Comparison

AFK vs Shellora

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

Head to head
About

AFK

Features
Read full description

Move your AI coding sessions from desktop to phone without SSH, VPNs, or exposing your computer to the internet. AFK streams your live terminal session to your iPhone over outbound WebSockets, so it works in most restricted networks where inbound SSH or remote desktop setups are blocked. Use Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, or any terminal command on your computer. When you step away, AFK keeps the same session in your pocket so you can monitor progress, approve prompts, type replies, and steer the work from anywhere. Try AFK instantly with the free live demo, or connect your own machine in minutes. WHY DEVELOPERS USE AFK AI coding agents can work for hours, but they still need you for tool approvals, error decisions, direction changes, and quick replies. AFK keeps your agent moving without keeping you at your desk. - Start work on desktop and continue from iPhone - Watch terminal sessions live with GPU-accelerated rendering - Approve prompts and tool calls remotely - Type commands or use precision voice input - Get mobile alerts when your agent needs attention - Works without SSH, VPNs, port forwarding, or remote desktop HOW IT WORKS 1. Install the AFK CLI on your machine 2. Run your agent or terminal command with AFK 3. Open the iPhone app 4. Monitor, approve, and respond from anywhere AFK uses outbound WebSocket streaming, so your computer does not need to accept inbound connections. No router changes. No public ports. No messy network setup. BUILT FOR AI CODING WORKFLOWS AFK works with any terminal command, and is designed for modern AI-assisted development: - Claude Code - OpenAI Codex - Gemini CLI - OpenCode - Custom scripts and long-running CLI tools REAL-TIME TERMINAL STREAMING - Low-latency WebSocket streaming - GPU-accelerated terminal rendering with Metal - Full bidirectional I/O - Automatic terminal resize - Push notifications for agent activity - Smooth terminal experience on mobile SECURE BY DESIGN Your terminal data is end-to-end encrypted. The backend acts as a relay and cannot read your session contents. - End-to-end encrypted terminal streams - X25519 key exchange - AES-256-GCM encryption - TLS 1.3 for transport security FREE TO START Free: - 2 concurrent sessions - End-to-end encryption - 20 voice commands per month Pro: - Unlimited sessions - Unlimited precision voice input - Push notifications when your AI agent needs input - Priority support Start with a 7-day free Pro trial. Refer 3 friends to earn a free month of Pro. AFK is built by Thaker Innovations. Website: https://getafk.dev Support: https://getafk.dev/support Privacy Policy: https://getafk.dev/legal/privacy Terms of Service: https://getafk.dev/legal/terms

About

Shellora

This app provides a comprehensive SSH client for remote server management on mobile devices. It offers terminal sessions, file transfers, host organization, and AI-powered command assistance for developers and IT professionals.

Highlights
  • Real SSH terminal
  • Remote system connection
  • File transfers
  • AI command help
  • Built-in command library
  • Host organization
  • SSH key vault
Features
Read full description

Shellora is a modern SSH client for iPhone and iPad, built for people who need practical remote access and server tools in one clean app. Connect to your own or authorized remote SSH servers, open terminal sessions, transfer files, organize hosts, manage SSH keys, search command references, and get AI command help from a mobile experience designed for serious work. Shellora is more than a basic SSH connection app. It is a focused remote server workspace that helps you connect faster, work smarter, and handle common admin tasks without jumping between multiple apps. Whether you are checking logs, updating packages, restarting a service, reviewing disk usage, managing config files, or looking up the right command while away from your desk, Shellora helps you stay productive from anywhere. Shellora also supports multiple languages, including English, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Hebrew, Greek, Czech, Hindi, Bengali, Russian, Urdu, and more. Core features: • Real SSH terminal for iPhone and iPad Open terminal sessions with a touch-friendly interface built for command-line work. • Connect to remote systems over SSH Use Shellora to access personal servers, cloud instances, lab environments, staging systems, and production machines from your iPhone or iPad. • File transfers Upload and download files between your device and remote systems with a fast workflow and transfer history. • AI command help Ask for terminal commands in plain English and get suggestions you can review before using. • Built-in command library Search useful command references by category and copy commands quickly when needed. • Custom Commands Library Test, save, and quickly reinsert your own commands directly from the command library. • Organize hosts with folders and favorites Group hosts by project or role and keep saved connections easy to manage. • iCloud Sync with selective sync options Sync host information, saved passwords, and private keys with control over what gets synced. • SSH key vault Store, organize, generate, import, and export SSH keys in one place. • Favorite Apps Pin frequently used server tools and apps for faster access inside your workflow. • Terminal themes and personalization Choose from multiple terminal themes for a workspace that feels comfortable day or night. • Mobile workflow for real remote work Check a machine, review logs, transfer a file, confirm service status, or look up a command while on the move. Shellora is useful for: • Developers • DevOps engineers • Sysadmins • IT teams • Cloud engineers • Security professionals • Students learning Linux and server management • Power users who want serious SSH tools on iPhone and iPad Some features may vary depending on device support, operating system version, and remote system compatibility. Subscription Terms Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings. Terms of Use EULA: https://holding.vc/Apps-terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://holding.vc/Apps-privacy-policy

Screenshots

AFK4 screens
Shellora4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AFK at none against Shellora's 4. Shellora's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, 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. Shellora sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. AFK asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AFK ships an update fortnightly, Shellora every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
AFK versus Shellora: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAFKShellora
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTapan ThakerYaser Ali

In-app purchases

None

AFK

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Shellora

Subscriptions3
  • Shellora Pro$1.997 Days
  • Shellora Pro$4.991 Month
  • Shellora Pro$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Shellora Pro$49.99

Questions

Is AFK free?
AFK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shellora free?
Shellora is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AFK or Shellora have ads?
Neither AFK nor Shellora shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AFK or Shellora?
AFK ships an update fortnightly, and Shellora every 5 days. Most recently, AFK was updated on October 8, 2026 and Shellora on October 3, 2026.

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