Comparison

Deskless vs Telecmux

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

Head to head
About

Deskless

Features
Read full description

Native by design. Updated for iOS 27. Deskless is a code editor, Git client, and AI coding assistant built for iPhone and iPad. Open real projects, make changes, run local code, and manage repositories from your device. AI THAT WORKS YOUR WAY β€’ Give cloud Agent Mode a goal: it explores your project, edits a private draft, runs your project's checks on the device and presents a multi-file patch for reviewβ€”requires Deskless Pro and your own provider API key β€’ Resume saved agent tasks, optionally on their own Git branch; when iOS allows it, a task you start keeps working after you switch apps β€’ Follow agent progress through Live Activities and Dynamic Island β€’ Use free on-device Apple Intelligence for quick coding help on supported devicesβ€”no API key required β€’ Try the beta Offline Agent for reviewed, locally checked project edits on supported devices with Apple Intelligence enabled and its model downloaded β€’ With Pro, connect OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI or OpenRouter using your own key β€’ Provider access and usage charges apply EDIT AND NAVIGATE β€’ Syntax highlighting for 57 languages, language detection and custom file associations β€’ EditorConfig indentation, language-aware comments, code folding and multiple cursors β€’ Inline completions, diagnostics and a Problems list for supported languages β€’ Go to Definition, Find References, Rename, Show Documentation and Quick Fix β€’ Quick Open, command palette, keyboard shortcuts and reorderable tabs β€’ In-file and project-wide find and replace, including unsaved drafts β€’ Quick Look, drag-and-drop import, draft recovery and optional autosave LOCAL PROJECT TOOLS β€’ Run and test supported JavaScript, TypeScript and Python projects on your device β€’ Inspect console output, navigate symbols and review proposed code changes β€’ Preview captured HTML projects with local assets and adjustable viewports β€’ Debug Python and JavaScript/TypeScript, including async code β€’ Install pure npm packages and Python wheels for offline use, and run SQL scripts with SQLite β€’ No provider key or companion computer needed; a bounded runtime, not a general Node or system shell GIT AND REMOTE WORK β€’ Free: clone over HTTPS or SSH; stage, commit, resolve conflicts, pull, push and sync; view diffs β€’ Pro: branches, stashes, blame, file history and commit details; tags and rebases β€’ Pro: pull and merge requests on GitHub, GitLab and Forgejo/Giteaβ€”CI checks and logs, local checkout, inline review and suggested changes, approval and merge β€’ Pro: start work from an issue, or hand a failing check to Agent Mode β€’ Connect to your own machines with an interactive SSH terminal β€’ Import or generate SSH keys and verify host fingerprints before connecting β€’ Keep credentials protected in the system Keychain DESIGNED FOR iPHONE AND iPAD β€’ Open local or external folders; access your Deskless workspace and cloned repositories in Files β€’ Choose Split Editor or Editor + Tools layouts and fold-aware options for iPhone Duo β€’ Native controls, accessibility support and layouts that adapt to available space β€’ Scroll-minimizing editor toolbars on iOS 27 and a Control Center scratchpad action β€’ Continued iOS 26 support START FREE. GO PRO WHEN YOU'RE READY. The editor, local Project Tools, everyday Git and supported on-device AI are free. Deskless Pro unlocks advanced Git and pull requests, cloud Agent Mode, cloud AI providers, SSH terminal, expanded workspace layouts, multiple tabs, find and replace, autosave, custom themes and Markdown/HTML document preview. Deskless Pro is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period and can be managed in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://deskless.app/privacy Code anywhere. Ship from anywhere.

About

Telecmux

Control AI coding agents running on your Mac directly from your iPhone. View terminal output, respond to prompts with quick actions, and manage multiple workspaces remotely. Securely connects via SSH using your private keys stored in the iOS Keychain.

Highlights
  • View workspaces and agent notifications
  • Read live terminal output with highlighting
  • Respond to prompts with one-tap soft-key ribbon
  • Send free text or dictate by voice
  • Switch between workspaces remotely
  • Secure SSH connection with key authentication
Features
Read full description

Telecmux is a focused iOS remote for cmux β€” the native macOS terminal built for AI coding agents. Run Claude Code (and other agents) in parallel on your Mac, then reach back to them from your phone: β€’ See every workspace, pane, and pending agent notification at a glance β€’ Read live terminal output, with highlighting for diffs, status lines, and prompts β€’ Answer agent prompts in one tap with the soft-key ribbon (1 / 2 / delete / return / Esc) β€’ Send free text or dictate by voice (on-device speech recognition) β€’ Switch between workspaces without touching your Mac Connects over SSH using key authentication. Your private keys stay in the iOS Keychain and never leave your device. Host configuration syncs across your devices via iCloud Drive. Requires a Mac running cmux 0.64+ with socket automation enabled. Not a general-purpose terminal β€” built specifically for the parallel-AI-agent workflow.

Screenshots

Deskless4 screens
Telecmux3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Telecmux at none against Deskless's 3. Telecmux also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Deskless sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Telecmux asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Deskless ships an update every 3 weeks, Telecmux fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 6 level
Deskless versus Telecmux: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDesklessTelecmux
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviewsβ€”0.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
Monetizationβ€”Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size116 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLowcountry Code Labs LLCShanghai Underplay Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Deskless

Subscriptions2
  • Deskless Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Deskless Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Deskless Pro Lifetime$69.99
None

Telecmux

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Deskless free?
Deskless is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Telecmux free?
Telecmux is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Deskless or Telecmux have ads?
Neither Deskless nor Telecmux shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Deskless or Telecmux?
Deskless ships an update every 3 weeks, and Telecmux fortnightly. Most recently, Deskless was updated on October 23, 2026 and Telecmux on October 25, 2026.

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