Comparison

SSH Client vs Code App

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

Head to head
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.

About

Code App

This app offers a desktop-class code editing experience on iPadOS. It includes built-in runtimes for popular languages like Node.js, Python, and Java, along with advanced features such as autocompletion and Git integration.

Highlights
  • Desktop-class code editor
  • Built-in Node.js, Python, C, C++, PHP, Java runtimes
  • Autocompletion and language features
  • Local file system support
  • SSH/FTP remote connection
  • Embedded terminal
  • Git version control
Features
Read full description

Code App is a MIT-licensed desktop-class code editor for iPadOS with built-in Node.js, Python, C, C++, PHP and Java runtime. We built it because there is nothing else on the App Store provides all these features in one app: * A robust, high-performance text editor (Monaco Editor from Visual Studio Code) * Autocomplete, static code analysis and other language features for Python & Java * First class local file system support * Extensive local language support * SSH / FTP remote connection support (Files and terminal) * Embedded emulated terminal * Git Version Control * Package manager support (pip and npm) * Markdown, themes, server-side snippet execution and more Read Code App's documentation: code.thebaselab.com See the project's source code, roadmap, discussion on GitHub: github.com/thebaselab/codeapp Send us an email: support@thebaselab.com Privacy Policy: thebaselab.com/privacypolicies Terms of Use (EULA): www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SSH Client4 screens
Code App2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SSH Client at Free against Code App's $6.99. SSH Client also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (94% vs 64%). Code App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads, chart position 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; Code App costs $6.99 up front. SSH Client sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Code App 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 301, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of SSH Client's written reviews are positive against 64% of Code App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SSH Client ships an update weekly, Code App monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
SSH Client versus Code App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSSH ClientCode App
PriceFree — better$6.99
Rating4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better4.0 (301 ratings)
Positive reviews94.4% of reviews — better63.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5K — better301
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#14 — better#30
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB963 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnders Borumthebaselab Ltd

Customer experience

SSH Client

All ratings1,537 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.2%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews627 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.8%

Code App

All ratings301 ratings
Positive73.4%
Neutral8.3%
Negative18.3%
Written reviews349 reviews
Positive63.9%
Neutral12.3%
Negative23.8%

Bugs and requests

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

Code App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

Code App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SSH Client free?
SSH Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Code App free?
Code App costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SSH Client or Code App?
SSH Client is rated higher. SSH Client averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Code App averages 4.0 from 301 ratings.
Do SSH Client or Code App have ads?
Neither SSH Client nor Code App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SSH Client or Code App?
SSH Client ships an update weekly, and Code App monthly. Most recently, SSH Client was updated on October 10, 2026 and Code App on October 11, 2026.
Which is more popular, SSH Client or Code App?
SSH Client currently peaks at #14 in the App Store charts, and Code App at #30. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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