# Telnet Lite vs IRCCloud

The clearest difference is rating: IRCCloud at 3.4 against Telnet Lite's 2.5. IRCCloud also leads on ratings volume (77 vs 20) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

IRCCloud holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 77 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Telnet Lite's written reviews are positive against 49% of IRCCloud's.

Telnet Lite ships an update every 4 months, IRCCloud every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Telnet Lite | IRCCloud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telnet-lite/id286893976/reviews) | **[3.4 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irccloud/id672699103/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **77** |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **48.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MochaSoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/284741182) | [IRCCloud Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/672699106) |

## What reviewers say

### Telnet Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telnet-lite/id286893976)

Connect to Linux/UNIX Telnet servers from your iPhone or iPad. Run server applications in a VT220 terminal window, just like on a console. Supports various barcode scanners and customizable terminal settings.

**Highlights:** VT220 terminal emulation, Telnet and SSH2 protocol support, Barcode scanner integration, Customizable terminal colors and size, Auto login functionality

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Functional telnet/SSH client for basic remote access
- 📱 Useful for mobile device administration
- ⚙️ Configurable settings and keyboard layouts
- 🎯 Works well for quick emergency access
- 💾 Saves SSH credentials for convenience

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ 5-minute session timeout limit (major complaint)
- ⌨️ Enter button removed/relocated in recent updates
- 🐢 Slow performance and laggy keyboard animations
- 📵 Disconnects when switching to other apps
- ⌨️ Keyboard obscures input/cursor visibility

**Reported bugs**

- 5-minute session timeout introduced in update
- Enter button missing or relocated in recent versions
- App crashes on iOS 3.0 and later versions
- Keyboard animations are laggy
- Text entry is very slow

**Requested features**

- Remove or increase 5-minute session time limit
- Restore enter button to standard keyboard location
- Add ESC and function keys to lite version
- Implement arrow keys and tab key support
- Add copy/paste functionality


### IRCCloud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irccloud/id672699103)

Access IRC chat from any device and never miss a conversation. Your chat history is synced to the cloud, and you'll receive push notifications for important messages. Share files and customize your experience with multiple themes.

**Highlights:** Cloud-synced chat history, Push notifications for mentions/DMs, File sharing (photos, videos, files), Server-side connection for persistent access, Multiple colorful themes, Monospace font option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌐 Persistent connection without app being open
- 📱 Best iOS IRC client available
- 🎨 Intuitive and polished user interface
- 💬 Seamless multi-device synchronization
- 📸 Built-in image/file upload functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Mandatory account creation required
- 📧 Email address required upfront before evaluation
- 💳 Hidden paywall after free trial period
- 🔐 Basic features locked behind paid subscription
- 🐛 Frequent connection drops and disconnections

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during signup process
- Login screen freezes or shows blank navy background
- Text input box cut off at bottom of screen
- Typing bar blocks view of messages
- App stuck on 'Connecting' screen on iPad

**Requested features**

- Third-party client support for BNC functionality
- Bulk file deletion instead of one-by-one
- Disable auto-archiving of inactive chats
- Faster app load times for chat history
- Password support with special characters


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Telnet Lite free?

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

### Is IRCCloud free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Telnet Lite or IRCCloud?

IRCCloud is rated higher. Telnet Lite averages 2.5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while IRCCloud averages 3.4 from 77 ratings.

### Do Telnet Lite or IRCCloud have ads?

Neither Telnet Lite nor IRCCloud shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Telnet Lite or IRCCloud?

Telnet Lite ships an update every 4 months, and IRCCloud every 3 months. Most recently, Telnet Lite was updated on October 12, 2026 and IRCCloud on October 8, 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.*