Comparison

MonkeySSH vs Hermex

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

Head to head
About

MonkeySSH

This app provides a mobile SSH workspace for agentic coding, allowing users to connect to servers, manage remote windows, and resume coding sessions. It features a robust terminal, file browsing, port forwarding, and secure SSH key management for modern remote development.

Highlights
  • Mobile terminal with advanced features
  • MonkeyMux and tmux remote window management
  • Agent workflows for coding assistants
  • SFTP workspace for file management
  • SSH key management
  • Port forwarding with in-app browser
  • Local-first security with biometrics
Features
Read full description

Run coding agents on your own servers from iPhone or iPad. MonkeySSH puts native agent conversations, a full SSH terminal, MonkeyMux or tmux windows, and SFTP in one remote workspace. Choose the right view for each task: - Chat with supported agents in native windows with streaming replies, tool progress, plans, diffs, permission prompts, images, audio, attachments, slash commands, and session history. Sign in, answer agent forms, view tool output, and choose MCP servers and extra working directories when supported. Model and mode controls depend on the agent. Get notified when an agent finishes or needs permission. - Switch to the full terminal whenever you need direct CLI control, xterm-256color, inline images, gestures, modifier keys, function keys, macros, or IME-friendly typing. Swipe up on toolbar keys for shortcuts and symbols. - Keep agent and shell work running in persistent MonkeyMux windows. Reconnect, switch windows, and share the same session with your desktop. - Launch Claude Code, Copilot CLI, Codex, OpenCode, Antigravity, Cursor Agent, Pi, Hermes, OpenClaw, Grok Build, and Muse Code, find recent project-scoped sessions, and save launch presets per host. - Manage agent CLIs and ACP adapters on a host with Agent Management. Check versions, install or repair supported packages, and update supported installations together. See account usage, remaining allowances, and reset times when available. A dot on the terminal menu flags available updates. - Browse, upload, download, create, and edit remote files over SFTP. - Generate or import Ed25519 and RSA keys, verify host keys, use jump hosts, and cancel slow connection attempts. - Forward remote ports, manage live tunnels, and open forwarded services in the in-app browser. - Save snippets, macros, home-screen shortcuts, and per-host startup settings for repeat work. Your hosts, keys, snippets, and settings stay on your device. PIN and biometric lock are available, and MonkeySSH does not require cloud sync. Optional analytics and crash reports are off by default and exclude commands, terminal output, paths, hostnames, usernames, clipboard contents, and credentials. SSH, terminal, SFTP, one connected native chat, and the choice between native and terminal agent windows are free. MonkeySSH Pro adds parallel native chats with instant switching and session forks, agent launch presets and recent-session discovery, Agent Management and supported-agent usage rings in MonkeyMux, auto-connect automation, encrypted transfers and migration packages, and host-specific themes. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://github.com/depollsoft/MonkeySSH/blob/main/docs/privacy-policy.md

About

Hermex

This app provides a native mobile interface for interacting with your self-hosted Hermes Agent server. It allows you to manage conversations, control agent settings, and access workspace files directly from your iPhone.

Highlights
  • Connect to your own Hermes server
  • Manage existing and start new conversations
  • Control models, profiles, and reasoning
  • Attach files and photos
  • Browse workspace files
  • Offline read-only viewing of recent sessions
Features
Read full description

Hermex is a native iPhone and iPad client for your self-hosted Hermes agent. Connect to a reachable Hermes Web UI server, or enable the optional Bot Mode beta to connect directly to a Hermes agent host. Open existing sessions, start conversations, and follow streamed responses, tools, and reasoning as they arrive. Queue, steer, or stop an active run. Review file edits as diffs, browse workspace files, send photos and files, and dictate messages. Manage Kanban boards and cards, browse Tasks, Skills, Memory, and Usage, and choose models, profiles, and reasoning settings. Bot Mode adds a Bots inbox, Desktop sections, reactions, quick replies, approvals, questions, and group rooms. Live Activities keep working runs visible on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Optional notifications let you know when work finishes or needs your attention. The share extension stages content from other apps for you to review and send. Agent execution happens on your configured server, not on the iPhone. Your server owns your conversations, tools, and workspace. Recent sessions and messages may be cached locally for read-only offline viewing; clear that cache from Settings. There is no Hermex-hosted agent backend, tracking, or analytics service. Optional push notifications use an open-source, self-hostable relay. Message previews are encrypted on your Hermes host and decrypted on your iPhone; the relay handles device tokens, notification metadata, and ciphertext, never message text, server URLs, or Hermes server credentials. Push is off until enabled. Hermex has no in-app account creation or in-app purchases. You need your own reachable Hermes server. Not affiliated with Nous Research.

Screenshots

MonkeySSH4 screens
Hermex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hermex at none against MonkeySSH's 2. Hermex also leads on ratings volume (135 vs 1) and chart position (#36 vs unranked). MonkeySSH's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). 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. MonkeySSH sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Hermex asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MonkeySSH holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hermex has 135 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MonkeySSH ships an update every 2 days, Hermex weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
MonkeySSH versus Hermex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonkeySSHHermex
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (135 ratings)
Positive reviews—85.1% of reviews
Number of ratings1135 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank—#36 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDepollsoftUzair Ansar

Customer experience

MonkeySSH

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

Hermex

All ratings135 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews87 reviews
Positive85.1%
Neutral6.9%
Negative8.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MonkeySSH

Subscriptions2
  • MonkeySSH Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • MonkeySSH Pro (Annual)$49.991 Year
None

Hermex

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MonkeySSH free?
MonkeySSH is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hermex free?
Hermex is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MonkeySSH or Hermex?
MonkeySSH is rated higher. MonkeySSH averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Hermex averages 4.7 from 135 ratings.
Do MonkeySSH or Hermex have ads?
Neither MonkeySSH nor Hermex shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MonkeySSH or Hermex?
MonkeySSH ships an update every 2 days, and Hermex weekly. Most recently, MonkeySSH was updated on October 10, 2026 and Hermex on October 23, 2026.

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