Comparison
Conduit vs Royal TSX
Royal TSX is a well-regarded remote connection manager for macOS and Windows with a plugin-based architecture. Conduit offers a different approach — AI-native, cross-platform including Linux, and free with unlimited connections. Here’s a detailed comparison.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Conduit | Royal TSX |
|---|---|---|
| SSH Terminal | Full terminal with AI assistance | Full terminal |
| RDP Sessions | Built-in FreeRDP engine | Native RDP client |
| VNC Support | Native client | Native client |
| Web Sessions | Chromium-based browser tabs | Web plugin |
| AI Assistant | Built-in with 9 models | Not available |
| MCP Server | Native — works with Claude Code, Codex | Not available |
| Credential Vault | AES-256 local encryption | Local + Royal Server |
| Linux Support | Full support | Not available |
| Mobile Apps | iOS and iPadOS | Not available |
| Pricing | Free forever (unlimited), Pro from $12/mo | Free (10 connections), from $42/yr |
| Connection Limit (Free) | Unlimited | 10 connections |
Why switch from Royal TSX to Conduit?
No connection limits on the free tier
Royal TSX limits free users to 10 connections. Conduit’s free plan includes unlimited connections with no artificial caps. If you manage more than 10 servers, Conduit removes that frustration immediately.
Built-in AI assistant
Royal TSX has no AI features. Conduit’s AI assistant can read terminal output, suggest commands, troubleshoot errors, and manage sessions across 9 AI models. For DevOps and SRE workflows, this dramatically speeds up server management.
Linux support
Royal TSX is only available for macOS and Windows. If you work across Linux workstations or need a consistent tool across all three platforms, Conduit is the only option with full feature parity on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
MCP server for AI agents
Conduit’s MCP server lets AI coding agents like Claude Code interact directly with your remote connections. This is a capability Royal TSX simply does not offer.
Where Royal TSX still excels
We believe in honest comparisons. Here's where Royal TSX has strengths:
- Mature plugin system with extensible architecture
- Native macOS application (not Electron)
- Royal Server for centralized team credential management
- Longer track record on macOS specifically
- SFTP file transfer built-in
Key differences explained
AI and automation
Conduit includes a built-in AI assistant that understands your server context and can interact with connections in real-time. Royal TSX is a traditional connection manager with no AI capabilities. For teams adopting AI-driven infrastructure workflows, this is a fundamental gap.
Platform coverage
Royal TSX supports macOS and Windows only. Conduit supports macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and iPadOS. If your team uses mixed platforms or you work on Linux, Conduit provides a consistent experience everywhere.
Free tier generosity
Royal TSX’s free tier limits you to 10 connections and 1 credential. Conduit’s free plan includes unlimited connections, an encrypted vault, 2 AI models, and 500K monthly tokens. You can manage any number of servers without paying.
Pricing comparison
Conduit
Free forever
Unlimited connections, encrypted vault, 2 AI models. Pro from $12/month for advanced AI, MCP server, and cloud sync.
Royal TSX
Paid
Free (limited to 10 connections), Individual from $42/year
Frequently asked questions
- Is Conduit a good alternative to Royal TSX?
- Yes. Conduit offers the same core protocols (SSH, RDP, VNC) plus built-in AI, MCP server support, Linux compatibility, and unlimited free connections. It is a strong choice for developers and DevOps teams who want modern, AI-powered tooling.
- Does Conduit support SFTP like Royal TSX?
- Conduit focuses on SSH terminal, RDP, VNC, and web sessions. For file transfer, you can use SCP or SFTP commands directly in the SSH terminal. A dedicated SFTP file browser is on the roadmap.
- Is Conduit available on Linux?
- Yes. Unlike Royal TSX which only supports macOS and Windows, Conduit is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux with full feature parity. Mobile apps are available for iPhone and iPad.
Ready to try Conduit?
Free forever with unlimited connections. No credit card required.