# iSH Shell vs Terminal#

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | iSH Shell | Terminal# |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ish-shell/id1436902243/reviews)** | [4.5 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terminal/id1632249346/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 153 |
| Positive reviews | 80.2% of reviews | **91.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | #81 |
| Size | 6 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Theodore Dubois](https://appshunter.io/developer/1432356577) | [Vasilii Shaidullin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1423700543) |

## 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


### Terminal#

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terminal/id1632249346)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Semi-annual | $8.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Two hundred connections | $2.99 | one-time |
| Five hundred connections | $3.99 | one-time |
| Eight hundred connections | $5.99 | one-time |
| A thousand connections | $7.99 | one-time |
| Infinity connections | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Add support for 2FA
- Improve text editor functionality
- Provide option to disable password storage


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*