Comparison

SSH Client vs Pockterm

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

Pockterm

Features
Read full description

Pockterm is a native SSH and SFTP client built for iPhone. CONNECT - SSH into your servers with passwords or Ed25519/RSA keys - Trusted host-key verification warns you if a server's key ever changes - Multiple live sessions; minimize one and pick it back up from the tab bar MANAGE - Organize hosts into groups - Save reusable command snippets - Generate and store SSH keys in the iOS Keychain - Set up local and remote port forwards TRANSFER - Browse, upload, and download files over SFTP AI ASSISTANT (optional) - Ask an AI assistant about terminal output and get suggested commands - Bring your own API key: Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, or Hugging Face - Off by default; you're told which provider receives data before anything is sent PRIVACY - No account, no Pockterm servers, no tracking or analytics - Credentials and keys live in the iOS Keychain - Your connection data stays on your device

Screenshots

SSH Client4 screens
Pockterm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pockterm at none against SSH Client's 3. SSH Client's advantage is chart position (#32 vs unranked) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SSH Client ships an update weekly, Pockterm every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
SSH Client versus Pockterm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSSH ClientPockterm
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews94.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.5K — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
Best chart rank#32 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnders BorumJohn Hancock

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

Pockterm

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

Pockterm

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SSH Client free?
SSH Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pockterm free?
Pockterm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SSH Client or Pockterm have ads?
Neither SSH Client nor Pockterm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SSH Client or Pockterm?
SSH Client ships an update weekly, and Pockterm every 10 days. Most recently, SSH Client was updated on October 14, 2026 and Pockterm on October 2, 2026.

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