Comparison

SSH Tunnel vs SSH Client

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

Head to head
About

SSH Tunnel

Securely manage SSH tunnels and port forwarding on your mobile device. Configure local SOCKS5 proxies and private tunnels to your own server, with support for various authentication methods and advanced traffic redirection rules.

Highlights
  • Local Port Forwarding
  • Dynamic Port Forwarding (SOCKS5 proxy)
  • Password, Private Key, 2FA authentication
  • Multiple SSH Key support
  • Connection Export & Import
  • Proxy Auto-Configuration (PAC) file support
Features
Read full description

SSH Tunnel is the easiest way to tunnel your traffic through your own SSH server on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Version 3.0 is a complete native rewrite with a new VPN engine: route ALL device traffic through your server, keep it running in the background, and reconnect automatically. The old foreground-only limitation is gone. TWO ENGINES - VPN engine: system-wide tunnel built on Apple's Network Extension. Works in the background, survives restarts, and restores itself after reboots and network changes (On Demand). - Proxy engine: a local SOCKS5 proxy with a PAC file for browsers, third-party apps, or sharing the tunnel with other devices on your Wi-Fi. Run several tunnels at once. FEATURES - Dynamic port forwarding (SOCKS5 proxy), like "ssh -D" - Local port forwarding, like "ssh -L 80:intra.example.com:80 gw.example.com" - Password, private key, and keyboard-interactive (2FA/OTP) authentication - Keys: ed25519, ECDSA, RSA (rsa-sha2), OpenSSH and PuTTY .ppk formats, import from file - Modern ciphers and OpenSSH 8.8+ compatibility - Host key fingerprint verification - In-app browser that uses the tunnel (iOS) - Proxy Auto-Configuration (PAC) URL with custom PAC rules - Live transfer statistics and connection logs - Connection export & import - Passcode & Face ID protection - Idle disconnect timer - Native menu bar app on macOS, included with your purchase - Dark mode. No ads, no subscriptions, no accounts. YOUR SERVER, YOUR DATA SSH Tunnel connects only to a server YOU provide. There are no accounts and no servers we operate: your traffic flows directly between your device and your own SSH server. We never see, collect, or sell any of it. You need your own SSH server to use this application. Support: support@ssh-tunnel-ios.com

About

SSH Client

This app provides a fast SSH terminal and remote file access, seamlessly integrating your SSH servers with your iOS device. It offers advanced text editing gestures, drag-and-drop file management, and built-in tmux support for persistent sessions. Access your server's file system directly within the Files app and automate transfers via Shortcuts.

Highlights
  • Lightning fast SSH terminal
  • Remote file access and management
  • Standard and custom text editing gestures
  • Drag-and-drop file transfer
  • Built-in tmux support for session persistence
  • Files app integration for server file system
  • Shortcuts app integration for automation
Features
Read full description

Lightning fast SSH terminal with remote file access. No other app fuses your SSH servers and iOS devices as well as Secure ShellFish. Tap Get and see for yourself. Terminal supports standard text editing gestures for selection, scrolling and copy/paste as well as custom gestures to send arrow keys and tabulator making shell entry and full screen editing with vim or emacs delightful. Bar above the keyboard makes it easy to type special keys and insert snippets. Select and drag filenames out of the terminal as actual files and drag files from other apps into the terminal to upload. Use built-in tmux support to persist terminal sessions if you lose Internet access, pick existing sessions with thumbnails and Handoff sessions between devices. Server file system is available in the Files app and recently accessed files and directories are cached to make them available when offline. Use apps like Textastic and iA Writer for a native editing experience working on your remote server files. Upload files or entire directories from the share sheet with minimal friction as the last destination directory for each kind of file is remembered or automate file transfers in the Shortcuts app. Connect to your Mac, Synology NAS and any other SSH server or create new Digital Ocean droplets right from the app. Secure ShellFish is useful as a free app and paying pro users can disable ads in the terminal, upload through the Files app and configure unlimited number of servers.

Screenshots

SSH Tunnel4 screens
SSH Client4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SSH Client at 94% against SSH Tunnel's 46%. SSH Client also leads on price (Free vs $9.99) and rating (4.8 vs 4.0). SSH Tunnel's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#8 vs #30). On ads and iOS requirement 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

SSH Client is free to download; SSH Tunnel costs $9.99 up front. SSH Client sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. SSH Tunnel asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SSH Client holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SSH Client has 1.5K ratings behind it against 147, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of SSH Tunnel's written reviews are positive against 94% of SSH Client's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SSH Tunnel ships an update monthly, SSH Client weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
SSH Tunnel versus SSH Client: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSSH TunnelSSH Client
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (147 ratings)4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.6% of reviews94.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1471.5K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
Best chart rank#8 — better#30
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB132 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMobibean, LLCAnders Borum

Customer experience

SSH Tunnel

All ratings147 ratings
Positive70.7%
Neutral6.8%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive45.6%
Neutral9.7%
Negative44.7%

SSH Client

All ratings1,545 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.2%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews628 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.8%

User reviews

SSH Tunnel

From 147 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✅ 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

Room to improve

  • 🚫 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

SSH Client

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Turns iPad into productivity machine
  • 🚀 Seamless SSH experience
  • 👍 Excellent integration with Files app
  • 👍 Robust key management and syncing
  • 👍 Powerful terminal with great features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
  • 🐛 Inconsistent behavior with some commands
  • 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and security

Bugs and requests

SSH Tunnel

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • 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

Requested features

12 requests
  • Background app refresh capability
  • VPN interface implementation for system-wide traffic routing
  • Multiple simultaneous tunnels
  • Tabs in built-in browser
  • Remote port forwarding support
Show 7 more
  • 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

SSH Client

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes when running certain commands
  • Issues with file transfer progress reporting

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved documentation and tutorials
  • Support for additional authentication methods
  • Customizable keyboard shortcuts and layouts
  • Tabbed terminal interface

In-app purchases

None

SSH Tunnel

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

SSH Client

Subscriptions2
  • ShellFish Monthly subscription14 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • ShellFish Annual subscription$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • ShellFish Lifetime Pro Unlock$29.99

Questions

Is SSH Tunnel free?
SSH Tunnel costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SSH Client free?
SSH Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SSH Tunnel or SSH Client?
SSH Client is rated higher. SSH Tunnel averages 4.0 out of 5 from 147 ratings, while SSH Client averages 4.8 from 1.5K ratings.
Do SSH Tunnel or SSH Client have ads?
Neither SSH Tunnel nor SSH Client shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SSH Tunnel or SSH Client?
SSH Tunnel ships an update monthly, and SSH Client weekly. Most recently, SSH Tunnel was updated on October 11, 2026 and SSH Client on October 13, 2026.
Which is more popular, SSH Tunnel or SSH Client?
SSH Tunnel currently peaks at #8 in the App Store charts, and SSH Client at #30. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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