Comparison

Serial Control vs Terminal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Serial Control

Create custom interfaces for serial devices from your smartphone or tablet. Design control pages with buttons and sliders, build command libraries, and automate actions based on device responses. Seamlessly integrate with StarTech.com serial products.

Highlights
  • Customizable control interfaces
  • Command library builder
  • Event-based action automation
  • Automatic device detection
  • Integrated account control
  • HEX and ASCII command editor
Features
Read full description

Serial Device Application Software for iOS Build and customize your own serial control interface from your smartphone, tablet, or web browser Features • Use with your existing StarTech.com serial products (for example, NETRS232, NETRS2321P, NETRS232485, NETRS232485W) • Issue console commands, build a command library, or design a control page that’s tailored to your application, complete with buttons, sliders, and switches. • Easily set up events based on response types, and map actions to run when an event occurs. • The app automatically detects the StarTech.com serial devices that are connected to your network. • Integrated account control lets you create an account, save settings, and share it across multiple devices. • Includes a HEX and ACSII command editor. • Conveniently test commands as you edit them.

About

Terminal

This advanced client provides developers with a streamlined way to manage Linux, SSH, Telnet, and SFTP connections. It offers features like AI assistance for server building, multi-tab management, and integrated editors to enhance productivity and simplify remote access.

Highlights
  • SSH, Mosh, Telnet, Port Forwarding, SFTP support
  • AI chatbot for server building assistance
  • Personalized themes and fonts per connection
  • Multi-tab interface for simultaneous sessions
  • SFTP file manager with nano and vim editors
  • Connection history and saved snippets
  • Vaults, multi-team, groups, and tags organization
Features
Read full description

Terminal is the most advanced SSH client in the market, designed by developers for developers. Access everything with just one tap. Say goodbye to the hassle of re-entering IP addresses, ports, and passwords. Key features: - Support for SSH, Mosh, Telnet, Port Forwarding, and SFTP. - AI chatbot to assist in building your servers instead of browsing the web for generic commands. - Personalization of theme and font settings for each connection in your terminal. - Management of multiple sessions simultaneously with a convenient multi-tab interface. - SFTP file manager and integrated editors nano and vim. - Easy and fast terminal connect. - Use of snippets to run your most frequently used commands and save time. - Saving of all connections history to keep track of your workload. - Support for vaults and multi-team functionality. - Organization of your terminal using groups and tags. - Keychain support with different login options. We hope to deliver a more productive and enjoyable remote access for developers, so please do not hesitate to contact us in case you desire a new feature or just to say hello. Terms of use: https://shella.me/terms Privacy policy: https://shella.me/privacy

Screenshots

Serial Control4 screens
Terminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Terminal at 49% against Serial Control's 0%. Terminal also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks). Serial Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Terminal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Serial Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Serial Control ships an update every 5 weeks, Terminal every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Serial Control versus Terminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSerial ControlTerminal
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.4 (110 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews48.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—110 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarTech.comSoufiane Benabid

Customer experience

Serial Control

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Terminal

All ratings110 ratings
Positive85.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive48.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative46.2%

Bugs and requests

Serial Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Terminal

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • SSH unable to connect after v3.4 update
  • Crashes when attempting to connect
  • Backspace/delete key not working

Requested features

3 requests
  • Guest option more prominent
  • iPad optimization
  • Chinese language support

In-app purchases

None

Serial Control

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Terminal

Subscriptions4
  • Terminal - Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Terminal - Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Terminal - Yearly$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Terminal - Yearly$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Serial Control free?
Serial Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Terminal free?
Terminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Serial Control or Terminal have ads?
Neither Serial Control nor Terminal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Serial Control or Terminal?
Serial Control ships an update every 5 weeks, and Terminal every 9 days. Most recently, Serial Control was updated on October 3, 2026 and Terminal on October 8, 2026.

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