# Which terminal emulator is highest rated for mainframe system administration and support?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">I've been helping a colleague research tools for a mainframe migration project and the question that kept not getting a clean answer was which<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/terminal-emulator"> </a><a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/terminal-emulator">terminal emulator</a> is highest rated for mainframe system administration and support and implementation. The mainstream SSH tools dominate the review counts but mainframe work has specific emulation and protocol requirements that not every tool handles equally well.</p><ol>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/securecrt/reviews"><strong>SecureCRT</strong></a> (4.8 stars, 54 reviews): VT100, VT102, VT220, ANSI, Wyse 50/60, Xterm, and Linux console emulation alongside SSH, Telnet, and Telnet/TLS, used by infrastructure teams for both modern SSH and legacy terminal sessions from the same interface.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/mobaxterm/reviews"><strong>MobaXTerm</strong></a> (4.6 stars, 110 reviews): Multi-protocol tabbed interface with embedded X11 for sysadmins managing SSH sessions and graphical remote applications from a Windows workstation without switching tools mid-session.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/putty/reviews"><strong>PuTTY</strong></a> (4.5 stars, 353 reviews): Telnet, SSH, and serial all in one portable executable with no install required, handling legacy environments and console access for hardware that has no network presence yet.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/teraterm/reviews"><strong>TeraTerm</strong></a> (4.4 stars, 18 reviews): SSH and Telnet client with a macro scripting layer used by infrastructure teams automating repetitive connection and command sequences against older systems.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/gnome-terminal/reviews"><strong>GNOME Terminal</strong></a> (4.5 stars, 14 reviews): Native Linux terminal with solid emulation for Unix-based server environments, used by teams that live entirely in Linux and need nothing from a Windows-centric multi-protocol tool.</li>
</ol><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">For teams actually doing mainframe admin today: is a general terminal emulator covering this adequately, or has the mainframe work moved to dedicated 3270/5250 emulators? And does the specific emulation mode end up being the deciding factor, or is scripting capability what actually matters?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: 2 months ago
- Author title: Marketing Executive
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

&lt;p&gt;For real mainframe administration, I’d still expect dedicated 3270/5250 emulation to matter more than a general-purpose terminal. Scripting becomes the differentiator after protocol compatibility is covered, especially when admins are repeating the same support workflows across lots of sessions.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 8 days ago
- Author title: Marketer



### Comment 2

&lt;p&gt;The 3270 distinction makes the original ratings comparison much less useful for actual mainframe administration. I’d add keyboard mapping to the demo checklist along with TN3270 support, especially for operators working all day in ISPF-style workflows. A tool can technically connect and still be a poor daily fit if every common PF-key action feels awkward.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 8 days ago
- Author title: Writer



### Comment 3

&lt;p&gt;A practical consequence of the block-mode point for anyone shortlisting: keyboard mapping matters more here than for a normal terminal. Mainframe work runs on PF keys and an Enter that isn&#39;t the Enter key, so how easily a client remaps that, particularly on a laptop with no numeric keypad, is what operators notice daily.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 8 days ago
- Author title: Tech Consultant



### Comment 4

&lt;p&gt;The closing question has a clean technical answer. Mainframe 3270 terminals aren&#39;t just older, they work on a different principle. Everything in this list streams characters back and forth as you type. A 3270 session works in blocks: the host paints a whole screen with fields, you fill it in locally, and it all goes back in one shot. A stream-mode emulator can&#39;t fake that, no matter how good its VT support is. So the split is simple: true z/OS green screens need a dedicated TN3270 client, and these general emulators cover everything around the mainframe, the Unix boxes and consoles. Ratings can&#39;t close a protocol gap.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 2 months ago
- Author title: Tech Consultant





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