Comparison

Core Shell vs Secure Terminal

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

Head to head
About

Core Shell

This app provides a powerful terminal emulator and SSH client for efficient host management. It offers robust features like OpenSSH compatibility, automatic reconnection, and customizable themes. Premium features include unlimited connections and cross-device profile syncing.

Highlights
  • Full-featured terminal emulator
  • OpenSSH compatible
  • Keychain integration
  • Advanced options editor
  • Automatic reconnection
  • Theming and color schemes
  • Unlimited connections (premium)
Read full description

A full featured terminal with built-in OpenSSH support, it’s focused on managing and login to hosts efficiently. Don't waste your time; be productive. ## Features Full-featured Terminal • Compatible with Terminal.app, iTerm and xterm. • Supports ANSI 16 and 256 color palettes, as well as 24bit true color. • Passed cases of *vttest* – a strict VT100/VT220/VT420 terminal functionality test suite. OpenSSH Compatible • Everything in OpenSSH, certificates, proxy jump, etc. Keychain Integration • Tightly integrated with Keychain, don't have to enter passwords or passphrases repeatedly. • It's totally optionally, you can opt-in or opt-out at any time. Advanced Options Editor • A handy way to tune per-host advanced options. • For every ssh directives, there is a contextual help provides immediate information, no more googling. Automatic Reconnect • Always tries to restore your connections after network failure or waking up from background. Theming • Eight built-in color schemes: Basic, Dracula, Grass, Homebrew, Man Page, Novel, Ocean, Red Sands • Our color optimization ensure that colorful text always clearly visible. Premium Features (free for a limited time) • Unlimited number of connections • Sync profiles between all of your Mac computers and iOS devices • Prioritized customer support ------- We'd love to answer your questions or just hear what you think about Core Shell. Our Community: https://community.codinn.com/c/core-shell Use the community to request support or report bug. Discuss and explore Core Shell’s future with us by joining the community.

About

Secure Terminal

This application provides secure remote access to servers via SSH and Telnet. It supports various authentication methods, terminal emulations, and file transfer protocols. Advanced features like SFTP and port forwarding are available through an in-app purchase.

Highlights
  • SSH & Telnet connection
  • Password & key authentication
  • SFTP file transfer
  • xterm-256color emulation
  • Key generation
  • Port forwarding
  • Customizable terminal
Features
Read full description

SSH Terminal to access multiple SSH server, with full support of "xterm-256color" emulation. Base Features: • SSH connection with password or key authentication: DSA, RSA, ECDSA, Ed25519 (OpenSSH format & Putty PPK) • SSH Agent • Key generation (RSA, ECDSA, Ed25519) • Support for FIDO key (iPhone NFC only) • Secure Enclave Key • Support for Sixel, iTerm2 image, ZModem and Trzsz protocols • Connection params are safely stored on Keychain • Connection history & localization • Connection through SSH proxy • Connection with Telnet protocol • External keyboard support • Terminal colors customization • Multiple font size • Image background • User font choice (fixed width only) • Pointer/Mouse support PRO Features (require in-app purchase): • Upload/Download files through SFTP • Port forwarding • Local text editor • Store unlimited connections • Files plugin support • Shortcuts support • Commands snippet • Hosts Status Dashboard • SFTP Commander • XWindow (iPad only)

Screenshots

Core Shell4 screens
Secure Terminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Secure Terminal at 86% against Core Shell's 38%. Secure Terminal also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (62 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Core Shell sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Secure Terminal 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

Secure Terminal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secure Terminal has 62 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Core Shell's written reviews are positive against 86% of Secure Terminal's.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Core Shell versus Secure Terminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCore ShellSecure Terminal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings)4.5 (62 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.1% of reviews85.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings262 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#140 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB195 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCodinn TechnologiesFilippo Maguolo

Customer experience

Core Shell

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive38.1%
Neutral11.9%
Negative50.0%

Secure Terminal

All ratings62 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral1.6%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews78 reviews
Positive85.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative11.5%

Bugs and requests

Core Shell

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Secure Terminal

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • SFTP cannot be opened when using a proxy server to connect to SSH
  • Backspace clears the entire line, hiding the current working directory
  • App crashes during docker compose pull with ZSH and ohmyzsh
  • FaceID authenticates only once per app execution
  • File transfer adds single quotes to the beginning and end of filenames
Show 9 more
  • Password input is case-insensitive, causing login failures
  • Background mode loses connections within ~30 seconds
  • Slide-up toolbar covers the bottom line of text when using an external keyboard
  • Pro features not working after app was offloaded/reloaded
  • App crashes frequently
  • Cannot log in to remote servers without a password
  • External keyboard shortcuts sometimes stop working
  • Background color change not working
  • Cannot insert copied password into Linux terminal

Requested features

19 requests
  • Allow adding more than one connection in free version
  • Improve UI/UX for better intuitiveness
  • Provide clear documentation for Port Forwarding
  • Add ability to format/prettify command snippets in clipboard/saved commands
  • Keep theme full dark and add plain simple b&w icon
Show 14 more
  • Make password input case-sensitive
  • Fix FaceID authentication to be more robust
  • Allow login to servers without passwords
  • Add option to place connection shortcuts on the main screen
  • Support background mode for persistent connections
  • Improve handling of symbolic links
  • Add Agent SSH functionality
  • Allow storage of multiple named keys
  • Make app protected by FaceID/TouchID on launch
  • Access iOS password manager for SSH keys
  • Remove bottom keyboard bar
  • Improve handling of external keyboard shortcuts
  • Add a way to cancel connections more clearly
  • Make the main screen less blank and improve 'connect' button placement for single-handed use

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Core Shell

One-time2
  • Premium (1-Year)3 variants$14.99
  • Premium (4-Year)$44.99
1 purchases

Secure Terminal

One-time1
  • PRO FEATURE$4.99

Questions

Is Core Shell free?
Core Shell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Secure Terminal free?
Secure Terminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Core Shell or Secure Terminal?
Secure Terminal is rated higher. Core Shell averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Secure Terminal averages 4.5 from 62 ratings.
Do Core Shell or Secure Terminal have ads?
Neither Core Shell nor Secure Terminal shows ads.

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