SSH Client vs Penguin Checker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Penguin Checker
This in-house tool offers advanced device scanning for professionals. It provides real-time performance metrics and data analysis for internal teams, enabling efficient troubleshooting and insights.
- Advanced device scanning
- Real-time performance metrics
- Data analysis
- Troubleshooting tools
- User-friendly interface
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Discover the power of advanced device scanning with our in-house app, specifically designed for internal use by professionals. Whether you're monitoring performance metrics, analyzing data, or troubleshooting devices, this app delivers precision and efficiency for internal teams. Key Features: Device Scanning: Analyze a wide range of device metrics in real-time. User-friendly Interface: Intuitive design for easy navigation, suitable for internal team members. Built for engineers, QC/QA teams, and tech support who need accurate, efficient device insights within the organization.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Penguin Checker at none against SSH Client's 3. Penguin Checker also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). SSH Client's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 1) and chart position (#21 vs unranked). On price, 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
Both are free to download. SSH Client sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Penguin Checker asks for nothing beyond the download.
Penguin Checker holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SSH Client has 1.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
SSH Client ships an update weekly, Penguin Checker every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SSH Client | Penguin Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.5K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 94.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.5K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #21 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | 16.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Anders Borum | Wai-Ming Chan |
Customer experience
SSH Client
Penguin Checker
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
Penguin Checker
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SSH Client
- ShellFish Monthly subscription14 Days trial$2.991 Month
- ShellFish Annual subscription$14.991 Year
- ShellFish Lifetime Pro Unlock$29.99
Penguin Checker
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SSH Client free?
Is Penguin Checker free?
Which has better reviews, SSH Client or Penguin Checker?
Do SSH Client or Penguin Checker have ads?
Which is updated more often, SSH Client or Penguin Checker?
Other comparisons
