Comparison

AFK vs CoTerm

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

CoTerm

Control your development environment and automate tasks directly from your phone. This tool provides a real terminal experience for running code, managing remote servers, and executing commands anywhere, anytime.

Highlights
  • Run code and automate tasks remotely
  • SSH connection with real terminal
  • Execute commands and manage workflows
  • Control multiple sessions
  • Real-time progress monitoring
  • AI-assisted development workflows
Features
Read full description

CoTerm – AI Coding Terminal is a mobile remote control tool for developers. Run code, automate CLI workflows, and manage your development environment directly from your phone. Turn your mobile device into a powerful terminal interface. Execute commands, monitor tasks, and control your workflows anytime, anywhere. What you can do • Run code and automate tasks in remote environments • Connect via SSH with a real terminal experience • Execute commands and manage development workflows • Control multiple sessions and switch instantly • Monitor progress and results in real time Built for Developers & AI Workflows CoTerm is designed for developers, AI engineers, and technical users who need real control over code, tasks, and terminal environments — not just chat. Perfect for: • CLI and terminal users • Remote server management • Coding and automation workflows • AI-assisted development workflows Subscriptions and In-App Purchases CoTerm offers optional auto-renewable subscriptions to unlock premium features: Subscription plans: • Monthly subscription • Yearly subscription (includes a 7-day free trial, if eligible) Notes: • Eligible users can access a 7-day free trial, after which the subscription will automatically renew as a yearly plan • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase • Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings • Prices may vary by region and are displayed in the App Store Important Notes CoTerm provides remote terminal and automation capabilities. Performance may vary depending on network conditions and server configuration. Privacy and Terms Privacy Policy https://coterm-site.pages.dev/ Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

AFK4 screens
CoTerm3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AFK at none against CoTerm's 2. CoTerm's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support 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. CoTerm sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. AFK asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
AFK versus CoTerm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAFKCoTerm
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTapan Thaker思亮 刘

In-app purchases

None

AFK

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

CoTerm

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$17.991 Year

Questions

Is AFK free?
AFK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CoTerm free?
CoTerm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AFK or CoTerm have ads?
Neither AFK nor CoTerm shows ads.

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