Secure Terminal vs ShellBean
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Secure Terminal
This application provides secure remote access to servers via SSH and Telnet. It supports various authentication methods, terminal emulations, and file transfer protocols. Advanced features like SFTP and port forwarding are available through an in-app purchase.
- SSH & Telnet connection
- Password & key authentication
- SFTP file transfer
- xterm-256color emulation
- Key generation
- Port forwarding
- Customizable terminal
Read full descriptionHide full description
SSH Terminal to access multiple SSH server, with full support of "xterm-256color" emulation. Base Features: • SSH connection with password or key authentication: DSA, RSA, ECDSA, Ed25519 (OpenSSH format & Putty PPK) • SSH Agent • Key generation (RSA, ECDSA, Ed25519) • Support for FIDO key (iPhone NFC only) • Secure Enclave Key • Support for Sixel, iTerm2 image, ZModem and Trzsz protocols • Connection params are safely stored on Keychain • Connection history & localization • Connection through SSH proxy • Connection with Telnet protocol • External keyboard support • Terminal colors customization • Multiple font size • Image background • User font choice (fixed width only) • Pointer/Mouse support PRO Features (require in-app purchase): • Upload/Download files through SFTP • Port forwarding • Local text editor • Store unlimited connections • Files plugin support • Shortcuts support • Commands snippet • Hosts Status Dashboard • SFTP Commander • XWindow (iPad only)
ShellBean
A powerful SSH and SFTP client with integrated monitoring and scripting automation for efficient Linux server management. Offers advanced terminal features, file editing, and secure data synchronization.
- AI-enhanced SSH/SFTP client
- Server monitoring tools
- Scripting automation
- Built-in text editor
- Multi-level jump server login
- SFTP file management
- iCloud data synchronization
Read full descriptionHide full description
ShellBean is a professional, modern, full-featured SSH SFTP client that integrates monitoring and scripting automation tools over SSH to help you quickly and easily manage your Linux servers without installing any third-party applications. ShellBean offers the following free features: - Move the cursor quickly with single-tap and long-press drag gestures in terminal - Supports multi-level jump servers login - Built-in text editor, easy to edit files - Multiple SSH terminal color schemes and fonts settings - SFTP within Files App (read-only) (iOS 16 and above) - Support for iOS/iPadOS/macOS systems - iPad split-screen support - Support iOS 17 Widget, Monitor Server at Home Screen - Face ID unlock App - SSH Terminal - Zmodem rz sz file transfer - SSH keys management - Port forwarding, support for local, remote and dynamic three modes - Server, code snippets and Port forwardings can be managed in groups - Securely synchronize data between all your devices via iCloud (using only your private iCloud space) - View the process list, sort by PID, COMMAND, CPU, MEM - View server usage per CPU core - Support displaying CPU temperature - Memory usage - Network traffic and rates, as well as traffic status for each interface - Disk Partition Occupancy and Read/Write Rates - Monitor the status of NVIDIA graphics cards - Select servers to run Snippets in batches - Manage Snippets and run them on servers within touchs - SFTP file management within Files App (iOS 16 and above) Unlocking the Premium version you will get the following features: - Dynamic port forwarding - Monitor disk inode data - Quickly execute snippets in the terminal - Terminal split screen and broadcast input - Terminal logging to file Data security: All data is only stored locally on your device and in your private iCloud space, we will not upload any of your server, key, script data. Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy https://shellbean.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Secure Terminal at 4.5 against ShellBean's 4.1. Secure Terminal also leads on ratings volume (61 vs 15). ShellBean's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Secure Terminal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ShellBean sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Secure Terminal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 61 and 15 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 85% and 86% positive.
Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, ShellBean every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Secure Terminal | ShellBean |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (61 ratings) — better | 4.1 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.3% of reviews | 86.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 61 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 157 MB | 157 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Filippo Maguolo | 北京如电科技有限公司 |
Customer experience
Secure Terminal
ShellBean
In-app purchases
Secure Terminal
- PRO FEATURE$4.99
ShellBean
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Annual Subscription7 Days trial$7.991 Year
- Annual Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Lifetime$19.99
- Lifetime$24.99
Questions
Is Secure Terminal free?
Is ShellBean free?
Which has better reviews, Secure Terminal or ShellBean?
Do Secure Terminal or ShellBean have ads?
Which is updated more often, Secure Terminal or ShellBean?
Other comparisons















