# SSH Tunnel: VPN & SOCKS5 proxy — user reviews > 103 indexed App Store user reviews of SSH Tunnel by Mobibean, LLC, rated 4.00/5 from 148 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssh-tunnel-vpn-and-socks5-proxy/id1260223542/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssh-tunnel-vpn-and-socks5-proxy/id1260223542.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 97 · 4★ 8 · 3★ 10 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 27 ## What do users think of SSH Tunnel? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - ✅ Works well for SSH tunneling when used as intended - 🌐 Supports SOCKS5 dynamic forwarding - 🔐 Supports multiple SSH key formats - 📱 Useful built-in browser for tunnel access - ⚙️ Proxy auto-configuration (PAC) support - 🎯 Simple and intuitive interface - 👨‍💼 Excellent developer support and responsiveness - 🚀 Stable connections when app stays in foreground - 📊 Works well on iPad with split-screen/Stage Manager **Cons** - 🚫 Cannot maintain SSH tunnel in background (30-second limit) - ⚠️ App disconnects when switched to other applications - 💰 Expensive for limited functionality ($7.99-$10) - 🔄 Lacks transparency about iOS limitations in description - 🌐 In-app browser leaks user IP address - 📍 Requires location services enabled for background operation - 🐛 Ports not freed up after tunnel termination - 📱 Limited functionality on iPhone vs iPad - ⏱️ Tunnel drops within 10-30 seconds in background - 🔌 Cannot configure system-wide SOCKS proxy on iPhone **Commonly reported bugs** - 2FA login not working despite being advertised - In-app browser unable to access localhost or local IP addresses - Private key parsing issues (requires proper line endings) - Connection drops frequently (every 5 minutes in some cases) - App crashes unexpectedly - Cannot edit or delete existing connections - Tunnel connection drops when changing applications - Port remains busy after tunnel termination - Location services prompt appears every time app closes - App not updated for iOS 16+ compatibility - SOCKS5 functionality not working in some cases - Incompatible with iOS 18 **Most requested features** - Background app refresh capability - VPN interface implementation for system-wide traffic routing - Multiple simultaneous tunnels - Tabs in built-in browser - Remote port forwarding support - 2FA/Two-factor authentication support - Better documentation and setup guides - Support for PuTTY key format - Mouse click events in in-app browser - Shortcuts app integration - Compression option support - Global proxy support for mobile networks ## Newest reviews (18 of 103) ### 3/5 — Needs background app refresh *2025-01-23* Works great but would appreciate if you could update it to work with background app refresh so you can connect to the forwarded port in other apps **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — In-app browser is leaking my IP *2024-09-07* I open the browser and it’s picking up my ISP IP, not the tunnel’s. That was my main use case and it doesn’t work. Maybe it’s useful on iPad in split view, but on iOS it’s sort of useless? Maybe it’s just my lack knowledge but ipleak.net is showing my region, not the server’s **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — The app can't run in the background *2024-08-28* The app can't run in the background, totally useless, and they didn't mention it in the description before buying it. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — Do not fall for this one!! *2024-03-20* Though promised in the description, 2FA does not work. This makes the app unusable for my case. Furthermore, it seems like the App is not maintained. The last update was some years ago. Using it on an iPhone 7 **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — Автор мошенник *2024-03-02* Сабж. Приложение бесполезное, не ведитесь. **Developer response:** Исправлено в 3.0. Появился режим VPN: туннель работает в фоне, весь трафик устройства идёт через него. ### 1/5 — I couldn't use it :( *2024-01-03* I use ssh tunneling in PC for years. I wanted something like that to force all apps go through that tunnel. I thought this app can do but didn't! I wish I could get my USD $10 back! **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 3/5 — 请谨慎购买 *2023-10-04* 如果你想用这个软件挂全局代理，千万不要买。 ### 2/5 — Does not work in background *2023-10-02* App can’t work in background and so is practically useless. Author’s claims that this restriction of Apple can’t be bypassed is not true. There are ssh apps in appstore that successfully work in background for hours. