# CatClaw Terminal — AI Terminal + SSH + Dev Tools

> Mobile development environment with SSH, AI chat, file browser, and workflow tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Liqun Chen.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catclaw-terminal/id6759690902 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Liqun Chen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880102480)
- Category: Developer Tools, Productivity
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 27 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-04-02
- Data updated: 2026-08-23
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catclaw-terminal/id6759690902/reviews.md

## What is CatClaw Terminal?

ClawTerminal turns your iPhone or iPad into a full mobile dev environment. SSH terminal, AI chatrooms, file browser, multi-agent orchestration, and a Mac-class workflow that fits in one hand.

Start a refactor on the train. Review a PR at lunch. Diagnose an outage from bed. Your Mac does the heavy lifting; your phone is the remote control.


WHAT'S NEW IN v1.5.0

- Push with no account - the new ntfy channel needs no login or registration. Run /notifier ntfy, pick a topic, and subscribe in the free ntfy app. Telegram, Discord, and Slack work too.
- Every Claude Code command works - ClawTerminal forwards any slash command your claude session supports, including new ones in future CLI releases, instead of an unknown-command error.
- QR connect - set up a connection once, show it as a QR, and scan it on another iPhone or iPad. No retyping host, port, and key on a phone keyboard.
- Claude Fable 5 - the fast 1M-context model is selectable everywhere, with a new Fast agent-routing preset that runs your whole team on it.
- Quiet while the app is open - no more double-buzzing for a job you are already watching; banners resume when you leave.


WHAT YOU GET

A Real Terminal
- Full SSH client with persistent sessions, themes, autocomplete
- Vim, htop, tmux, mosh - everything just works
- AI ghost-text suggestions; tap errors for instant explanations
- SFTP file browser with batch operations
- Share a connection by QR to set up a second device in one scan (NEW)
- iPad multi-window, drag and drop, cursor support

Multi-Tool AI Chatrooms
- Claude, Codex, Gemini, or Aider - switch tools per chatroom
- Direct API mode or CLI mode over SSH to your Mac
- Claude Fable 5, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku model options (NEW)
- Apple Intelligence on-device when no API key is set
- ?prefix routes a message through parallel exploration
- Cross-session memory and custom skills tailored to you

Power Commands
- /research - in-app propose-evaluate-refine for about a penny
- /whatif - predict 3 likely outcomes before a risky command
- /frugal - strip the preamble for cheaper, faster answers
- /duck - Socratic rubber-duck debugging
- /standup - daily standup from yesterday's chat plus git log

Multi-Agent Orchestration
- /batch, /team, /race, /orchestrate - parallel agents, side-by-side
- Quality, Balanced, Budget, or Fast (all Fable 5) routing presets (NEW)
- Git worktree isolation per agent with --vcs
- --app opens a visual command center; bare commands use Claude's native orchestration

Background Jobs with Push
- /submit runs long jobs in the background; push when they finish
- /notifier ntfy - no account, no login, just a topic you pick (NEW)
- /notifier setup for APNs from your own Mac; /notifier telegram for your own bot
- Chat-app push for Hermes and OpenClaw results (Telegram, Discord, Slack, ntfy)
- Per-job cost tracking, budgets, auto-recovery

DevOps Toolkit
- /git, /health, /monitor, /security, /pr, /preview, /conflicts
- AI code review, live web preview, merge conflict resolver

Context-Aware AI (OPT-IN)
- Time, calendar, motion, battery shape Claude's tone and length

The Learn Hub
- 6 interactive tutorial tracks, 43 hands-on steps
- Written tutorials and examples, bundled offline

Cross-Device
- /handoff between phone and Mac tmux sessions
- Shared chatrooms, synced profiles, Apple Watch companion

Voice and Camera
- /voice and Speak with Search (iOS 26 SpeechAnalyzer)
- Snap and Code - point camera at a whiteboard, get code

Privacy First
- All credentials in the iOS Keychain
- On-device AI when supported - your prompts can stay on the phone
- No account, no telemetry, no tracking, no ads


WHO IT IS FOR

- Developers who want their Mac available everywhere
- Indie founders and DevOps engineers shipping from anywhere
- Anyone who wants Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini from a phone

Requires an SSH-reachable Mac or Linux server for heavy work. AI chatrooms also work fully offline from your Mac via direct API mode or Apple Intelligence on iOS 26.

