Comparison

SSH Client vs SSHive

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

SSHive

This app provides comprehensive remote access to servers and desktops, supporting SSH, SFTP, RDP, VNC, and VPN. Manage files, open terminals, and control remote machines securely from your iPhone or iPad.

Highlights
  • SSH terminal access
  • SFTP file management
  • RDP and VNC remote desktop
  • Built-in VPN
  • Secure credential management
  • iCloud sync
  • Face ID/Touch ID protection
Features
Read full description

SSHive is a remote access client for iPhone and iPad: SSH, SFTP, RDP, VNC and a built-in VPN client in one private, native app. Manage your servers, open a terminal, transfer files and control remote Windows, macOS and Linux desktops from anywhere. SUPPORTED PROTOCOLS • SSH: full terminal (SwiftTerm), key or password authentication • SFTP: browse, upload, download and manage files • RDP: Remote Desktop to Windows PCs and servers • VNC: screen sharing for macOS and Linux • VPN: connects to your own OpenVPN, IKEv2 or IPsec server before the session opens KEY FEATURES • Touch mouse and keyboard for RDP and VNC, with a trackpad mode • SSH key generation, import and management • Port forwarding (SSH tunnels) • Command snippets, with a history of the ones you ran • Shared credentials reused across profiles • Folders to organize your connections • Optional Face ID / Touch ID before each connection • iCloud sync of profiles, passwords and keys across your devices • Import and export of your connections (.sshive) • Native SwiftUI design for iPhone and iPad, light and dark NETWORK TOOLS • Ping: test host reachability • DNS Lookup: resolve domain names • Traceroute: trace the network path • Whois: domain registration info • MX Lookup: a domain's mail servers • Blacklist Check (DNSBL): see if an IP is blacklisted • Network interfaces: local IP, netmask and active interfaces PRIVACY Your passwords and keys live in the iOS Keychain, and you can require Face ID / Touch ID to use them. Nothing goes through our servers: connections go straight from your device to your servers. FREE & PRO Free: SSH terminal, SFTP, SSH keys, Face ID / Touch ID and the network tools. Limits: 2 SSH sessions at a time, 5 profiles, 1 local tunnel, 3 custom snippets, uploads up to 10 MB. Pro: RDP, VNC, VPN, unlimited SSH sessions, profiles and snippets, remote tunnels and extra local tunnels, shared accounts, session logging, .sshive import and export, iCloud sync and all terminal themes. One Pro purchase, with no subscription, also unlocks Pro in SSHive for Mac from the Mac App Store (Mac with Apple silicon), with the same Apple Account. On the Mac, use Restore purchases if Pro is not active yet. SSHive is made for developers, sysadmins and DevOps engineers who look after servers from an iPhone or iPad.

Screenshots

SSH Client4 screens
SSHive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: SSH Client at 1.6K against SSHive's 1. SSH Client also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#15 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. SSH Client sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and SSHive sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SSHive 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. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of SSH Client's written reviews are positive against 100% of SSHive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SSH Client ships an update weekly, SSHive every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
SSH Client versus SSHive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSSH ClientSSHive
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.6K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.6K — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
Best chart rank#15 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnders BorumNetMeSafe

Customer experience

SSH Client

All ratings1,545 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.2%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews646 reviews
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.7%

SSHive

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

SSHive

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
1 purchases

SSHive

One-time1
  • SSHive Pro$11.99

Questions

Is SSH Client free?
SSH Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SSHive free?
SSHive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SSH Client or SSHive?
SSHive is rated higher. SSH Client averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while SSHive averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SSH Client or SSHive have ads?
Neither SSH Client nor SSHive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SSH Client or SSHive?
SSH Client ships an update weekly, and SSHive every 3 weeks. Most recently, SSH Client was updated on October 29, 2026 and SSHive on October 31, 2026.

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