Our verdict: mRemoteNG is a long-standing free tool for admins who juggle many servers: every RDP, VNC or SSH session opens as a tab, organised in a connection tree. It works well, but the last stable release dates from 2019 and newer builds are only pre-releases.
About mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG (Multi-Remote Next Generation) is an open-source, tabbed remote connections manager for Windows. It continues the older mRemote project and keeps all your connections in a tree with folders, inherited settings and saved credentials.
It supports RDP, VNC, SSH, Telnet, rlogin, raw sockets and HTTP/HTTPS, using PuTTY for SSH and Telnet. Connections can be imported from Remote Desktop Connection Manager files and Active Directory. The current stable version, 1.76.20, was released in April 2019; development continues in pre-release builds.
What it does well
- Tabbed sessions. Opens each remote session as a tab in one window.
- Many protocols. RDP, VNC, SSH, Telnet, rlogin, raw socket and HTTP/HTTPS.
- Connection tree. Folders with inherited settings keep hundreds of hosts organised.
- Imports. Reads Remote Desktop Connection Manager files and Active Directory.
- Portable version. A ZIP build runs from a folder or USB drive.
Who it is for
Good fit
Administrators and homelab users who connect to many Windows and Linux machines.
Look elsewhere
Users who want frequent stable updates or a cross-platform client.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source
- Many protocols in one tabbed window
- Handles large connection lists well
- Portable version available
Cons
- Last stable release is from 2019
- Windows only
- Interface looks dated
How to install mRemoteNG
The button downloads the MSI installer of the latest stable release from GitHub; a portable ZIP is on the same page. Set a master password for the connection file under the options so saved credentials are protected.
Questions about mRemoteNG
Is mRemoteNG free?
Yes. mRemoteNG is open source under the GNU GPL v2.
Why is the stable version so old?
Version 1.76.20 from 2019 is still the latest stable release; newer 1.77 and 1.78 builds are published as pre-releases.
Does mRemoteNG support SSH?
Yes. It uses PuTTY for SSH, Telnet and rlogin sessions.
