# OpenTerm vs PortX

The clearest difference is price: PortX at Free against OpenTerm's $4.99. PortX also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (73% vs 44%). OpenTerm's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (188 vs 19). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

PortX is free to download; OpenTerm costs $4.99 up front. OpenTerm sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PortX asks for nothing beyond the download.

OpenTerm holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenTerm has 188 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of OpenTerm's written reviews are positive against 73% of PortX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

OpenTerm ships an update every 2 months, PortX monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenTerm | PortX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.2 (188 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openterm/id1481149807/reviews)** | [3.7 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/portx-ssh-deprecated/id1566480505/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **188** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | **72.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | — |
| Size | 86 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CHENGDU MIAOZHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465440799) | [NetSarang Computer, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563674950) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenTerm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openterm/id1481149807)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Paid · Developer Tools, #193 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides a powerful command-line interface on iOS, enabling users to execute a wide range of Linux commands, manage files, and connect to remote servers via SSH/FTP. It supports scripting languages like Python and Lua, making it ideal for developers and tech professionals on the move.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive command library, File management, Network tools, SSH/FTP remote access, Python and Lua interpreter support, Customizable settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Premium | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for Linux users
- 👍 Customizations and shortcuts appreciated
- 👍 Useful for experienced CLI users
- 👍 Works on older iPhones
- 👍 Good initial impressions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 SSH connection issues
- 🐛 Output formatting problems
- 🐛 Missing essential commands
- 🐛 Password not obscured during SSH
- 🐛 App crashes or freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Handshake error when SSHing to Raspberry Pi
- Scan command no longer works for local networks
- Settings menu opens wrong options after premium upgrade
- Output of commands like ls, cat is truncated to one line
- Uptime command not working

**Requested features**

- Add apt, apk, pkg, add, git, git clone commands
- Add support for specific SSH ports
- Improve explanation and examples for new users
- Allow easier interaction with local files
- Add manual or documentation


### PortX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/portx-ssh-deprecated/id1566480505)

Access and manage remote systems on your mobile device with this powerful SSH client. It offers multi-session support, intuitive session management, and an advanced keyboard for efficient command input. Customize appearance and enjoy an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Multi-session support, Intuitive session management, Multi-line compose bar, Advanced keyboard with special characters, Multiple authentication types, Customizable appearance

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenTerm free?

OpenTerm costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is PortX free?

PortX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenTerm or PortX?

OpenTerm is rated higher. OpenTerm averages 4.2 out of 5 from 188 ratings, while PortX averages 3.7 from 19 ratings.

### Do OpenTerm or PortX have ads?

Neither OpenTerm nor PortX shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenTerm or PortX?

OpenTerm ships an update every 2 months, and PortX monthly. Most recently, OpenTerm was updated on October 18, 2026 and PortX on October 16, 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.*