Comparison

Core Shell vs Hey 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

Hey Terminal

A fast, keyboard-first SSH terminal application designed for iPad. It offers a distraction-free environment for real terminal workflows, supporting tools like vim, tmux, and top.

Highlights
  • Fast SSH terminal
  • Keyboard-first workflow
  • Distraction-free experience
  • Supports vim, tmux, top
  • Built for real terminal workflows
Features
Read full description

Your work machine, from your iPad. Your work computer can stay at home or in the office. Connect to it over SSH with Hey Terminal, open Codex or Claude Code there, and continue working on your project from your iPad. A keyboard-first terminal for iPad Use a physical keyboard to enter prompts and run commands. Review your project with your remote CLI, edit files with vim, or work in tmux when those tools are available on your computer. Keep different connections in separate tabs. Create a tab with Command-T, close it with Command-W, and switch with Command-1 through Command-9. Quick remote work on iPhone When your computer isn't with you, connect for a short command, check a project file, or send a follow-up request to your remote CLI. SSH and a local terminal Connect with an SSH command or a configured host alias. Authenticate with a password or SSH key. Use the local terminal for basic file commands and SSH key generation. Before you connect You need a computer or server with SSH enabled that you can reach from your device. Remote tools run on that machine, not inside Hey Terminal. Install and configure the tools you want to use there, with any required accounts. Your remote machine must be powered on and accessible. No app account or subscription required.

Screenshots

Core Shell4 screens
Hey Terminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hey Terminal at 5.0 against Core Shell's 4.0. Hey Terminal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. Hey Terminal asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hey Terminal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Core Shell versus Hey Terminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCore ShellHey Terminal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequency—Every 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB14 MB
Age rating4++9
DeveloperCodinn TechnologiesJONGMIN CHOI

Customer experience

Core Shell

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

Hey Terminal

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Core Shell

One-time2
  • Premium (1-Year)3 variants$14.99
  • Premium (4-Year)$44.99
None

Hey Terminal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Core Shell free?
Core Shell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hey Terminal free?
Hey Terminal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Core Shell or Hey Terminal?
Hey Terminal is rated higher. Core Shell averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Hey Terminal averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Core Shell or Hey Terminal have ads?
Neither Core Shell nor Hey Terminal shows ads.

Other comparisons