# xTerminal vs Pier Shell

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pier Shell at none against xTerminal's 4. Pier Shell also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). xTerminal's advantage is chart position (#37 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.5). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xTerminal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Pier Shell asks for nothing beyond the download.

xTerminal ships an update every 3 weeks, Pier Shell every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | xTerminal | Pier Shell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xterminal-ssh-terminal-shell/id1544728400/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 68.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#37** | — |
| Size | 26 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [婉媚 邵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1297240696) | [Muhamad Nur Asyraaf](https://appshunter.io/developer/1841873975) |

## What reviewers say

### xTerminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xterminal-ssh-terminal-shell/id1544728400)

**Currently charting:** #37 Top Free · Developer Tools, #59 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Manage servers remotely with a fast and secure SSH terminal client. Features include a powerful editor, multi-session management, file transfer, and advanced security options. Ideal for IT professionals and developers needing to control servers from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Interactive SSH terminal, Built-in vi/vim editor, Multi-session management, Command snippets, SFTP file management, Secure port knocking, Batch command execution

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| xTerminal Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| xTerminal Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| xTerminal Pro | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connections
- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 💡 Useful app
- 👍 Great support team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Security risks with storing credentials
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional bugs
- 🔒 Lack of secure credential entry

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen on connection
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Nano text editor issues

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Import key functionality
- Improved ANSI support


### Pier Shell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pier-shell/id6801818407)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is xTerminal free?

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

### Is Pier Shell free?

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

### Do xTerminal or Pier Shell have ads?

xTerminal shows ads; Pier Shell does not.

### Which is updated more often, xTerminal or Pier Shell?

xTerminal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pier Shell every 8 days. Most recently, xTerminal was updated on September 29, 2026 and Pier Shell on September 28, 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.*