TermCOW vs JTerm
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
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.
- Secure SSH connections
- SFTP file explorer
- Multiple live sessions
- AI Assistant
- Custom keyboard row
- Hardware keyboard support
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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 cloud-processing consent and either a connected App Store wallet on supported devices or Sign in with Apple. Guest wallets are specific to JTerm. Purchases made while signed in remain with that registered account. Permanent AI credits do not expire. One-time AI plans last 31 days. Independent monthly AI credit packs renew automatically; different amounts can be subscribed to together and are billed separately. Unused monthly allowance expires at the end of each billing period. These purchases are separate from JTerm Pro. Find balances and purchases in Settings > Buy AI Credits, configure AI in Settings > AI Information, and manage or delete your account in Settings > Account. Privacy Policy: https://jterm.jimeji.com/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. TermCOW sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and JTerm sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
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.
TermCOW ships an update fortnightly, JTerm every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | TermCOW | JTerm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 149 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Fynetiq LLC | Hangzhou Blade Technology Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
TermCOW
JTerm
In-app purchases
TermCOW
- TermCOW Pro Upgrade$9.99
JTerm
- 1,000 Monthly AI Credits$1.991 Month
- 1 Year Pro1 Year trial$3.991 Year
- 3,000 Monthly AI Credits$4.991 Month
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- 10,000 Monthly AI Credits$14.991 Month
- 1,000 AI Service · 31 Days$1.99
- 1,000 AI Credits$2.99
- 3,000 AI Service · 31 Days$4.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- 3,000 AI Credits$7.49
- 10,000 AI Service · 31 Days$14.99
- 10,000 AI Credits$22.49









