Comparison

Ash vs ShellAccess

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

Head to head
About

Ash

Features
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Native SSH client for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Open a shell, push files over SFTP, forward a port, monitor a server. Terminal โ€” multiple sessions, configurable shell, fonts, theme. Hold-and-drag cursor scrub, two-finger paste, pinch zoom. โŒ˜T / โŒ˜W / โŒ˜1-9 on iPad and Mac. SFTP โ€” browse, upload, download, edit text files inline. Save with sudo when needed. Drag-and-drop from Files or Finder. Server Dashboard โ€” live CPU, RAM, disk, latency. OS, kernel, uptime. Port Forwarding โ€” local (-L) and remote (-R) tunnels, multiple per host. SSH Keys โ€” generate Ed25519 or RSA on-device. Import from Files or clipboard. Stored in iOS Keychain. Face ID / Touch ID lock. Connections survive the lock screen. Keepalive defeats NAT timeouts. Auto-reconnect on Wi-Fi / cellular handoff. No telemetry. No analytics. No ads. Host configs sync only via your private iCloud, opt-in.

About

ShellAccess

Features
Read full description

Connect to your Linux, macOS, and Unix servers directly from your iPhone or iPad. ShellAccess is a native SSH client built for professionals who need reliable remote server access on the go. Full Terminal Emulation A complete terminal experience with support for interactive applications, color output, and customizable themes. Choose from Pro Dark, Dracula, Nord, Monokai, Solarized, Gruvbox, and more. Adjust font size and family to suit your workflow. Secure Authentication Connect using password or SSH key authentication. Generate Ed25519 and RSA keys directly in the app, or import your existing keys. Passwords can be saved securely with Face ID or Touch ID protection using the iOS Keychain. Host Key Verification ShellAccess verifies server identity on every connection, just like OpenSSH. Unknown hosts prompt for confirmation, and changed host keys trigger clear warnings to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks. Manage your known hosts list from Settings. SFTP File Browser Browse, download, and manage files on your remote servers without leaving the app. Access the built-in SFTP browser from the terminal toolbar with a single tap. Multi-Session Support Work across multiple servers simultaneously. Each connection runs in its own tab with independent terminal state. Switch between sessions instantly. Server Management Save your frequently used servers with host, port, username, and preferred authentication method. Organize servers into folders. Quick Connect lets you jump into a one-off session without saving anything. Port Forwarding Set up local and remote port forwarding tunnels to securely access services behind firewalls. Terminal Toolbar A purpose-built accessory bar gives you quick access to Escape, Tab, Ctrl, arrow keys, and common shortcuts like Ctrl+C, Ctrl+D, and Ctrl+Z โ€” keys that are difficult to type on a touchscreen keyboard. Built for iOS Native SwiftUI interface. Designed to work with the iOS keyboard, multitasking, and system security features. No web views, no Electron โ€” a real native app.

Screenshots

Ash4 screens
ShellAccess3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Ash at 17.0 against ShellAccess's 26.2. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
Ash versus ShellAccess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAshShellAccess
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsโ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 โ€” better26.2
Further details โ€” not scored
Size12 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtem SharifullinKTMLABS LLC

In-app purchases

None

Ash

No in-app purchases

None

ShellAccess

No in-app purchases

Questions

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

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