Comparison

MobileCLI vs XTerm

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

XTerm

Features
Read full description

Flow SSH Client: Flow SSH Client helps you connect to and manage remote Linux servers directly from your mobile device. SSH CONNECTIONS: Connect to servers using SSH with support for password and key-based authentication. HOST MANAGEMENT: Create hosts, organize them into groups, and use tags to keep connections easy to manage. TERMINAL ACCESS: Open terminal sessions, run commands, and manage your servers from anywhere. VAULTS: Store connection information, SSH keys, and credentials for quick access. PROXY & HOST CHAINING: Configure proxies and host chaining to connect through intermediate servers when needed. CONNECTION HISTORY: View recent connections and reconnect to previously accessed hosts quickly. Terms of use: https://fuentechsoft.com/about/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://fuentechsoft.com/about/privacy/

Screenshots

MobileCLI4 screens
XTerm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: XTerm at none against MobileCLI's 2. MobileCLI's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#82 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. XTerm asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MobileCLI versus XTerm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMobileCLIXTerm
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#82 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.114.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander KniggeFuentech Company Limited

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MobileCLI

Subscriptions1
  • Files Premium (Yearly)3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Files Premium (Lifetime)$29.99
None

XTerm

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MobileCLI free?
MobileCLI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is XTerm free?
XTerm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MobileCLI or XTerm have ads?
XTerm shows ads; MobileCLI does not.
Which is updated more often, MobileCLI or XTerm?
MobileCLI ships an update monthly, and XTerm monthly. Most recently, MobileCLI was updated on September 28, 2026 and XTerm on September 22, 2026.

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