## Key features

- Full SSH client with persistent sessions
- AI ghost-text suggestions and error explanations
- SFTP file browser with batch operations
- Multi-tool AI chatrooms with various AI models
- On-device Apple Intelligence features
- Background job execution with push notifications
- DevOps toolkit for code review and monitoring

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catclaw-terminal/id6759690902/reviews.md

### 5/5 — very good！

*2026-04-22*

connect to Mac is so easy. And it’s free!

## Frequently asked questions about CatClaw Terminal

### What is CatClaw Terminal?

CatClaw Terminal is a mobile application that transforms your iPhone or iPad into a comprehensive development environment. It offers features like an SSH terminal, AI chatrooms, a file browser, and advanced workflow tools.

### Does CatClaw Terminal have ads?

No, CatClaw Terminal does not contain advertisements. The application is free to use without any ad interruptions.

### What AI models can I use with CatClaw Terminal?

You can switch between various AI models within chatrooms, including Claude, Codex, Gemini, or Aider. Additionally, Apple Intelligence is available on-device for newer devices when no API key is set.

### Can I run background jobs with CatClaw Terminal?

Yes, CatClaw Terminal allows you to run long jobs in the background using the /submit command. You can receive push notifications when these jobs finish, either via Apple Push Notification Service from your Mac or through a Telegram bot.

### What are the on-device Apple Intelligence features?

New in v1.4.0, features like Save as Skill, /standup, and /whatif run entirely on-device for iPhone 15 Pro and newer or M1+ iPads. These features are free, instant, and private, requiring no API key.

### How does CatClaw Terminal handle file management?

The app includes an SFTP file browser that supports batch operations, allowing you to manage files efficiently on your remote servers directly from your mobile device.

### What is the pricing for CatClaw Terminal?

CatClaw Terminal is available for free. There are no charges to download or use the core features of the application.

### What devices does CatClaw Terminal support?

CatClaw Terminal is designed for both iPhone and iPad devices, offering features like iPad multi-window and cursor support for an enhanced user experience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.5.0 — 2026-07-14

Push job results to your phone with NO account needed.

Chat-app push - including ntfy, which needs zero setup. Run /notifier ntfy, pick a topic, and subscribe to it in the free ntfy app. No login, no registration, no API key. Prefer Telegram, Discord, or Slack? Those work too.

Every Claude Code command works. ClawTerminal now forwards any slash command your claude session supports - including new ones added in future CLI releases - instead of an "unknown command" error.

QR connect. Set up a connection once, show it as a QR, and scan it on another iPhone or iPad to import it - no retyping host, port, and key on a phone keyboard.

Claude Fable 5. The fast 1M-context model is selectable everywhere, plus a new "Fast" agent-routing preset that runs your whole agent team on it.

Quiet while the app is open. No more double-buzzing for a job you are already watching - completion banners are held back while ClawTerminal is in the foreground and resume when you leave.

More installers and orchestration. Install Hermes or OpenClaw straight from a chatroom and wire their results to chat push. Use /team --app and /batch --app for a visual agent command center.

As always: no account, no sign-in, no ads, no tracking. Your keys stay in the iOS Keychain.

### 1.4.0 — 2026-05-05

Apple Intelligence on-device, ?prefix search mode, push when jobs finish, and one-tap Save as Skill from any trajectory - the biggest update since launch.

APPLE INTELLIGENCE ON-DEVICE (NEW, iOS 26)
Save as Skill, /standup, and /whatif now run entirely on your iPhone or iPad when no Anthropic API key is set. Free, instant, fully private - Apple's FoundationModels framework, nothing leaves the phone. Cascade is API key first (best quality), then Apple Intelligence on-device, then Claude CLI on your Mac as a final fallback. Supported devices: iPhone 15 Pro and newer, M1+ iPads. Toggle in Settings - AI Intelligence (defaulted ON when supported).