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — Scam app *2023-09-10* Hello I don’t use this app once I downloaded when I can’t used I deleted and you charge me 15 dollar can u tell me why u charge if I don’t have subscription **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — Unbrauchbar *2023-08-17* Leider fehlt es an Dokumentation. Ich habe die Einbindung für den privat Key ausprobiert und die App kommt darauf nicht klar. Der Key kommt aus dem Putty Keygen welchen ich als unterstütztes Format erwarte, da Putty weiter verbreitet ist. Geht aber nicht! Oke, dann bitte eine gute Dokumentation wie man es richtig macht… leider auch nicht vorhanden. Die Webseite der App die von dem Entwickler kommt hilft da leider auch nicht weiter. Schade! Ich werde meinen Server nicht auf User/Password Auth umstellen und daher kann ich aktuell nichts mit der App anfangen. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 4/5 — Yeah, Works Well Enough *2023-07-31* Does the job and had the feature I needed, namely, binding the proxy interface without the local host. But, ultimately, SOCKS just isn't good at capturing all traffic generated on this or other hosts, and the background restrictions make it difficult to use for all but the simplest uses, so I think you'll want to implement a VPN interface to capture traffic and route at least TCP via SOCKS, in the fashion of tun2socks. Better yet if it could both tunnel traffic and offer a proxy for use, which would allow you to use any existing VPN connections on the device. I know not all of this is really your fault, but you have to work within these limitations ... **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 3/5 — Concept is good and works but… *2023-01-20* due to apple restrictions it can’t run in background. If you switch to another app it will close the connection within 30 seconds. Thus making it useless if you want to use the tunnel for other apps. Makes me wonder why configure the wi-fi proxy at all if you can only use the built in-browser. I gave it 3 stars not because the app is not what i need but because I wish there was a note indicating the Apple restrictions and the fact it close the connection within 30 seconds. That would have been a nice to know before paying the $7.99 the app costs. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — Einfach Müll *2022-12-20* Eine App für zehn Euro die nur funktioniert wenn sie im Splitscreen läuft?tut man das nicht wird der Tunnel abgebrochen. Das ist so ein schlechter Scherz. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 3/5 — Great app, intuitive design, but… *2022-10-16* It doesn’t work in the background for very long, I have to refocus the app and move back to my other application often. Other than this I think its a good app, hope it can be fixed somehow ### 1/5 — This app is out dated *2022-09-22, version 2.1.0* 9 USD for an app which updated two years ago. Dear developer, please update this app to allow background process without update for supporting features in iOS 16; this app is useless. ### 1/5 — Does this software work under 2FA environment? *2022-07-23* In my 2FA login environment, I cannot enable this software to work properly. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 1/5 — Not working *2022-07-08, version 2.1.0* It doesn't work on the phone. It shows an error: it is not working on the background. Also I can't refund my money. It is completely scam. ### 1/5 — App Store restrictions not told *2022-06-25, version 2.1.0* Unfortunately I could not get it work because of App Store restrictions. I wish the developers were transparent about this before my purchase. Not satisfied. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Flaky, unreliable. *2026-07-11* Doesn’t handshake correctly with Safari and other clients. May be an impossible promise, trying to run this in the background. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it, Safari included. ### 1/5 — Не работает в фоновом режиме *2026-04-08, version 2.1.0* Приложение не работает в фоновом режиме, оно просто теряет всякий смысл ### 1/5 — Не работает в фоне *2026-03-23, version 2.1.0* Это просто отстой, когда приложение сворачиваешь и оно выдает предупреждение, что не работает в фоне. Весь смысл приложения пропадает. Не покупайте его! ### 1/5 — Too bad *2026-01-04, version 2.1.0* It doesn't support background running, yet it's still okay to charge for it ??? ### 1/5 — Useless *2025-12-04, version 2.1.0* It only runs in the foreground. Can’t setup a systemwide SOCKS proxy. ### 1/5 — trash! *2025-08-22, version 2.1.0* Don’t buy, socks5 did not work! Did not support ios18! ### 1/5 — Scum *2025-06-26* Полный развод, не работает в фоне, кончается сразу. Взяли деньги мошенники! **Developer response:** Исправлено в 3.0. Появился режим VPN: туннель работает в фоне, весь трафик устройства идёт через него. ### 1/5 — Won’t work in background as a VPN *2024-11-12, version 2.1.0* This will