Comparison

TermCOW vs Hey Terminal

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

Head to head
About

TermCOW

This app provides a stable SSH terminal experience for mobile devices, allowing users to connect to remote machines with features like pan and zoom for a desktop-class interface. It supports standard SSH protocols, SFTP, and secure credential storage.

Highlights
  • SSH with password and key authentication
  • SFTP file transfer
  • Encrypted credential vault
  • Pan and zoom for stable terminal view
  • Customizable multi-state shortcuts
  • Port forwarding
  • Jump host/bastion support
Features
Read full description

TermCOW is an SSH terminal for developers, sysadmins, and anyone who wants to do their work anywhere. I originally built it so I could connect to my machine at home running AI coding agents in tmux from my phone. On a phone, it’s usually either tiny unreadable text to fit the whole terminal, or confusing text reflow, flashing, and wrapping when you zoom in. TermCOW uses pan and zoom instead of text reflow, so the terminal stays stable while you work. But if you like text reflow, TermCOW supports that too. All standard SSH features are free, including password/key auth, SFTP, and encrypted credential storage. Features • SSH with password and key auth • SFTP file transfer • Encrypted credential vault • Pan and zoom for a stable desktop-class terminal • Customizable multi-state shortcuts • Port forwarding • Jump host / bastion support • Back up settings to the TermCOW service • Premium jump host service for private IP access Clean, functional, minimal UI that stays out of your way while you do real work with a desktop-class terminal from your phone. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Hey Terminal

A fast, keyboard-first SSH terminal application designed for iPad. It offers a distraction-free environment for real terminal workflows, supporting tools like vim, tmux, and top.

Highlights
  • Fast SSH terminal
  • Keyboard-first workflow
  • Distraction-free experience
  • Supports vim, tmux, top
  • Built for real terminal workflows
Features
Read full description

Your work machine, from your iPad. Your work computer can stay at home or in the office. Connect to it over SSH with Hey Terminal, open Codex or Claude Code there, and continue working on your project from your iPad. A keyboard-first terminal for iPad Use a physical keyboard to enter prompts and run commands. Review your project with your remote CLI, edit files with vim, or work in tmux when those tools are available on your computer. Keep different connections in separate tabs. Create a tab with Command-T, close it with Command-W, and switch with Command-1 through Command-9. Quick remote work on iPhone When your computer isn't with you, connect for a short command, check a project file, or send a follow-up request to your remote CLI. SSH and a local terminal Connect with an SSH command or a configured host alias. Authenticate with a password or SSH key. Use the local terminal for basic file commands and SSH key generation. Before you connect You need a computer or server with SSH enabled that you can reach from your device. Remote tools run on that machine, not inside Hey Terminal. Install and configure the tools you want to use there, with any required accounts. Your remote machine must be powered on and accessible. No app account or subscription required.

Screenshots

TermCOW4 screens
Hey Terminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hey Terminal at none against TermCOW's 1. Hey Terminal also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). TermCOW's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, 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. TermCOW sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hey Terminal asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for TermCOW against 5.0 for Hey Terminal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TermCOW ships an update fortnightly, Hey Terminal every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
TermCOW versus Hey Terminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTermCOWHey Terminal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB14 MB
Age rating4++9
DeveloperFynetiq LLCJONGMIN CHOI

Customer experience

TermCOW

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Hey Terminal

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TermCOW

One-time1
  • TermCOW Pro Upgrade$9.99
None

Hey Terminal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TermCOW free?
TermCOW is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hey Terminal free?
Hey Terminal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TermCOW or Hey Terminal?
TermCOW and Hey Terminal are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do TermCOW or Hey Terminal have ads?
Neither TermCOW nor Hey Terminal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TermCOW or Hey Terminal?
TermCOW ships an update fortnightly, and Hey Terminal every 6 days. Most recently, TermCOW was updated on October 1, 2026 and Hey Terminal on October 13, 2026.

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