Comparison

Databeam vs Kex

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

Head to head
About

Databeam

Features
Read full description

Databeam puts your Firebase projects in your pocket. Check your databases, manage authentication users, browse storage files, and make quick changes โ€” all from your phone. Built for developers who want to keep an eye on their Firebase backend without opening a laptop. Features: - Connect to multiple Firebase projects - Browse and edit Firestore documents - View and manage Authentication users - Access Cloud Storage files - Real-time data monitoring Databeam gives you a clean, fast interface designed for quick checks and edits on the go.

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 โ€” 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 cafรฉ. Monitor your AI coding agent from the couch. With Kex, your entire server infrastructure fits in your pocket. WHO IS KEX FOR? ยท DevOps engineers who need to respond to incidents anytime, anywhere ยท Developers running AI coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, or Aider on remote servers ยท System administrators managing fleets of Linux servers ยท Cloud engineers working with AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and more ยท Homelab enthusiasts monitoring Raspberry Pi clusters and self-hosted services ยท Students learning Linux and server administration ยท 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 โ€” 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 โ€” 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 F1โ€“F12. Auto-repeat on directional keys. Modifier key toggles. Every key a terminal user needs โ€” 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 โ€” 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+1โ€“9 shortcuts. Switch sessions, open new connections, and navigate โ€” 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 โ€” 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 โ€” but don't want to carry a laptop everywhere. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Databeam4 screens
Kex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Databeam at none against Kex's 3. Databeam also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Kex's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Kex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Databeam asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Databeam ships an update every 3 weeks, Kex every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences ยท 4 level
Databeam versus Kex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDatabeamKex
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviewsโ€”100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
Monetizationโ€”Free with in-app purchases
Best chart rankโ€”#194 โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size28 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperItemone LLCAli Mert TUFEKCI

In-app purchases

None

Databeam

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Kex

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

Questions

Is Databeam free?
Databeam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kex free?
Kex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Databeam or Kex have ads?
Kex shows ads; Databeam does not.
Which is updated more often, Databeam or Kex?
Databeam ships an update every 3 weeks, and Kex every 2 days. Most recently, Databeam was updated on October 19, 2026 and Kex on October 17, 2026.

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