# Core Shell vs Secure Terminal

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Shell | Secure Terminal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-shell/id1354319581/reviews) | **[4.5 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-terminal/id1463284695/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **62** |
| Positive reviews | 38.1% of reviews | **85.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | — | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#140** |
| Size | 49 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Codinn Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/597333552) | [Filippo Maguolo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154554717) |

## What reviewers say

### Core Shell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-shell/id1354319581)

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)

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (1-Year) | $14.99 | one-time |
| Premium (4-Year) | $44.99 | one-time |


### Secure Terminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-terminal/id1463284695)

**Currently charting:** #140 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO FEATURE | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💰 Great value, one-time purchase
- 🆓 Free version is very capable
- 🚀 Fast and stable performance
- 💻 Works across multiple Apple devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 UI/UX could be better
- ❓ Lack of clear documentation
- 🐌 Some features are slow
- 🚫 Cannot log in without password
- 🖱️ UI elements not always intuitive

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*