Secure Terminal vs Terminal Emulator app
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)
Terminal Emulator app
This application provides a command-line interface for performing various developer tasks. It offers a web-based front-end for quick functions like conversions and calculations, along with full directory navigation capabilities.
- PTY connection to shell
- Web front-end for quick functions
- Common conversions and math
- Full CD (change directory) support
- JavaScript features
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Simple "terminal-optimized" tasks. In an abstract way, got a PTY (term.js) that connects to the shell (termprops.js) to the user's display. Friendly web front-end that can run quick functions that I normally used a Python shell for, such as common conversions and quick math. We've also got full CD! * JavaScript features
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Secure Terminal at 86% against Terminal Emulator app's 0%. Secure Terminal also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 11 months). Terminal Emulator app's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.6). On price, ads and device support 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. Terminal Emulator app asks for nothing beyond the download.
Secure Terminal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secure Terminal has 63 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Secure Terminal's written reviews are positive against 0% of Terminal Emulator app's.
Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, Terminal Emulator app every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Secure Terminal | Terminal Emulator app |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (63 ratings) — better | 1.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.9% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 63 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 13.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 196 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Filippo Maguolo | Leticia Vila |
Customer experience
Secure Terminal
Terminal Emulator app
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
Terminal Emulator app
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Secure Terminal
- PRO FEATURE$4.99
Terminal Emulator app
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Secure Terminal free?
Is Terminal Emulator app free?
Which has better reviews, Secure Terminal or Terminal Emulator app?
Do Secure Terminal or Terminal Emulator app have ads?
Which is updated more often, Secure Terminal or Terminal Emulator app?
Other comparisons