? SEARCH MODE
Start any message with ? to route it through propose-evaluate-refine - three chains explore different angles, refinement rounds polish the best ones. Tap the result to open the trajectory graph: chains as columns, rounds as rows, best attempt highlighted with a star. Long-press send for "Send with Search" (one-off trigger) or "Speak with Search" (voice). Pin the winner to ground every follow-up message in that conclusion.

SAVE TRAJECTORIES AS SKILLS
Long-press Select on any research result or background job trajectory, pick 2 to N entries, tap Save as Skill (N). Auto-loads next time a similar question matches its keywords. Works with an API key (3 to 5 seconds) or via Claude CLI on your Mac (30 to 60 seconds).

PUSH NOTIFICATIONS WHEN JOBS FINISH
Two paths: /notifier setup wires Apple Push Notifications from your own Mac (paid Apple Developer account), or /notifier telegram routes through your own Telegram bot for universal-reach push without a developer account. Either way - real iPhone banners when background jobs complete.

NATIVE /research ENGINE
/research no longer needs SimpleTES installed on your Mac. The new in-app loop runs propose-evaluate-refine entirely against the Claude API at about a penny per run. Live progress sheet, full trajectory graph, "Send as Message" to paste the winner.

iOS 26 NATIVE
- Writing Tools (Rewrite, Proofread, Make Friendly) in the chatroom input bar and skill editor
- SpeechAnalyzer for /voice and Speak with Search - better accuracy, lower latency

POLISH
- Slash palette tip-of-the-day surfaces underused commands (/effort, /btw, /think, /duck, /recap, /context, /retry, /pin, /wrapped, /whatif)
- ? typing hint chip below the input bar
- Skill library "Last fired" badges and a Sort by Last used menu
- Cleaner Search section in Background Jobs (auto-prunes ?prefix jobs older than 7 days)
- "What's New" sheet on first launch after every update

Plus everything from v1.3.0 unchanged: Learn Hub, /frugal, /duck, /whatif, /standup, /wrapped, /screenshot, Code Postcards, Context-Aware AI, Proactive Insights.

### 1.3.0 — 2026-04-22

The biggest update yet - a unified Learn Hub, ten "wow" tools, and a Claude that finally understands your situation.

LEARN HUB
One searchable place for everything: 6 interactive tutorial tracks (43 hands-on steps), 36 written tutorials, and 33 examples - all bundled offline. Tap any example's "Try in chatroom" button to drop the command straight into your input bar. Tap Refresh to pull the latest from GitHub.

NEW POWER COMMANDS
- /whatif [command] - predicts the 3 most likely outcomes before you run a risky shell command, with probability bars and severity colors.
- /frugal (or "!" prefix) - strips the AI's preamble for cheaper, faster turns. Skips skills, memory, dream profile, device context - keeps soul + personality + effort.
- /duck - switches Claude to Socratic rubber-duck mode. Only asks probing questions, never gives answers. Surprisingly good for unblocking yourself.
- /standup - auto-writes your daily standup from yesterday's chat plus git log. Copies to clipboard.
- /wrapped - Spotify Wrapped-style 9-page summary of your activity, top commands, AI spend, peak hour, and longest session.
- /screenshot and /screenshots - capture chatroom views with auto-tagged topics. Searchable gallery.

CONTEXT-AWARE AI (OPT-IN)
Claude now adapts to your situation:
- Time of day - terse at night, verbose in work hours
- Calendar - knows when your next meeting is
- Motion - shorter responses when walking or driving
- Battery - skips expensive multi-agent commands when low

CODE POSTCARDS
Long-press any chat message, tap Share as Postcard, and ClawTerminal renders a 1080x1080 image with syntax-highlighted code, gradient background, and branding. One tap to share to Twitter, Discord, Slack, or Messages.

PROACTIVE INSIGHTS (OPT-IN)
Background pattern detection notices things like "deploys fail 3x more often on Fridays" or "you retry /health 4x per session" and surfaces high-confidence findings as notifications.

WELCOME TOUR THAT KEEPS UP
The tour now auto-relaunches with each app update so you always see what's new on first launch.

