# iTerminal vs iVim

The clearest difference is ads: iVim at none against iTerminal's shown. iVim also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 59%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iTerminal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and iVim sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iVim holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 117 and 167 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of iTerminal's written reviews are positive against 84% of iVim's.

iTerminal ships an update every 4 months, iVim every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTerminal | iVim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iterminal-ssh-telnet-client/id581455211/reviews) | **[4.6 (167 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivim/id1266544660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 117 | **167** |
| Positive reviews | 59.5% of reviews | **84.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ComcSoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/413971334) | [文礼 周](https://appshunter.io/developer/497312859) |

## What reviewers say

### iTerminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iterminal-ssh-telnet-client/id581455211)

This app provides a powerful and simple client for connecting to remote servers via SSH or Telnet on your iPhone and iPad. It supports various authentication methods, server list management, and secure key handling, making remote server access convenient.

**Highlights:** SSH and Telnet connection, Username/password and private key authentication, Server list management, iCloud sync for server info, Socks 5 Proxy support, Private key management, Bluetooth keyboard support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Works well for basic tasks
- 💡 Useful for remote access
- 🔒 Secure SSH connections

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 💸 Aggressive monetization
- 📵 Disruptive ads
- 🔍 Limited functionality in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Scrolling issues
- Unreliable SSH authentication
- Incompatibility with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Improved keyboard integration
- Customizable terminal settings
- Background connection support


### iVim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivim/id1266544660)

This app brings the powerful Vim text editor to iOS devices. It offers advanced features like custom font import, an extended and customizable keyboard, multistage language input, and seamless integration with other apps through sharing and document pickers. Advanced functionalities like plugin management and version control are available via in-app purchases or a subscription.

**Highlights:** Custom font import with ligature support, Extended and customizable keyboard, Multistage language input, App sharing and document picker integration, External hardware keyboard support, Integrated scripting languages (Python, Lua), Plugin management (In-App Purchase), Native version control (iVim Pro subscription)

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iVim Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Small Donation | $1.99 | one-time |
| Auto Restore | $3.99 | one-time |
| Plugins Manager | $4.99 | one-time |
| Big Donation | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Excellent Vim port with most keybindings and features working correctly
- ⌨️ Innovative custom keyboard with easy access to special characters and Vim keys
- 🔌 Great integration with iOS Files app and external keyboards
- 🎨 Highly customizable with plugin support and color schemes
- 📚 Comprehensive Vim documentation included (:help iOS)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Keyboard constantly pops up and obscures content
- 🐛 Difficulty hiding keyboard on iPad
- ⚠️ App appears abandoned with infrequent updates
- 💰 Expensive subscription model for Pro features
- 🔐 Requires internet access for basic text editing

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard obscures command line and content
- Keyboard cannot be hidden or dismissed properly
- Paste function unreliable with Command-V
- Plus buffer (+) paste not working
- App loses all data when iOS suspends it

**Requested features**

- .vimrc functionality that actually works
- Easier document/file access without multiple clicks
- Reading mode to hide keyboard while scrolling
- Better keyboard dismissal mechanism
- Function keys on the keyboard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTerminal free?

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

### Is iVim free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iTerminal or iVim?

iVim is rated higher. iTerminal averages 4.3 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while iVim averages 4.6 from 167 ratings.

### Do iTerminal or iVim have ads?

iTerminal shows ads; iVim does not.

### Which is updated more often, iTerminal or iVim?

iTerminal ships an update every 4 months, and iVim every 5 weeks. Most recently, iTerminal was updated on September 25, 2026 and iVim on September 21, 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.*