graphical multi-tab Windows terminal more than an OpenSSH-native TUI.
Bast is the better MobaXterm alternative only when the real need is OpenSSH host management in a Unix terminal, not a full Windows admin toolkit.
Switching from MobaXterm to Bast
- Export or rewrite important sessions as OpenSSH config host blocks under
~/.ssh/config. - Move keys into standard OpenSSH files if they currently live only inside the MobaXterm environment.
- Install Bast on macOS or Linux and verify connections with the system
sshbinary. - Turn on Vault and cloud sync if you want encrypted multi-machine state and live cloud inventory.
Install Bast
One command. Then run bast and connect with the OpenSSH you already trust.
curl -fsSL https://bast.sh/install | shLatest release v0.7.1
Prefer the short version? See the Bast homepage or read the docs.