# XHelper vs SSH Client

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: XHelper at none against SSH Client's 3. SSH Client's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 16 months) and chart position (#16 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SSH Client sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. XHelper asks for nothing beyond the download.

XHelper ships an update every 16 months, SSH Client weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | XHelper | SSH Client |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssh-client-secure-shellfish/id1336634154/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 94.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#16** |
| Size | 1 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vea Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/578466740) | [Anders Borum](https://appshunter.io/developer/343532883) |

## What reviewers say

### XHelper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xhelper/id1329601633)

A straightforward utility for developers to perform common cryptographic and encoding tasks. It allows hashing strings with SHA256, converting between epoch and Unix timestamps, and encoding/decoding with base64.

**Highlights:** SHA256 string hashing, Epoch and Unix timestamp conversion, Base64 encoding, Base64 decoding

**In-app purchases:** none


### SSH Client

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssh-client-secure-shellfish/id1336634154)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #160 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

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:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShellFish Monthly subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| ShellFish Annual subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| ShellFish Lifetime Pro Unlock | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when running certain commands
- Issues with file transfer progress reporting

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XHelper free?

XHelper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SSH Client free?

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

### Do XHelper or SSH Client have ads?

Neither XHelper nor SSH Client shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, XHelper or SSH Client?

XHelper ships an update every 16 months, and SSH Client weekly. Most recently, XHelper was updated on October 2, 2026 and SSH Client on October 14, 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.*