NiHao vs Pier Shell
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
NiHao
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NiHao is not just another remote connection tool. It's a terminal built for vibe coding -- the state where your tools disappear and only the code remains. Designed for developers who spend their lives in the command line, NiHao brings the experience to your iPhone and iPad with the polish it deserves. Every animation, every color, every font choice exists for one reason: to keep you in the flow. "The best tools are the ones you forget you're using." --- Why NiHao --- β’ STAY IN THE ZONE - Connect to your servers and start typing. Simple, fast, reliable. No clutter, no distractions. β’ YOUR SECRETS, SAFE - Credentials stay on your device, protected by iOS. Everything you need, nothing you don't. β’ PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT - Multiple named connections per server. Your sessions, your names, your flow. β’ EASY ON THE EYES - Thoughtful colors, clean layout, automatic dark mode for those late-night sessions. β’ MADE YOUR WAY - Adjust text size, pick a font that sparks joy. Works in English and Chinese. β’ NO ACCOUNT. NO TRACKING. NO ADS - Just a tool. A good one. --- For the ones who --- β’ Live in the terminal and want that feeling on the go β’ Believe great tools should feel great to use β’ Need a quick connection from anywhere β’ Think beauty and function belong together --- Note --- You'll need access to your own server to use this app. No sign-up required. No data leaves your device. Happy vibe coding
Pier Shell
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No separate account required Pier works with your existing iCloud account to keep supported data synchronized across your Apple devices. Thereβs no Pier registration, username, or password to manage. Pier is a native SSH and SFTP client built for developers who want a simple, fast way to access their servers from iPhone and Mac. Add your hosts once and keep them synced privately through iCloud. Connect to production, staging, personal servers, Raspberry Pis, and more without rebuilding your setup on every device. Pier is designed to feel at home on Apple platforms, with a clean native interface, fast terminal performance, and secure key handling.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: NiHao at 15.0 against Pier Shell's 26.5. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NiHao | Pier Shell |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | Every 8 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 β better | 26.5 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 81 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | +17 | 4+ |
| Developer | ζ ι | Muhamad Nur Asyraaf |
In-app purchases
NiHao
No in-app purchases
Pier Shell
No in-app purchases









