Who’s the Best SSH Access Host Right Now? We Rank Our Top Three!

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How Did We Pick the Best Hosts for SSH Access?

We’ve analyzed over 1,500 hosting plans from over 380 hosting companies. We selected the plans that meet all the technical requirements for running a website with SSH access. Then, we picked out hosts that offer superior uptime, response time, and great customer support.

Finally, we combed through our huge database of independent customer reviews to identify the top three hosts for SSH Access.

What Is SSH Access?

SSH (Secure Shell) is a multi-purpose protocol equipped with a mechanism for secure system administration and file transfers. SSH provides a secure way to access your server’s command line and upload content. Hosting providers are offering SSH as an additional feature to guarantee secure access for your website.

Your server’s command line is a text-based interface where you type commands for installing or removing software, change settings, and work with your server directly. Most often, you’ll do this when installing a specific software package or changing settings that your CMS (content management system) doesn’t typically allow you to do on the dashboard.

You can also use SSH to upload files, with SCP (secure copy) or SFTP (secure file transfer protocol) . SFTP allows you to upload files directly or in bulk rather than one file at a time, depending on your CMS’ requirements.

Accessing your server via SSH will require you to have either a username and password or a public and private key. Public/private key setups are common in professional settings because they are more secure, but most hosting providers that include SSH access will provide you credentials in the form of a username and password, along with basic connection instructions.

How To Choose a Web Host with SSH 

Not all web hosts provide SSH access. Not all web hosting requires SSH access to use. Some hosting providers may even require an additional charge to turn on SSH.

If you do need SSH, however, consider the following when selecting the right host for your site:

• Windows considerations: For remote access, SSH is the standard on Linux. Older versions of Windows do not have native support for SSH, but more recent versions include SSH as a feature that is easily turned on. Be sure to check with your provider to confirm their Windows servers have SSH access in the event you deem this what you need.
• Credentials: Your web host will likely provide a username and password or means to provide an SSH public key to access your server. If your host requires public/private key access, you’ll need to generate your own public key and provide it to the hosting provider. You can do that with tools native to Mac, Linux, and Windows 10 or newer.
• Level of access: Every hosting provider’s terms of service are different, but your required access level will help determine whether or not a given web host is good for you. If you know specifically that you’ll need to install certain software or access your webserver’s files directly, you should check with your hosting provider before purchasing a plan.
• Customer Support: Directly accessing your server is not without its risks. Because admin-level command line access lets you do literally anything on your server, it’s possible to put your server in a situation where your hosting provider’s support team is unable to resolve your issue or you need to restore your server from a backup.