# TERMinator vs LightDrop

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TERMinator at none against LightDrop's 2. TERMinator also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LightDrop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. TERMinator asks for nothing beyond the download.

TERMinator ships an update every 8 days, LightDrop every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TERMinator | LightDrop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terminator-bbs-terminal/id6759012939/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 120 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Phil Whittemore](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876379185) | [杨 高](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879740478) |

## What reviewers say

### TERMinator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terminator-bbs-terminal/id6759012939)

Connect to Bulletin Board Systems and SSH servers with a retro terminal client. Experience authentic CP437 ANSI art rendering, classic fonts, and ZMODEM file transfers. Manage your connections with a phonebook and quick connect options.

**Highlights:** Telnet and SSH connections, CP437/ANSI art rendering, Classic bitmap fonts, ZMODEM file transfer, Scrollback history, Phonebook management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### LightDrop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightdrop-qr-transfer/id6798429251)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LightDrop Pro — Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| LightDrop Pro — Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TERMinator free?

TERMinator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is LightDrop free?

LightDrop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do TERMinator or LightDrop have ads?

Neither TERMinator nor LightDrop shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TERMinator or LightDrop?

TERMinator ships an update every 8 days, and LightDrop every 3 weeks. Most recently, TERMinator was updated on October 24, 2026 and LightDrop on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*