SHSelfHostIndex

Bastillion vs Snowflake SSH Client

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
BA Bastillion Web-based SSH console and key management VS SN Snowflake SSH Client Graphical SSH and SFTP client with server monitoring
FeatureBastillionSnowflake SSH Client
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupRead-the-docs project
Health score88 · Excellent17 · At risk
CategoryRemote Access & VPNRemote Access & VPN
LicenseGPL-3.0GPL-3.0
LanguageJavaJava
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, binarybinary, source
GitHub stars★ 3,551★ 2,248
First released20132019
ReplacesTeleport, TermiusMobaXterm, Termius

What are Bastillion and Snowflake SSH Client?

Bastillion

Bastillion is an open-source, web-based SSH console that centrally manages access to systems and distributes SSH keys. It is self-hosted to provide audited, browser-based administrative access to servers.

  • Web SSH console
  • SSH key distribution
  • Session auditing
  • Multi-user access control

Snowflake SSH Client

Snowflake is an open-source SSH and SFTP client with a graphical interface, server resource monitoring and an integrated terminal. It is installed locally to manage multiple remote machines.

  • SSH and SFTP client
  • Integrated file manager
  • Server monitoring
  • Cross-platform

Bastillion vs Snowflake SSH Client: key differences

Both projects are written in Java. Bastillion is the more established project (first released 2013), while Snowflake SSH Client arrived in 2019. Bastillion lists first-class Docker deployment; Snowflake SSH Client does not.

Why pick each one

Choose Bastillion if…

  • Released under the GPL-3.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Active community (3.6k GitHub stars)
  • Written in Java
Bastillion details

Choose Snowflake SSH Client if…

  • Released under the GPL-3.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Active community (2.2k GitHub stars)
  • Written in Java
Snowflake SSH Client details

Frequently asked questions

Is Bastillion or Snowflake SSH Client better?

Neither is universally better. Bastillion has the larger community, while Snowflake SSH Client is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.

Are Bastillion and Snowflake SSH Client free and open-source?

Yes. Bastillion is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Snowflake SSH Client under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Bastillion and Snowflake SSH Client with Docker?

Bastillion: yes. Snowflake SSH Client: check the project docs for container support.

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