SSH Client vs MonkeySSH
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.
MonkeySSH
This app provides a mobile SSH workspace for agentic coding, allowing users to connect to servers, manage remote windows, and resume coding sessions. It features a robust terminal, file browsing, port forwarding, and secure SSH key management for modern remote development.
- Mobile terminal with advanced features
- MonkeyMux and tmux remote window management
- Agent workflows for coding assistants
- SFTP workspace for file management
- SSH key management
- Port forwarding with in-app browser
- Local-first security with biometrics
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Run coding agents on your own servers from iPhone or iPad. MonkeySSH puts native agent conversations, a full SSH terminal, MonkeyMux or tmux windows, and SFTP in one remote workspace. Choose the right view for each task: - Chat with supported agents in native windows with streaming replies, tool progress, plans, diffs, permission prompts, images, audio, attachments, slash commands, and session history. Sign in, answer agent forms, view tool output, and choose MCP servers and extra working directories when supported. Model and mode controls depend on the agent. Get notified when an agent finishes or needs permission. - Switch to the full terminal whenever you need direct CLI control, xterm-256color, inline images, gestures, modifier keys, function keys, macros, or IME-friendly typing. Swipe up on toolbar keys for shortcuts and symbols. - Keep agent and shell work running in persistent MonkeyMux windows. Reconnect, switch windows, and share the same session with your desktop. - Launch Claude Code, Copilot CLI, Codex, OpenCode, Antigravity, Cursor Agent, Pi, Hermes, OpenClaw, Grok Build, and Muse Code, find recent project-scoped sessions, and save launch presets per host. - Manage agent CLIs and ACP adapters on a host with Agent Management. Check versions, install or repair supported packages, and update supported installations together. See account usage, remaining allowances, and reset times when available. A dot on the terminal menu flags available updates. - Browse, upload, download, create, and edit remote files over SFTP. - Generate or import Ed25519 and RSA keys, verify host keys, use jump hosts, and cancel slow connection attempts. - Forward remote ports, manage live tunnels, and open forwarded services in the in-app browser. - Save snippets, macros, home-screen shortcuts, and per-host startup settings for repeat work. Your hosts, keys, snippets, and settings stay on your device. PIN and biometric lock are available, and MonkeySSH does not require cloud sync. Optional analytics and crash reports are off by default and exclude commands, terminal output, paths, hostnames, usernames, clipboard contents, and credentials. SSH, terminal, SFTP, one connected native chat, and the choice between native and terminal agent windows are free. MonkeySSH Pro adds parallel native chats with instant switching and session forks, agent launch presets and recent-session discovery, Agent Management and supported-agent usage rings in MonkeyMux, auto-connect automation, encrypted transfers and migration packages, and host-specific themes. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://github.com/depollsoft/MonkeySSH/blob/main/docs/privacy-policy.md
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: SSH Client at 1.6K against MonkeySSH's 1. SSH Client also leads on chart position (#24 vs unranked). MonkeySSH's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 and MonkeySSH sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MonkeySSH holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SSH Client has 1.6K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
SSH Client ships an update weekly, MonkeySSH every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SSH Client | MonkeySSH |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.6K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 94.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #24 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 56 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Anders Borum | Depollsoft |
Customer experience
SSH Client
MonkeySSH
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
MonkeySSH
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
MonkeySSH
- MonkeySSH Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
- MonkeySSH Pro (Annual)$49.991 Year









