# Secure Terminal vs Source Files

The clearest difference is update cadence: Source Files at weekly against Secure Terminal's every 3 weeks. Secure Terminal's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 75%) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.2). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Secure Terminal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Source Files sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. 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 4.4 for Source Files. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 62 and 30 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Secure Terminal's written reviews are positive against 75% of Source Files's.

Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, Source Files weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Secure Terminal | Source Files |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-terminal/id1463284695/reviews)** | [4.4 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/source-files-git-storage/id6450856155/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **62** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | **85.9% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 195 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Filippo Maguolo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154554717) | [Anders Borum ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1629010537) |

## What reviewers say

### Secure Terminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-terminal/id1463284695)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO FEATURE | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💰 Great value, one-time purchase
- 🆓 Free version is very capable
- 🚀 Fast and stable performance
- 💻 Works across multiple Apple devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 UI/UX could be better
- ❓ Lack of clear documentation
- 🐌 Some features are slow
- 🚫 Cannot log in without password
- 🖱️ UI elements not always intuitive

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Source Files

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/source-files-git-storage/id6450856155)

Access GitHub, Gitea, GitLab, and BitBucket directly from your file manager without cloning. Edit large repositories in seconds using REST APIs, with support for automation and file uploads. Offers a free tier for single servers and a Pro Unlock for multiple servers.

**Highlights:** Direct file access via Finder/Files app, Edit files in favorite apps, REST API for fast access, Supports GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, BitBucket, Shortcuts automation support, File uploads via services menu

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Source Files Monthly | $2.49 | per month |
| Lifetime Source Pro | $23.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Source Pro | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Secure Terminal free?

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

### Is Source Files free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Secure Terminal or Source Files?

Secure Terminal is rated higher. Secure Terminal averages 4.5 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Source Files averages 4.4 from 30 ratings.

### Do Secure Terminal or Source Files have ads?

Neither Secure Terminal nor Source Files shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Secure Terminal or Source Files?

Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Source Files weekly. Most recently, Secure Terminal was updated on October 12, 2026 and Source Files on October 11, 2026.

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