Comparison

iSH Shell vs Terminal#

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

Head to head
About

iSH Shell

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
Read full description

A Linux-like shell on iOS. You can edit files with sed and cat, move them around, and more! https://github.com/ish-app/ish/

About

Terminal#

This app provides a secure and convenient way to manage your servers directly from your mobile device. It offers a powerful terminal interface for efficient server management on the go, with an intuitive design suitable for all users.

Highlights
  • Secure SSH connection
  • Convenient server management
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Mobile flexibility
  • Quick and efficient terminal
Features
Read full description

Terminal#: An SSH client for securely managing your servers right from your mobile device. Features: Secure Connection: Allows securely connecting to your servers using the SSH protocol, ensuring secure data transmission. Convenient Management: The powerful terminal interface enables you to quickly and efficiently manage your servers regardless of your location. Intuitive Interface: A simple and intuitive interface makes using the app easy even for beginners. Mobile Flexibility: Enables you to manage your servers directly from your mobile device, providing flexibility and convenience in your work. Whether you're a system administrator, developer, or simply need a convenient way to manage your servers on the go, Terminal# provides a secure and efficient solution for your mobile device. Additional subscription information: You can cancel your subscription at any time through your Apple ID settings in iTunes and the App Store. All prices include local sales taxes. Payment will be made from your iTunes account after purchase confirmation. The subscription will automatically renew unless you disable auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the current period ends. The renewal fee will be charged to your account within 24 hours before the current period ends, specifying the renewal cost. You can manage your subscriptions and disable automatic renewal by going to your account settings after purchase. Cancellation of the current subscription is not available during the active subscription period. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription to this publication. Please review our privacy policy and terms of use: End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.making-app.com/remterm/

Screenshots

iSH Shell1 screens
Terminal#4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iSH Shell at none against Terminal#'s 8. iSH Shell also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Terminal#'s advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 80%). On price, 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. Terminal# sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. iSH Shell asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iSH Shell holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iSH Shell has 1.2K ratings behind it against 153, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of iSH Shell's written reviews are positive against 91% of Terminal#'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, Terminal# every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
iSH Shell versus Terminal#: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSH ShellTerminal#
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.2K ratings) — better4.5 (153 ratings)
Positive reviews80.2% of reviews91.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.2K — better153
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#17 — better#81
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB6 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTheodore DuboisVasilii Shaidullin

Customer experience

iSH Shell

All ratings1,230 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews398 reviews
Positive80.2%
Neutral8.3%
Negative11.6%

Terminal#

All ratings153 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral3.3%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews240 reviews
Positive91.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.8%

User reviews

iSH Shell

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Terminal#

From 153 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Reliable and stable
  • 🔒 Secure remote access
  • 💡 Useful keyboard shortcuts
  • 👍 Clutter-free interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs with text editor
  • 🔒 Concerns about password storage
  • 🔋 Issues with background operation

Bugs and requests

iSH Shell

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for more Linux distributions
  • Improve performance and stability
  • Implement GUI support
  • Add shortcuts and automation features

Terminal#

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Freezing on login screen
  • Compatibility issues with older devices
  • Scrolling problems with on-screen keyboard

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add support for 2FA
  • Improve text editor functionality
  • Provide option to disable password storage

In-app purchases

None

iSH Shell

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Terminal#

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Semi-annual$8.996 Months
  • Annual$19.991 Year
One-time5
  • Two hundred connections$2.99
  • Five hundred connections$3.99
  • Eight hundred connections$5.99
Show 2 more
  • A thousand connections$7.99
  • Infinity connections$9.99

Questions

Is iSH Shell free?
iSH Shell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Terminal# free?
Terminal# is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iSH Shell or Terminal#?
iSH Shell is rated higher. iSH Shell averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Terminal# averages 4.5 from 153 ratings.
Do iSH Shell or Terminal# have ads?
Neither iSH Shell nor Terminal# shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSH Shell or Terminal#?
iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, and Terminal# every 5 months. Most recently, iSH Shell was updated on September 23, 2026 and Terminal# on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, iSH Shell or Terminal#?
iSH Shell currently peaks at #17 in the App Store charts, and Terminal# at #81. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons