Secure ShellFish is possibly the best SSH GUI client for MacOS

Key points of ZDNET

• Secure ShellFish is available to install from the Apple App Store.
• Very easy to use, includes SSH Key Authentication, port forwarding, and other features that are sure to please those new to SSH and those who have been using it for years.
• The free version is limited in the number of servers that can be added and has ads in the terminal.

I usually SSH into many types Linux server and desktop computers. If I only had to work with one remote machine then using the built-in terminal application would be a good solution. However, when you have multiple machines on your home or business network that you have to access, having to remember all those IP addresses can be a real pain.

Luckily, there are plenty of GUI SSH clients for MacOS. I recently came across something that has quickly become my favorite. The application in question is called Secure ShellFish. Technically, the application name is SSH File or Secure ShellFish – SSH File.

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If you use iOS (and have to work with SSH), you may have heard this name. Back in 2022, the developer of that app decided to port it to MacOS with even more features.

Secure ShellFish includes features such as:

• An integrated terminal.
• Text selection.
• Server configuration.
• Cloud support (including Digital Ocean Droplets).
• SSH key authentication (with built-in key generator).
• 2FA support.
• Supports iCloud Keychain.
• Theme configuration.
• Identification file name.
• Code snippets (basically commands you can automate).
• Shell integration.
• Forwarding port.
• And more.

And that’s just the free version. The Pro version ($15 annually or $3 per month) adds menu uploads and a service finder, fast media playback, unlimited servers, an ad-free SSH terminal (although I haven’t seen any ads on the free version) and groups.

You can install Secure ShellFish from the Apple App store on your MacOS device and as soon as you open it, you will find it as user-friendly as any app of its kind.

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One of the features that I appreciate more than any other is the SSH Key Authentication integration. You can use the built-in key generator or use from generated from SSH. I prefer to use the second option since I generated my private key from the command line. In any case, using SSH Key Authentication is quite simple with Secure ShellFish.

Adding a server is simple. Just click on the + sign at the top right of the left frame and fill in the necessary information.

One thing to note is that if you plan to use SSH Key Authentication, you must first generate keys or configure Secure ShellFish so that it uses the keys contained in /Users/USERNAME/.ssh (where USERNAME is MacOS your account name).

Once you have your SSH key ready, you can add it to your configuration by clicking SSH Keys and then selecting the key you want from the drop-down menu.

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With the server configured, click the small keyboard icon to the right of the server’s IP address to open the terminal. Depending on how you have configured authentication, you will be prompted for your user password, passphrase for your key, or biometric authentication. After successful authentication, you will find yourself in a terminal window where you can do whatever you need to do.

If you click on the gear icon at the top right of the terminal window, you will find a drop-down menu where you can theme the terminal, select or add code snippets, configure port forwarding configuration, etc

Secure ShellFish checks all the right boxes to find the SSH GUI on MacOS. Anyone who regularly uses SSH will find this app a must-have. What are you waiting for? Open the Apple App Store, install Secure ShellFish now, and start adding your server.