Secure Terminal vs Rubyist
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
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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 Mosh, 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)
Rubyist
Execute and automate Ruby scripts directly on your iPhone and iPad. This app utilizes the MRuby VM to run code, integrate with Shortcuts and Siri, and offers a robust editor with syntax highlighting and autocomplete.
- Run Ruby code on device
- Editor with syntax highlighting
- Code autocomplete
- Shortcuts app integration
- Siri command creation
- Native alerts and inputs
- HTTP requests
- Clipboard access
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Rubyist allows you to run Ruby code on your iPhone and iPad using the MRuby VM. Run code directly in the app or via the Shortcuts app or Siri commands. Features: - Run Ruby code directly on your device - Built-in documentation viewer - Editor with ruby syntax highlighting - Code Autocomplete - Run Ruby directly in Shortcuts - Build your own Siri commands in Ruby. - Display native alerts and inputs using exclusive APIs - Make http requests from your code. - Write and read your clipboard from code
Screenshots
Verdict
Secure Terminal and Rubyist are too close to call on the numbers: across 10 compared parameters — price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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 Rubyist sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Secure Terminal against 4.6 for Rubyist. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 63 and 96 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Secure Terminal's written reviews are positive against 83% of Rubyist's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | Secure Terminal | Rubyist |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (63 ratings) | 4.6 (96 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.9% of reviews — better | 83.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 63 | 96 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 196 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Filippo Maguolo | TSUBASA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY |
Customer experience
Secure Terminal
Rubyist
Bugs and requests
Secure Terminal
Reported bugs
14 issues- SFTP cannot be opened when using a proxy server to connect to SSH
- Backspace clears the entire line, hiding the current working directory
- App crashes during docker compose pull with ZSH and ohmyzsh
- FaceID authenticates only once per app execution
- File transfer adds single quotes to the beginning and end of filenames
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- Password input is case-insensitive, causing login failures
- Background mode loses connections within ~30 seconds
- Slide-up toolbar covers the bottom line of text when using an external keyboard
- Pro features not working after app was offloaded/reloaded
- App crashes frequently
- Cannot log in to remote servers without a password
- External keyboard shortcuts sometimes stop working
- Background color change not working
- Cannot insert copied password into Linux terminal
Requested features
19 requests- Allow adding more than one connection in free version
- Improve UI/UX for better intuitiveness
- Provide clear documentation for Port Forwarding
- Add ability to format/prettify command snippets in clipboard/saved commands
- Keep theme full dark and add plain simple b&w icon
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- Make password input case-sensitive
- Fix FaceID authentication to be more robust
- Allow login to servers without passwords
- Add option to place connection shortcuts on the main screen
- Support background mode for persistent connections
- Improve handling of symbolic links
- Add Agent SSH functionality
- Allow storage of multiple named keys
- Make app protected by FaceID/TouchID on launch
- Access iOS password manager for SSH keys
- Remove bottom keyboard bar
- Improve handling of external keyboard shortcuts
- Add a way to cancel connections more clearly
- Make the main screen less blank and improve 'connect' button placement for single-handed use
Rubyist
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Secure Terminal
- PRO FEATURE$4.99
Rubyist
- Small Tip$0.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$9.99
