Comparison

Secure Terminal vs PotoHEX

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • SSH & Telnet connection
  • Password & key authentication
  • SFTP file transfer
  • xterm-256color emulation
  • Key generation
  • Port forwarding
  • Customizable terminal
Features
Read 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)

About

PotoHEX

This tool allows users to inspect and modify any file on their iOS device at the byte and character level. It supports numerous encodings, offers a wide range of checksum and hash calculations, and includes various encryption, compression, and encoding/decoding functionalities.

Highlights
  • Byte and character level inspection/editing
  • Extensive encoding support
  • Checksum and hash calculations
  • Encryption and decryption
  • Compression and decompression
  • Multi-tab interface
  • Undo/Redo functionality
Features
Read full description

The PotoHEX is an application that is used to create, explore and modify arbitrary files on your iOS device. MAIN FEATURES: • Byte and Character level inspecting and editing • Select any from UTF-7/8/16/32/BE/LE or 100+ other encodings for character-level inspecting & editing • Use predefined encoding groups for simplifying the search for an encoding • Search for the desired encoding by name • Quick view of selected bytes/characters directly in the encoding selection table • Replace or Insert bytes and characters • Inspect and modify integer types at the cursor position • Select a byte or text region for the subsequent actions: • Convert text to another encoding. • Сalculate checksums: Adler-32, BSD checksum, CRC-8, CRC-16, CRC-32, CRC-64, CRC-8/CDMA2000, CRC-8/DARC, CRC-8/DVB-S2, CRC-8/EBU, CRC-8/I-CODE, CRC-8/ITU, CRC-8/MAXIM, CRC-8/ROHC, CRC-8/WCDMA, CRC-16/CCITT_FALSE, CRC-16/AUG_CCITT, CRC-16/BUYPASS, CRC-16/CDMA2000, CRC-16/DDS-110, CRC-16/DECT-R, CRC-16/DECT-X, CRC-16/DNP, CRC-16/EN-13757, CRC-16/GENIBUS, CRC-16/MAXIM, CRC-16/MCRF4XX, CRC-16/RIELLO, CRC-16/T10-DIF, CRC-16/TELEDISK, CRC-16/TMS37157, CRC-16/USB, CRC-A, CRC-16/KERMIT, CRC-16/MODBUS, CRC-16/X-25, CRC-16/XMODEM, CRC-32/BZIP2, CRC-32C, CRC-32D, CRC-32/MPEG-2, CRC-32/POSIX, CRC-32Q, CRC-32/JAMCRC, CRC-32/XFER, CRC-64/WE, and CRC-64/XZ. • Сalculate hashes: BLAKE/BLAKE2, MD2, MD4, MD5, MD6, SHA1, SHA2 (SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, SHA-512/256, SHA-512/224), SHA3-224, SHA3-256, SHA3-384, SHA3-512, SHAKE128, SHAKE256, RIPEMD-128/160/256/320, Tiger/Tiger2, Whirlpool and STREEBOG (Стрибог, ГОСТ 34.11-2018) • Encode or Decode from or to Base16, Base32(RFC 4648, hex, Crockford's, and z-base-32 alphabets), Base58(BITCOIN, RIPPLE, FLICKR, and GMP alphabets), Base64, Ascii85, and Z85(ZeroMQ) encodings • Encrypt or Decrypt using AES 128/192/256, BLOWFISH, DES, 3DES, RC2, and RC4 algorithms • Compress or Extract by Deflate/Inflate, BZIP2, and LZMA/LZMA2 algorithms. • Export the selected region as a QR code. • Fill the region with a given multibyte pattern • Cut the region • Copy and Paste the region • Undo/Redo • Clone or delete files INTERFACE • Multi-tab interface • Tabs can be reordered or removed by long pressing on them and dragging • Change the width of an arbitrary column in the file data table • Jump to arbitrary file offset by tapping on the Offset column • Choose from Decimal or Hexadecimal formats for the file offset values by tapping on the Offset column header • The space occupied by the file data table and the property sheet (or their relative arrangement) can be tuned by dragging (or double-tapping) the delimiter handle between them • Zoom in/out almost every part of the user interface • Light and Dark themes depending on the device settings AUXILIARY • File renaming • Change the size of the file • Select the number of bytes in a row • Find & replace an arbitrary text or byte fragment with an arbitrary text or byte fragment • Access the App's Document folder through a Web Browser LIMITATIONS • Undo/Redo works for modifications up to 16Mb This app by default has restrictions on file content visibility. The visible content of any file is restricted by the first 256 bytes. To remove those restrictions you can start a monthly auto-renewable subscription or buy permanent full access. Privacy Policy: https://apotocki.github.io/potohex/privacy.pdf Terms of Use: https://apotocki.github.io/potohex/terms-of-use.pdf

Screenshots

Secure Terminal4 screens
PotoHEX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Secure Terminal at 85% against PotoHEX's 33%. Secure Terminal also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (61 vs 16). PotoHEX's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Secure Terminal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PotoHEX sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Secure Terminal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 61 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Secure Terminal's written reviews are positive against 33% of PotoHEX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, PotoHEX every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Secure Terminal versus PotoHEX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecure TerminalPotoHEX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (61 ratings) — better3.5 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews85.3% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings61 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFilippo MaguoloAlexander Pototskiy

Customer experience

Secure Terminal

All ratings61 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral1.6%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews75 reviews
Positive85.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative12.0%

PotoHEX

All ratings16 ratings
Positive56.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative52.4%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Secure Terminal

One-time1
  • PRO FEATURE$4.99
2 purchases

PotoHEX

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Permanent$9.99

Questions

Is Secure Terminal free?
Secure Terminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PotoHEX free?
PotoHEX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Secure Terminal or PotoHEX?
Secure Terminal is rated higher. Secure Terminal averages 4.5 out of 5 from 61 ratings, while PotoHEX averages 3.5 from 16 ratings.
Do Secure Terminal or PotoHEX have ads?
Neither Secure Terminal nor PotoHEX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Secure Terminal or PotoHEX?
Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, and PotoHEX every 2 weeks. Most recently, Secure Terminal was updated on September 23, 2026 and PotoHEX on September 23, 2026.

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