not redirect all the traffic of the device through the tunnel ### 1/5 — Absolute scam *2024-09-28* I needed it to access a web server on a router which is only accessible from local network. I normally access it in macOS with a port tunnel. With this app is impossible. It uses some kind of built in browser incapable of accessing localhost as the ssh server host or the ip 192.168.5.1. Completely useless. It is meant to access internet only ### 1/5 — Warning: Tunnel only works for 10 seconds. *2024-09-17* DO NOT BUY. Creator is not actively fighting for that apple restriction. Tunnel close after 10 seconds if you go to other apps. Its doesnt work background so if youre planning to use that tunnel out of the app. Goodluck with that 10 secs switching back and forth to keep tunnel alive. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Needs update for iOS 16!! *2023-01-12* Dear developer; Please update this app for iOS 16, otherwise we can not use it on iPhone with iOS 16. I would like to use it in iPhone, to totally send all traffic through ssh tunnel. But this is not possible now. Hope you update the app, and resolve problems in iOS 16. Best regards. **Developer response:** Fixed in 3.0. The new VPN engine keeps the tunnel alive in the background and routes the whole device through it. ### 5/5 — The best app for ssh tunnel if you can turn on StageManager *2023-01-12* There are several SSH tunnel apps that you can choose from. But to be honest, this app is the best app for it, one for working perfectly as a tunnel, and not having unnecessary functions for the other. But be careful, because you have to have iPad with StageManager function (iPad Pro and iPad Air as of Jan. 2023). This is because the iPads without StageManager does not allow to possess ssh tunnel behind the other apps. Once you open tunnel with this app and turn on the other apps, iPad will close the tunnel within 20 to 30 seconds. The counter measure can be to utilize Split View or Slide Over to keep opening this app on top of the other app that you want to use tunnel for, but always having this app on top of the other is pretty disrupting. With StageManager however, it will beautifully work even though if you open other app on top of this app as long as they exists in the same workspace. ### 5/5 — Thank Goodness for this App *2022-05-08* Just what I needed to get the job done. Get it now before Apple decides it is too useful! [Edit] this app saved me a drive into the office today, yet again it has proven its worth. ### 5/5 — Damit geht SSH-getunneltes Browsen *2021-09-25* Besuchen von Webseiten durch SSH-Tunnel funktioniert perfekt. Die App hat einen eingebauten Browser, da sie, sobald sie nicht im mehr Vordergrund ist, die Verbindung nur 30 Sekunden lang aufrecht erhalten kann. ### 5/5 — A great app is now even better! *2021-05-14* When I got this app a while back, it was good, but I was not able to enter an arbitrary url after connecting. The workaround was to open the browser of choice and then launch the app on top / to the side (this is still good for testing different mobile browsers). Now I can enter the URL I need to the built-in browser and use it full screen. The only possible improvement would be for Apple to allow this to run in the background without disconnecting. ### 5/5 — Only real usable tunneling app for iOS *2021-04-02* I’ve tried others, but with iOS 14 blocking background tasks, they’re unusable. This app would be much better if one could use Safari for the tunnel without needing to run both in split view, but the developer’s addition of a built-in browser makes this only a minor grievance and is a good workaround for Apple’s restrictions. Only requests: allow for multiple simultaneous tunnels at once and an option to have tabs in the built-in browser. ### 5/5 — Amazing tunnelling app *2021-03-09* I am happy to see that took in AppStore. Very useful. The only negative moment is the you cannot put it in Shadow/background mode and the reason for that is not clearly explained by DEVs. Was it an Apple constraint? Why? **Developer response:** Hey, Yes, Apple does not allow a background execution for networking purposes. Thanks, Yury ### 5/5 — Help *2021-01-24, version 2.1.0* Is it possible to link this with my 911S5 account so I can use the vpn ? I need help connecting the SSH THING so i can Use it as vpn ### 5/5 — Feature request *2020-09-26, version 2.1.0* Dear developer, would it be possible to add non-touch left- and right-mouse click events into the in-app browser in future versions? Thank you. ### 5/5 — Does exactly what I was expecting *2020-09-16* Does the job very well if you know what you are doing and what you are looking for. --- *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 2026-08-26.*