# iSH Shell vs xTerminal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iSH Shell at none against xTerminal's 4. iSH Shell also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (80% vs 69%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xTerminal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. iSH Shell asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for iSH Shell against 4.7 for xTerminal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of iSH Shell's written reviews are positive against 69% of xTerminal's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iSH Shell | xTerminal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ish-shell/id1436902243/reviews) | [4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xterminal-ssh-terminal-shell/id1544728400/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **1.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.2% of reviews** | 68.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | #28 |
| Size | 6 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Theodore Dubois](https://appshunter.io/developer/1432356577) | [婉媚 邵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1297240696) |

## What reviewers say

### iSH Shell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ish-shell/id1436902243)

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Experience a Linux-like command-line environment directly on your iOS device. This application allows you to perform common Linux operations such as editing, moving, and manipulating files using familiar commands.

**Highlights:** Linux-like shell environment, File editing with sed and cat, File manipulation, Command-line operations, Pocket Linux experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent Linux environment
- 👍 Great for SSH and network utilities
- 💡 Allows running Linux apps on iOS
- 🔒 Secure and sandboxed
- 👍 Customizable and flexible

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Battery intensive
- ⚠️ Limited functionality compared to full Linux
- ⚠️ Outdated packages and dependencies

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor focus issues
- Incompatibility with certain commands and packages
- Mounting issues with iOS file system

**Requested features**

- Add support for more Linux distributions
- Improve performance and stability
- Implement GUI support
- Add shortcuts and automation features


### xTerminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xterminal-ssh-terminal-shell/id1544728400)

**Currently charting:** #28 Top Free · Developer Tools, #78 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Manage servers remotely with a fast and secure SSH terminal client. Features include a powerful editor, multi-session management, file transfer, and advanced security options. Ideal for IT professionals and developers needing to control servers from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Interactive SSH terminal, Built-in vi/vim editor, Multi-session management, Command snippets, SFTP file management, Secure port knocking, Batch command execution

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| xTerminal Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| xTerminal Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| xTerminal Pro | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connections
- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 💡 Useful app
- 👍 Great support team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Security risks with storing credentials
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional bugs
- 🔒 Lack of secure credential entry

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen on connection
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Nano text editor issues

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Import key functionality
- Improved ANSI support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iSH Shell free?

iSH Shell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is xTerminal free?

xTerminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iSH Shell or xTerminal?

iSH Shell and xTerminal are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.2K and 1.9K ratings respectively.

### Do iSH Shell or xTerminal have ads?

xTerminal shows ads; iSH Shell does not.

### Which is updated more often, iSH Shell or xTerminal?

iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, and xTerminal every 3 weeks. Most recently, iSH Shell was updated on September 23, 2026 and xTerminal on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, iSH Shell or xTerminal?

iSH Shell currently peaks at #17 in the App Store charts, and xTerminal at #28. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*