Comparison

Ash vs Xermius

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

Head to head
About

Ash

Features
Read full description

Native SSH client for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Open a shell, push files over SFTP, forward a port, monitor a server. Terminal — multiple sessions, configurable shell, fonts, theme. Hold-and-drag cursor scrub, two-finger paste, pinch zoom. ⌘T / ⌘W / ⌘1-9 on iPad and Mac. SFTP — browse, upload, download, edit text files inline. Save with sudo when needed. Drag-and-drop from Files or Finder. Server Dashboard — live CPU, RAM, disk, latency. OS, kernel, uptime. Port Forwarding — local (-L) and remote (-R) tunnels, multiple per host. SSH Keys — 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

Xermius

Read full description

Xermius is a professional SSH terminal manager built for system administrators, DevOps engineers, and developers who need powerful server access on the go. FULL SSH TERMINAL • Complete terminal emulation with full keyboard support • Multi-tab sessions — work on multiple servers simultaneously • Split view — divide your screen into multiple terminal panes • Workspace — save and restore your session layouts • Broadcast mode — send commands to multiple servers at once • Custom keyboard toolbar with Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Esc, and arrow keys • Terminal search and command history • Multiple color schemes and font customization (JetBrains Mono, Fira Code, Source Code Pro, Cascadia Code) SECURE AUTHENTICATION • Password and SSH key authentication (RSA, Ed25519, ECDSA) • Built-in SSH key generator — create keys directly in the app • Deploy keys to your servers with one tap • Known host verification for fingerprint validation • Biometric unlock with Face ID / Touch ID • Master password encryption for all credentials • Two-factor OTP authentication FILE MANAGEMENT • Multi-protocol support: SFTP, FTP, and S3 (MinIO) • Transfer files between servers (cross-host transfer) • Built-in text editor for quick file edits • File operations: rename, delete, chmod, compress • Bookmarks for frequently used directories • Bandwidth monitoring and transfer conflict resolution HOST MANAGEMENT • Unlimited hosts with groups and categories • Import/Export host configurations • Search, filter, and sort your server list • Tags and comments for organization • Connection status indicators • Pin your most-used hosts for quick access COMMAND SNIPPETS • Save and reuse frequently used commands • Variable support for dynamic snippets • Execute snippets across multiple servers simultaneously • Quick-access buttons from the terminal MONITORING & TOOLS • Real-time server monitoring (CPU, RAM, Disk) • SSL certificate checker • Port forwarding (local and remote) • Tmux session management • Activity logs and security event logging SYNC & CLOUD • Sync hosts, snippets, and keys across devices via GitHub • Backend sync with automatic conflict resolution • Push notifications from your servers AI-POWERED • AI chat assistant for server management help • Intelligent command suggestions based on context PLATFORM FEATURES • iOS Home Screen widgets for server monitoring • Live Activities for active session tracking • Push and local notifications Whether you manage a single VPS or hundreds of production servers, Xermius gives you the tools you need — right from your iPhone or iPad. XERMIUS PRO SUBSCRIPTION Xermius Pro is available through auto-renewable monthly ($4.99/month) or annual ($49.99/year) subscriptions. Pro unlocks cloud sync across devices, GitHub repository sync, advanced autocomplete, session logs, priority support, cross-host file transfer, and advanced web tools. A subscription may be used for both personal and business purposes. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription will renew automatically. Cancellation of a future subscription may be made up to 24 hours before the end of the current period. The actual subscription may not be manually canceled before its termination date. Subscriptions may be managed, including disabling auto-renewal, in the Account Settings after purchase. Please review our privacy policy https://xermius.com/privacy-policy and terms of use https://xermius.com/terms-of-service

Screenshots

Ash4 screens
Xermius4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ash at none against Xermius's 2. Xermius's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 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. Xermius sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ash asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ash ships an update every 3 months, Xermius every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Ash versus Xermius: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAshXermius
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtem SharifullinLuong Van Duc

In-app purchases

None

Ash

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Xermius

Subscriptions2
  • Xermius Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Xermius Pro (Annual)$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Ash free?
Ash is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Xermius free?
Xermius is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ash or Xermius have ads?
Neither Ash nor Xermius shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ash or Xermius?
Ash ships an update every 3 months, and Xermius every 5 days. Most recently, Ash was updated on October 6, 2026 and Xermius on October 3, 2026.

Other comparisons