Comparison

iVim vs Terminal Emulator Plus

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

Head to head
About

iVim

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)
Read full description

iVim is a project that brings the vim editor to the iOS system. It is open source, please visit the App Support URL. Font management Besides some system and embedded monospace fonts, iVim allows users to import and use their own custom fonts. Moreover, iVim supports to render ligatures if your font provides beautiful ones. Extended keyboard By introducing compact buttons, iVim covers as many keys as possible in its extended keyboard, so that you can input symbols without switching among key groups. Moreover, you can customize it to meet your own special needs. Multistage language input iVim adds support to multistage input languages such as Chinese or Japanese. Sharing Through sharing, iVim makes its editing power available to more apps. Via the share extension, iVim can import text or text files from, or export to other apps. Via the document picker, you can also import or edit files or directories in iCloud Drive or documents providers, without leaving iVim. External hardware keyboard iVim supports external hardware keyboards well, just connect your favorite one to the device and start typing. With the native modifier keys mapping option from the system, you can even make the "caps lock" key act both as "ctrl" and "esc" in iOS 13.4 and above. External commands iVim includes some useful external commands that you are familiar with and integrates powerful scripting languages such as Python and Lua. With +terminal feature enabled and a simple shell named "ivish" included, you can run the commands in terminal windows like on a computer. Plugins management (In App Purchase required) iVim provides a plugins manager, "iplug", for you to install and manage plugins easily. Version control (iVim Pro required) iVim has native version control system integrated into its UI and workflow, you get better idea of what is happening to your files, make changes with more confidence, and collaborate in editing more conveniently than ever. iVim Pro iVim provides a monthly subscription (with an introductory 1 week free trial), named "iVim Pro", enabling extra great features: - native version control Subscriptions will be charged to your Apple ID account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscriptions in Account Settings on App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if any, will be forfeited when the user purchase a subscription. Terms of Use: https://github.com/terrychou/docs/blob/master/ivim-terms-of-use.md Privacy Policy: https://github.com/terrychou/docs/blob/master/ivim-privacy-policy.md Type ":help ios" in iVim for more detailed information.

About

Terminal Emulator Plus

This utility app provides access to various shell types for simplified terminal-optimized tasks. It features a friendly web front-end for quick functions like conversions and calculations.

Highlights
  • Access different shell types
  • Terminal-optimized tasks
  • PTY connection
  • Web front-end
  • Quick conversions
  • Quick math functions
Features
Read full description

Terminal Emulator Plus an application that allows access to different types of Shell. Simple "terminal-optimized" tasks. In an abstract way, got a PTY (term.js) that connects to the shell (termprops.js) to the user's display. Friendly web front-end that can run quick functions that I normally used a Python shell for, such as common conversions and quick math.

Screenshots

iVim1 screens
Terminal Emulator Plus3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: iVim at 4.6 against Terminal Emulator Plus's 1.0. iVim also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 8 months). Terminal Emulator Plus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price 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. iVim sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Terminal Emulator Plus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iVim holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iVim has 174 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iVim ships an update every 5 weeks, Terminal Emulator Plus every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
iVim versus Terminal Emulator Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriVimTerminal Emulator Plus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (174 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews84.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings174 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size127 MB16 MB
Age rating4++4
Developer文礼 周Dioneibys Blanco Grudas

Customer experience

iVim

All ratings167 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews102 reviews
Positive84.3%
Neutral6.9%
Negative8.8%

Terminal Emulator Plus

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

iVim

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • 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
Show 10 more
  • Focus stealing in Split View mode
  • netrw breaks after accessing certain folders
  • relativenumber setting shows zero instead of current line number
  • First character on first line hidden on iPad Pro with rounded corners
  • Pinch/zoom feature too sensitive without dead zone
  • Help mode space and delete keys non-functional
  • Plugin loading errors (e.g., python-mode)
  • Cursor position issues with certain keyboard configurations
  • Key repeat not functioning for Vim movement keys
  • App crashes or becomes unusable without ESC key access

Requested features

16 requests
  • .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
Show 11 more
  • Update to Vim 8 or newer version
  • Core git functionality without paywall
  • Better plugin installation process
  • Directory creation capability
  • Backtick (`) character in keyboard shortcuts
  • Improved help system with working space/delete keys
  • File browser integration within the app
  • Donation/tip option via in-app purchase
  • Online documentation outside the app
  • Support for newer iPad Pro display notches
  • Improved external keyboard support (especially folding keyboards)

Terminal Emulator Plus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

iVim

Subscriptions1
  • iVim Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
One-time4
  • Small Donation$1.99
  • Auto Restore$3.99
  • Plugins Manager$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Big Donation$9.99
None

Terminal Emulator Plus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iVim free?
iVim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Terminal Emulator Plus free?
Terminal Emulator Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iVim or Terminal Emulator Plus?
iVim is rated higher. iVim averages 4.6 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while Terminal Emulator Plus averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do iVim or Terminal Emulator Plus have ads?
Terminal Emulator Plus shows ads; iVim does not.
Which is updated more often, iVim or Terminal Emulator Plus?
iVim ships an update every 5 weeks, and Terminal Emulator Plus every 8 months. Most recently, iVim was updated on October 22, 2026 and Terminal Emulator Plus on October 10, 2026.

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