POLISH
- Export conversation moved to a pinned menu on the room tab bar - always visible no matter how many rooms you have.
- Info and Project merged into one sheet with a Project context row inside.
- Ambient sound (opt-in) - subtle audio cues for AI thinking, job complete/fail, stream start.
- Frugal mode now also tells Claude to skip plan confirmations and "would you like me to" questions, so frugal turns actually feel terse.

Plus 60+ existing features unchanged: multi-agent orchestration, dream mode, gestures, mini-terminal, conversation branching, /pr, /git, /health, /monitor, /preview, and more.

### 1.2.0 — 2026-04-15

v1.2.0 is our biggest update — 50+ new features that make CatClaw the most powerful mobile AI coding tool available.
(Details: https://github.com/LiqunChen0606/clawterminal-docs)

RACE MULTIPLE AI MODELS
/race runs the same prompt on Claude, Codex, and Gemini simultaneously. Compare side-by-side on iPad or swipe between responses on iPhone. New "thinking lenses" give you 6 different perspectives from the same model.

GITHUB PR WORKFLOW
/pr creates pull requests from your current branch. /pr review runs AI code review with color-coded severity items. Your feedback trains future reviews to focus on what your team cares about.

SESSION HANDOFF
/handoff mac sends your phone session to a Mac terminal. /handoff picks up any active Mac session on your phone. Start on your commute, finish at your desk.

LIVE WEB PREVIEW
/preview opens your dev server in-app via SSH tunnel. Auto-detects ports. Multi-port tabs for frontend + backend. Console log capture with "Send errors to Claude" button. Responsive viewport modes. Screenshot + annotate to report visual bugs.

VISUAL DASHBOARDS
/git shows a visual branch graph. /health scans codebase metrics. /monitor shows live server CPU/memory/disk. /dashboard shows your AI usage analytics.

DEVELOPER INTELLIGENCE
/spec generates formal requirements. /graph queries codebase architecture. /tribal extracts unwritten project knowledge. /security runs deep scans. /gentest generates tests. /changelog creates release notes.

SMARTER AGENTS
--routing balanced auto-assigns Opus/Sonnet/Haiku per agent role. --vcs gives each agent its own git branch. Agent reasoning banners show why decisions were made. Failed jobs offer auto-recovery with error context.

WORKFLOW AUTOMATION
/workflow chains commands into reusable pipelines. /hooks triggers agents on file changes. /notify sets up push notifications for conditions like "when tests finish."

UX INNOVATIONS
Smart follow-up suggestion chips. Long-press Send to background a job. Split-screen mini terminal. Conversation branching — fork and compare approaches. JSON table cards. @web URL context. /pin file pinning. Cat mascot and haptic feedback.

### 1.1.1 — 2026-04-02

What's New in v1.1.1

Navigation
• iPhone: slide-out drawer sidebar (like ChatGPT/Claude) replaces tab bar
• iPad: sidebar navigation fully fixed — tabs switch correctly
• Swipe from left edge to open drawer, swipe left to close

AI Agent Improvements
• Agent Teams: discovery passing between waves improved (10x more context)
• Smarter fallback when discovery extraction fails
• Adaptive polling: reduces battery usage for long-running jobs

Terminal & Keyboard
• Orange keyboard dismiss button — easy to spot
• iPad: no more overlapping shortcut bars with external keyboard
• Chat bubbles: more text width with compact avatar layout

Connection Reliability
• SSH timeout increased to reduce false disconnects
• Exponential reconnect backoff (5s → 15s → 30s)
• Orange "Reconnecting..." banner when connection drops
• Background heartbeat: notifies you when jobs are still running

Commands
• /usage — check token usage (alias for /cost)
• /help — redesigned with grouped tables
• Jobs tab: agent groups auto-collapsed for cleaner view

## More apps by Liqun Chen

- [IntelliNote — AI Notebook](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intellinote-ai-notebook/id6759671191)
- [Argus - AI Search](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/argus-ai-search/id6760634171)

All apps by Liqun Chen: https://appshunter.io/developer/1880102480

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-23.*
