# iVim vs SSH Term

The clearest difference is ads: iVim at none against SSH Term's shown. iVim also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (84% vs 60%). SSH Term's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iVim sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and SSH Term sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iVim holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iVim has 167 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of iVim's written reviews are positive against 60% of SSH Term's.

iVim ships an update every 5 weeks, SSH Term weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iVim | SSH Term |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (167 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivim/id1266544660/reviews)** | [4.2 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssh-term-secure-remote-shell/id1638226840/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **167** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **84.3% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 127 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [文礼 周](https://appshunter.io/developer/497312859) | [WHATSTICKER APPS SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1784779333) |

## What reviewers say

### iVim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivim/id1266544660)

This app brings the powerful Vim text editor to iOS devices. It offers advanced features like custom font import, an extended and customizable keyboard, multistage language input, and seamless integration with other apps through sharing and document pickers. Advanced functionalities like plugin management and version control are available via in-app purchases or a subscription.

**Highlights:** Custom font import with ligature support, Extended and customizable keyboard, Multistage language input, App sharing and document picker integration, External hardware keyboard support, Integrated scripting languages (Python, Lua), Plugin management (In-App Purchase), Native version control (iVim Pro subscription)

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iVim Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Small Donation | $1.99 | one-time |
| Auto Restore | $3.99 | one-time |
| Plugins Manager | $4.99 | one-time |
| Big Donation | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Excellent Vim port with most keybindings and features working correctly
- ⌨️ Innovative custom keyboard with easy access to special characters and Vim keys
- 🔌 Great integration with iOS Files app and external keyboards
- 🎨 Highly customizable with plugin support and color schemes
- 📚 Comprehensive Vim documentation included (:help iOS)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Keyboard constantly pops up and obscures content
- 🐛 Difficulty hiding keyboard on iPad
- ⚠️ App appears abandoned with infrequent updates
- 💰 Expensive subscription model for Pro features
- 🔐 Requires internet access for basic text editing

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard obscures command line and content
- Keyboard cannot be hidden or dismissed properly
- Paste function unreliable with Command-V
- Plus buffer (+) paste not working
- App loses all data when iOS suspends it

**Requested features**

- .vimrc functionality that actually works
- Easier document/file access without multiple clicks
- Reading mode to hide keyboard while scrolling
- Better keyboard dismissal mechanism
- Function keys on the keyboard


### SSH Term

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssh-term-secure-remote-shell/id1638226840)

A private SSH client for Mac, iPhone, and iPad offering full terminal and SCP functionality with live resource monitoring. All credentials remain on your device, ensuring 100% privacy. Offers premium features via subscription.

**Highlights:** Private SSH client, Full Terminal/SCP access, Live CPU/RAM/Disk monitoring, Credentials stay on device, SFTP support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iVim free?

iVim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SSH Term free?

SSH Term is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iVim or SSH Term?

iVim is rated higher. iVim averages 4.6 out of 5 from 167 ratings, while SSH Term averages 4.2 from 14 ratings.

### Do iVim or SSH Term have ads?

SSH Term shows ads; iVim does not.

### Which is updated more often, iVim or SSH Term?

iVim ships an update every 5 weeks, and SSH Term weekly. Most recently, iVim was updated on September 21, 2026 and SSH Term on September 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*