Comparison

MobileCLI vs MuxCLI

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

Head to head
About

MobileCLI

Access your desktop terminal sessions remotely from your phone. Connect securely without accounts or cloud services. Ideal for developers to manage AI coding assistants and run commands from anywhere.

Highlights
  • Remote terminal access
  • AI coding assistant integration
  • QR code pairing
  • Direct WebSocket connection
  • File browser and editor (Pro)
  • Spawn new terminal sessions
  • Push notifications for AI input
Features
Read full description

Your desktop terminal, in your pocket. MobileCLI connects to your development machine and gives you full access to your terminal sessions from your phone. Pair with a QR code, and you're in — no accounts, no cloud relay, no configuration files. Built for developers who use AI coding assistants. Watch Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini work in real time. Approve tool calls from the couch. Fix a stuck prompt from the grocery store. Your sessions keep running whether you're watching or not. REAL TERMINAL, NOT A TOY Full xterm.js terminal with keyboard toolbar — arrow keys for history navigation, escape, paste from clipboard, and file attachments. Everything you type goes straight to your PTY. Everything your PTY outputs streams back instantly over WebSocket. CONNECT YOUR WAY Scan a QR code on your local network, or connect over Tailscale from anywhere in the world. Link multiple machines and switch between them. All connections are direct — your data never touches a third-party server. FILE BROWSER & EDITOR (Pro) Browse your project files, edit code with syntax highlighting, view images and PDFs, search by filename or content. Create, rename, move, and delete files and folders. Upload photos and documents straight from your phone into your terminal session. SPAWN SESSIONS FROM YOUR PHONE Start new terminal sessions remotely — Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, or a plain shell. Pick a working directory, name your session, and go. NOTIFICATIONS WHEN IT MATTERS Get a push notification when your AI assistant needs input — tool approvals, plan confirmations, or clarifying questions. Tap to jump straight into the session. MULTIPLE THEMES Classic black terminal, Tokyo Night, or Light mode. Pick what feels right. FREE TO START Connect one device, open terminal sessions, type commands, and get notifications — all free. Upgrade to Pro to unlock the file browser, file editor, and attachment uploads. PRO SUBSCRIPTION MobileCLI Pro unlocks file browsing, editing, and attachment uploads. • $19.99/year with a 3-day free trial • $29.99 lifetime purchase (one-time) • Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period • Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions Privacy Policy: https://www.mobilecli.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.mobilecli.app/terms

About

MuxCLI

Manage AI coding sessions on your server directly from your iPhone. Create, attach, and resume tmux-backed sessions for various AI CLIs and shell workflows. Continue prompt work without losing context and send terminal input with mobile-friendly controls.

Highlights
  • Run AI coding sessions remotely
  • Manage tmux-backed sessions
  • Resume interrupted workflows
  • Send terminal input from mobile
  • Receive attention signals
  • Pair phone with server quickly
Features
Read full description

MuxCLI lets you run and manage AI coding sessions on your own server from iPhone. Create, attach, detach, and resume tmux-backed sessions for Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Claude Code, and shell workflows. Use MuxCLI to: - Pair your phone with your server in seconds - Browse existing sessions and create new ones - Continue prompt workflows without restarting context - Send terminal input with mobile-friendly control keys - Get attention-required signals when a session needs your input MuxCLI is designed for long-running development sessions where your server does the heavy work and your phone acts as the control surface.

Screenshots

MobileCLI4 screens
MuxCLI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MobileCLI at 5.0 against MuxCLI's 2.0. MobileCLI also leads on chart position (#66 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). MuxCLI's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. MobileCLI sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and MuxCLI sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MobileCLI holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MobileCLI ships an update monthly, MuxCLI every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
MobileCLI versus MuxCLI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMobileCLIMuxCLI
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#66 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander KniggeTim Chen

Customer experience

MobileCLI

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

MuxCLI

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MobileCLI

Subscriptions1
  • Files Premium (Yearly)3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Files Premium (Lifetime)$29.99
1 purchases

MuxCLI

One-time1
  • MuxCLI Lifetime Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is MobileCLI free?
MobileCLI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MuxCLI free?
MuxCLI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MobileCLI or MuxCLI?
MobileCLI is rated higher. MobileCLI averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while MuxCLI averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do MobileCLI or MuxCLI have ads?
Neither MobileCLI nor MuxCLI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MobileCLI or MuxCLI?
MobileCLI ships an update monthly, and MuxCLI every 4 weeks. Most recently, MobileCLI was updated on September 10, 2026 and MuxCLI on September 15, 2026.

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