Comparison

Secure Terminal vs GoShell

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
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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 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

GoShell

A minimalist, high-performance terminal for engineers, offering fast and reliable remote and local workflows. Manage heterogeneous sessions side by side with multi-layout workspaces and smart resizing. Supports SSH, local shell, serial connections, and ZMODEM file transfers.

Highlights
  • SSH, Local Shell, Serial management
  • Multi-Layout Workspace (tabs, grid, floating panes)
  • Smart Resizing with adaptive font scaling
  • Advanced Font System with per-session settings
  • ZMODEM File Transfer (upload/download)
  • Connection Organization (folders, search, recent)
  • Theming & Appearance customization
Features
Read full description

GoShell is a minimalist, high-performance terminal for engineers who want fast, reliable remote and local workflows—without the bloat. Core Capabilities: SSH, Local Shell, Serial: manage heterogeneous sessions side by side. Multi-Layout Workspace: switch between tabs, grid, or free-floating draggable panes. Smart Resizing: precise pty dimension sync (Vim-friendly) with adaptive font scaling. Advanced Font System: per-session and global font size, full system font discovery, monospace detection. ZMODEM File Transfer: seamless sz/rz upload & download with progress tracking. Connection Organization: folder grouping, search, recent list, rich metadata. Keyboard Power: global shortcuts for switching, reconnecting, resizing, clearing, word motion. Theming & Appearance: custom terminal themes, inverted selection, dynamic scrollbar styling. Performance Engine: batched output, debounced renders, memory-safe listener management. Data Portability: encrypted import/export of connections and preferences. Reliability Layer: multi-auth (key + password fallback), connection health monitoring. Why GoShell: Focused: ships only what accelerates real workflows. Fast: tuned rendering and resize pipeline. Compatible: works with macOS servers and many other network appliances. Transparent: actively maintained, versioned from clean git metadata. Ditch heavy clients—work cleaner with GoShell.

Screenshots

Secure Terminal4 screens
GoShell4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GoShell at none against Secure Terminal's 1. GoShell also leads on device support (4 vs 2). Secure Terminal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (61 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and iOS requirement 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. GoShell asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Secure Terminal against 4.5 for GoShell. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secure Terminal has 61 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, GoShell every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Secure Terminal versus GoShell: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecure TerminalGoShell
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (61 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews85.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings61 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFilippo MaguoloPOSH GROUP LIMITED

Customer experience

Secure Terminal

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

GoShell

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Secure Terminal

One-time1
  • PRO FEATURE$4.99
None

GoShell

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Secure Terminal free?
Secure Terminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GoShell free?
GoShell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Secure Terminal or GoShell?
Secure Terminal and GoShell are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 61 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Secure Terminal or GoShell have ads?
Neither Secure Terminal nor GoShell shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Secure Terminal or GoShell?
Secure Terminal ships an update every 3 weeks, and GoShell every 10 months. Most recently, Secure Terminal was updated on September 23, 2026 and GoShell on September 10, 2026.

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