# Surge 5 vs xTerminal

The clearest difference is rating: xTerminal at 4.7 against Surge 5's 4.1. xTerminal also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 51%) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Surge 5's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#6 vs #33). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surge 5 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and xTerminal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

xTerminal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 994 and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Surge 5's written reviews are positive against 69% of xTerminal's.

Surge 5 ships an update every 5 weeks, xTerminal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surge 5 | xTerminal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (994 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-5/id1442620678/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xterminal-ssh-terminal-shell/id1544728400/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 994 | **1.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | **68.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | #33 |
| Size | 81 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Surge Networks Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1442620677) | [婉媚 邵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1297240696) |

## What reviewers say

### Surge 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-5/id1442620678)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #26 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This advanced network utility allows developers to intercept, process, and forward network traffic. It offers deep control over connections, including URL redirection, local file mapping, and HTTPS decryption. Ideal for debugging and network analysis.

**Highlights:** Network connection takeover, Modify network requests/responses, Forward traffic to other proxies, Intercept and save network data, Decrypt HTTPS traffic, Rule-based forwarding, Ad blocking by domain

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Surge Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


### xTerminal

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

**Currently charting:** #33 Top Free · Developer Tools, #71 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 Surge 5 free?

Surge 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is xTerminal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surge 5 or xTerminal?

xTerminal is rated higher. Surge 5 averages 4.1 out of 5 from 994 ratings, while xTerminal averages 4.7 from 1.9K ratings.

### Do Surge 5 or xTerminal have ads?

xTerminal shows ads; Surge 5 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Surge 5 or xTerminal?

Surge 5 ships an update every 5 weeks, and xTerminal every 3 weeks. Most recently, Surge 5 was updated on September 22, 2026 and xTerminal on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Surge 5 or xTerminal?

Surge 5 currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and xTerminal at #33. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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