Comparison

Termiux vs Kex

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

Head to head
About

Termiux

This app provides a full Linux terminal emulator on iOS, allowing native command-line operations without remote connections. It features a virtual keyboard, AI command generation, and customizable themes for system administration practice, script development, and more.

Highlights
  • Full terminal emulator with bash/zsh
  • Native command execution
  • Virtual keyboard with keybind support
  • AI command generator
  • Customizable themes and fonts
  • Local shell environment
Features
Read full description

Termiux – Linux Emulator & SSH, SFTP on iPHone A powerful and easy-to-use SSH, SFTP & terminal application designed for iPhone. Start working immediately with a built-in terminal experience, or securely connect to your own remote servers whenever needed. BUILT-IN TERMINAL Access a ready-to-use terminal directly from the app. Run command-line operations, navigate directories, test commands, work with scripts, and perform common terminal tasks without needing to connect to another device or server first. EXTENDED KEYBOARD Work faster with an extended keyboard designed specifically for command-line use. Quickly access commonly used keys such as: • Ctrl
 • Alt
 • Tab
 • Esc
 • Arrow keys
 • Function keys
 • Common terminal shortcuts The keyboard is optimized to make terminal interaction more comfortable on a touchscreen. TOUCH-FRIENDLY TERMINAL Interact with terminal sessions naturally using intuitive touch controls. Scroll through output, navigate sessions, select content, and work with commands through an interface designed for mobile devices. CUSTOMIZE YOUR TERMINAL Personalize your terminal to match your preferred working style. Choose from: • Multiple terminal themes
 • Different fonts • Adjustable font sizes
 • Custom backgrounds
 • Appearance preferences • Terminal display settings Create a workspace that feels comfortable for both quick commands and longer sessions. FAST & SECURE SSH CONNECTIONS Connect to your own remote servers through SSH quickly and securely. Create and manage server profiles for faster access while keeping connection information securely stored on your device. Important server and connection details are displayed clearly, making it easy to identify, manage, and reconnect to your hosts. SFTP FILE BROWSER Browse files and folders on your remote servers using the integrated SFTP file browser. You can: • Browse remote directories
 • View files
 • Navigate folders
 • Access server content • Manage files alongside terminal sessions Terminal access and remote file browsing are available together in one convenient application. CLEAR & INTUITIVE INTERFACE The interface is designed to provide powerful terminal functionality while remaining simple and easy to understand. Connection information, server details, terminal sessions, files, and important status information are presented clearly for quick access. BUILT FOR MOBILE WORKFLOWS Useful for: • Command-line operations • SSH server access
 • Server administration
 • Script development and testing
 • Git workflows
 • File system navigation
 • Remote file access through SFTP • Network diagnostics • Development and server management Whether you want to use the built-in terminal or securely access your own remote infrastructure, Terminal for iPhone provides a practical command-line workspace directly on your device. Terms of Use:
https://termux-studio.org/terms-of-use Privacy Policy:
https://termux-studio.org/privacy-policy

About

Kex

This app provides a full xterm-256color terminal emulator for iOS, allowing users to connect to servers via SSH, Mosh, and Telnet. It includes SFTP file management, multiple session support, and a specialized keyboard for efficient remote server access and administration.

Highlights
  • Full xterm-256color terminal emulation
  • SSH, Mosh, and Telnet protocol support
  • Built-in SFTP file manager
  • Multiple simultaneous terminal sessions
  • Purpose-built terminal keyboard accessory
  • Extensive customization options (themes, fonts, cursor)
  • Hardware keyboard support with shortcuts
Features
Read full description

A desktop-grade SSH terminal emulator built for iOS. Kex is not a simplified command runner — it's a full xterm-256color terminal that runs vim, htop, nano, and everything you expect from a real terminal. Leave your laptop behind. Restart a crashed service from the beach. Check your CI pipeline at the airport. SSH into production from a café. Monitor your AI coding agent from the couch. With Kex, your entire server infrastructure fits in your pocket. WHO IS KEX FOR? · DevOps engineers who need to respond to incidents anytime, anywhere · Developers running AI coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, or Aider on remote servers · System administrators managing fleets of Linux servers · Cloud engineers working with AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and more · Homelab enthusiasts monitoring Raspberry Pi clusters and self-hosted services · Students learning Linux and server administration · Anyone who has ever thought "I wish I had a terminal right now" REAL TERMINAL EMULATION Full xterm-256color support with CSI, ESC, OSC, and SGR sequences. Alternate screen buffer for full-screen apps like vim, nano, top, and htop. 256-color and TrueColor rendering. SSH, MOSH & TELNET Connect to any server with SSH. Authenticate with password or SSH keys (Ed25519 and RSA). Mosh support keeps your session alive through Wi-Fi switches, cellular handoffs, and unstable hotel networks. Telnet for legacy systems and network equipment. All protocols, one app. BUILT-IN SFTP FILE MANAGER Browse, upload, download, and manage files on your remote servers. Create folders, rename, delete — all from an intuitive file browser. Pull a log file, push a config change, or grab a backup. No need for a separate SFTP app. MULTIPLE SESSIONS Run multiple terminal sessions simultaneously. Switch between them with a tap or with keyboard shortcuts. Each session maintains its own independent state — monitor production on one tab, debug staging on another. Manage all your servers from one place. TERMINAL KEYBOARD DONE RIGHT A purpose-built keyboard accessory bar with ESC, Ctrl, Alt, Tab, arrow keys, and F1–F12. Auto-repeat on directional keys. Modifier key toggles. Every key a terminal user needs — designed for real work, not bolted on as an afterthought. CUSTOMIZE EVERYTHING 10+ built-in terminal themes including Dracula, Nord, Solarized, Monokai, Gruvbox, Tokyo Night, One Dark, GitHub Dark, and more. Choose your monospace font and size. Pick your cursor style — block, underline, or beam with optional blink. Make it yours. iPAD POWER USER Full hardware keyboard support with Cmd+N, Cmd+W, Cmd+T, and Cmd+1–9 shortcuts. Switch sessions, open new connections, and navigate — all without touching the screen. Pair with a keyboard and your iPad becomes a proper workstation. SECURITY FIRST SSH keys and credentials stored in the iOS Keychain — encrypted on your device, never in the cloud. Ed25519 and RSA key support. Host key verification with SHA-256 fingerprints. Organize keys into groups, see which connections use each key. All connections encrypted end-to-end. STAY CONNECTED Configurable keep-alive to prevent session drops. Detailed connection logs for troubleshooting. Save and organize your servers into groups with one-tap access. Host key memory so you connect with confidence every time. Kex is built for people who take their work seriously — but don't want to carry a laptop everywhere. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Termiux4 screens
Kex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Kex at 100% against Termiux's 20%. Kex also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Termiux's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#35 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Termiux sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Kex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Termiux ships an update weekly, Kex every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Termiux versus Kex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTermiuxKex
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews20.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#35 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTERMUX LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANYAli Mert TUFEKCI

Customer experience

Termiux

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative73.3%

Kex

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Termiux

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Termiux Pro Yearly3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Termiux Pro Lifetime$39.99
3 purchases

Kex

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Plan$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
  • Yearly Plan$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Termiux free?
Termiux is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kex free?
Kex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Termiux or Kex have ads?
Kex shows ads; Termiux does not.
Which is updated more often, Termiux or Kex?
Termiux ships an update weekly, and Kex every 2 days. Most recently, Termiux was updated on October 28, 2026 and Kex on October 17, 2026.

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