Comparison

TermCOW vs JTerm

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

JTerm

A native SSH client and terminal emulator for iOS devices. It allows secure connections, file management via SFTP, and supports multiple live sessions with an AI assistant for terminal workflows. Offers custom keyboard rows and hardware keyboard support.

Highlights
  • Secure SSH connections
  • SFTP file explorer
  • Multiple live sessions
  • AI Assistant
  • Custom keyboard row
  • Hardware keyboard support
Features
Read full description

JTerm is a fast, native SSH client and xterm-compatible terminal for iPhone and iPad. Connect securely, manage remote files with SFTP, and keep essential server workflows close at hand. FEATURES • Secure SSH connections with ordered multi-hop jump hosts • Saved hosts with sortable groups and credentials protected by the iOS Keychain • Reusable SSH keys shared across hosts • SFTP file explorer with uploads, downloads, favorite folders, sharing, and inline text editing • Multiple live sessions — keep several connections open and switch instantly • Automatic reconnection with backoff when your network drops or changes • Saved commands for frequently used terminal workflows • AI Assistant that can work with active terminal sessions using built-in AI or your own provider • Custom keyboard row with Esc, Ctrl, Alt, arrows, Tab, pipe, and more • Hardware-keyboard support on iPad with Command shortcuts • iPad split view with hosts and sessions beside the terminal • Pinch to zoom the terminal font • iCloud sync for hosts, keys, and settings across your devices Your secrets stay on-device: passwords, private keys, and AI API keys are protected by the iOS Keychain and sync only through iCloud Keychain. Built-in AI requires Sign in with Apple and cloud-processing consent. Consumable AI credits are shared with JImage and JTravel in the same environment, do not expire, and are separate from JTerm Pro subscriptions. View credit packs, session usage, and account deletion in Settings. Privacy Policy: https://jterm.jimeji.com/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

TermCOW4 screens
JTerm3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: JTerm at every 5 days against TermCOW's fortnightly. TermCOW's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.1 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 and JTerm sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

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 JTerm. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TermCOW ships an update fortnightly, JTerm every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
TermCOW versus JTerm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTermCOWJTerm
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.1 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFynetiq LLCHangzhou Blade Technology Co., Ltd

Customer experience

TermCOW

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

JTerm

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TermCOW

One-time1
  • TermCOW Pro Upgrade$9.99
1 purchases

JTerm

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Year Pro$1.991 Year

Questions

Is TermCOW free?
TermCOW is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is JTerm free?
JTerm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TermCOW or JTerm?
TermCOW and JTerm are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do TermCOW or JTerm have ads?
Neither TermCOW nor JTerm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TermCOW or JTerm?
TermCOW ships an update fortnightly, and JTerm every 5 days. Most recently, TermCOW was updated on October 1, 2026 and JTerm on October 12, 2026.

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