Comparison

ShellBean vs SwiftServer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ShellBean

A powerful SSH and SFTP client with integrated monitoring and scripting automation for efficient Linux server management. Offers advanced terminal features, file editing, and secure data synchronization.

Highlights
  • AI-enhanced SSH/SFTP client
  • Server monitoring tools
  • Scripting automation
  • Built-in text editor
  • Multi-level jump server login
  • SFTP file management
  • iCloud data synchronization
Features
Read full description

ShellBean is a professional, modern, full-featured SSH SFTP client that integrates monitoring and scripting automation tools over SSH to help you quickly and easily manage your Linux servers without installing any third-party applications. ShellBean offers the following free features: - Move the cursor quickly with single-tap and long-press drag gestures in terminal - Supports multi-level jump servers login - Built-in text editor, easy to edit files - Multiple SSH terminal color schemes and fonts settings - SFTP within Files App (read-only) (iOS 16 and above) - Support for iOS/iPadOS/macOS systems - iPad split-screen support - Support iOS 17 Widget, Monitor Server at Home Screen - Face ID unlock App - SSH Terminal - Zmodem rz sz file transfer - SSH keys management - Port forwarding, support for local, remote and dynamic three modes - Server, code snippets and Port forwardings can be managed in groups - Securely synchronize data between all your devices via iCloud (using only your private iCloud space) - View the process list, sort by PID, COMMAND, CPU, MEM - View server usage per CPU core - Support displaying CPU temperature - Memory usage - Network traffic and rates, as well as traffic status for each interface - Disk Partition Occupancy and Read/Write Rates - Monitor the status of NVIDIA graphics cards - Select servers to run Snippets in batches - Manage Snippets and run them on servers within touchs - SFTP file management within Files App (iOS 16 and above) Unlocking the Premium version you will get the following features: - Dynamic port forwarding - Monitor disk inode data - Quickly execute snippets in the terminal - Terminal split screen and broadcast input - Terminal logging to file Data security: All data is only stored locally on your device and in your private iCloud space, we will not upload any of your server, key, script data. Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy https://shellbean.app/privacy

About

SwiftServer

Manage and monitor your servers remotely from your Apple devices. Provides real-time insights into CPU, memory, network, and storage usage, along with full terminal control and SFTP file management. Syncs data securely across devices.

Highlights
  • Real-time server monitoring
  • Full-featured terminal control
  • SFTP file management
  • iCloud data sync
  • Customizable terminal interface
  • Docker container health monitoring
Read full description

SwiftServer is an SSH client and server monitor for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It is for developers, sysadmins, and homelab owners who run Linux, macOS, or Windows servers and want a terminal, live status, Docker, and SFTP in one app. Nothing is installed on the server. SwiftServer connects over the SSH access you already have. No agent, no daemon, no account. MONITORING - CPU per core, load averages, and temperature - Memory as used, cached, free, and swap - Live process table, sortable and searchable - Network speed and totals, with vnStat history by hour, day, month, and year - Storage per volume with disk I/O speed, latency, and IOPS - NVIDIA GPU: utilization, memory, fan, temperature, power, and compute processes - Public IP and location per server. Global View maps every server with live latency. - Linux, macOS, and Windows on one dashboard - Widgets, Live Activities, and the Dynamic Island TERMINAL - SSH and Mosh sessions. Mosh keeps the shell alive through network changes and sleep. - Keyboard bar with Esc, Tab, Ctrl, Alt, arrows, and ^C on iPhone and iPad. Hardware keyboards work too. - Snippets: save a command once, run it in any session, or across many machines with a result per machine - 518 color themes with separate light and dark picks, nine bundled monospace fonts, and custom font import - Mac: Local Shell opens a terminal on your own Mac in the same window DOCKER - Speaks the Docker Engine API over the SSH connection. No Docker port is exposed. - Overview: engine status, counts, reclaimable space, and live CPU and memory across containers - Containers: logs, processes, inspect. Create, start, stop, restart, pause, kill, remove. - Compose projects: up, down, start, stop, restart, pull, and logs - Images: pull with progress, remove, prune. Volumes and networks: inspect, remove, prune. Live event stream. SFTP - Browse, upload, download, rename, delete, and create files and folders - Copy files from one server to another without routing them through your device - Quick Look preview and a text editor with save NETWORKING - Port forwarding: local, remote, and dynamic SOCKS rules with auto start and a built-in browser on iPhone and iPad - Jump hosts: reach machines behind a bastion through one hop or a chain, each with its own credentials and host key check - Connection proxies: SOCKS5 and HTTP CONNECT profiles, per machine or per forwarding rule KEYS AND SECURITY - Password, SSH key, and keyboard-interactive login, including two-factor prompts - Generate Ed25519, ECDSA, or RSA keys on the device, or import existing keys - Host key fingerprint on first contact. A changed host key stops the connection. - Secrets stay in the device Keychain, behind Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode if you choose - Built on Traversio, our open-source SSH engine written in Swift ICLOUD SYNC AND PRIVACY - Machines, identities, keys, snippets, forwarding rules, proxy profiles, and trusted host keys sync through your own iCloud. Passwords and private keys go only through iCloud Keychain, end-to-end encrypted. - No accounts and no SwiftServer servers. What you save stays on your devices and in your iCloud. - The only outbound request is the IP lookup, sent from your server to ipinfo.io. The result is stored on your device only. FREE AND PREMIUM The core of SwiftServer is free: saved machines and keys, live server status, the full terminal with Mosh and snippets, SFTP, port forwarding, Docker browsing, widgets, and Global View. Premium adds unlimited monitored servers, iCloud sync, unlimited forwarding sessions, jump hosts, proxies, Docker management, terminal themes and fonts, SFTP preview and editing, and city, organization, and map pin for IP location. Premium is a monthly or yearly subscription, each with a free trial, or a one-time lifetime purchase. One purchase covers iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Support: support@gitswift.com Terms of Use: https://swiftserver.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://swiftserver.app/privacy

Screenshots

ShellBean4 screens
SwiftServer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SwiftServer at 4.3 against ShellBean's 4.1. ShellBean's advantage is iOS requirement (16 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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. ShellBean sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and SwiftServer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SwiftServer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 30 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 86% and 87% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ShellBean ships an update every 6 days, SwiftServer every 9 days. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
ShellBean versus SwiftServer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShellBeanSwiftServer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (15 ratings)4.3 (30 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.2% of reviews86.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1530 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#195#78 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer北京如电科技有限公司GitSwift LLC

Customer experience

ShellBean

All ratings15 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive86.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative6.2%

SwiftServer

All ratings30 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive86.8%
Neutral7.5%
Negative5.7%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

ShellBean

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$7.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime$19.99
  • Lifetime$24.99
3 purchases

SwiftServer

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Yearly Premium14 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premuim$34.99

Questions

Is ShellBean free?
ShellBean is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SwiftServer free?
SwiftServer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ShellBean or SwiftServer?
SwiftServer is rated higher. ShellBean averages 4.1 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while SwiftServer averages 4.3 from 30 ratings.
Do ShellBean or SwiftServer have ads?
Neither ShellBean nor SwiftServer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ShellBean or SwiftServer?
ShellBean ships an update every 6 days, and SwiftServer every 9 days. Most recently, ShellBean was updated on September 26, 2026 and SwiftServer on September 26, 2026.
Which is more popular, ShellBean or SwiftServer?
ShellBean currently peaks at #195 in the App Store charts, and SwiftServer at #78. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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