Comparison

TermCOW vs iTmux

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

iTmux

Features
Read full description

iTmux is a native SSH and tmux workspace for iPhone, iPad and Mac, built for developers who run AI coding agents on their own machines. Start a long task with Claude Code or Codex on your server, close the app, and come back later: the agent keeps working inside tmux, and iTmux shows you where it stands. NATIVE TMUX, NOT A TERMINAL INSIDE A TERMINAL iTmux talks to tmux through control mode, so sessions, windows and split panes appear as real app UI. Switch, split and zoom panes with a tap instead of prefix keys. Your processes live on the host, so a dropped connection never kills your work. FOLLOW YOUR AI AGENTS • See which Claude Code and Codex tasks are working, waiting or done • Get a notification when a task needs your approval • Queue the next prompts for each pane and let them run in order • Browse task history with prompts, duration and results • Check token usage, plan limits and reset times per host A COMPLETE REMOTE TOOLKIT • SSH with password or key authentication, stored in the Keychain • Local tmux on Mac, remote hosts on every device • File browser with search, text editing, image preview and SFTP transfer • Upload photos from your library straight to the server (iPhone and iPad) • Git: status, history, side-by-side diffs, stage, commit and sync • Markdown notes stored on the host • Host monitor with CPU, memory and top processes • Search terminal output, custom shortcuts and command queues • Voice input that types your prompt into the terminal MADE FOR EACH DEVICE A touch-friendly key bar with Esc, Ctrl, Tab and arrows on iPhone, a sidebar layout on iPad, and tabs you can tear off into windows on Mac. On Mac, the itmux command line tool opens any command in a new tmux window. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account required. Hosts, passwords and keys stay on your device, and connections go directly from your device to your servers. Your terminal content, files and notes are never sent to us. ITMUX PRO iTmux is free to use with one saved host. iTmux Pro unlocks unlimited hosts, voice input and scheduled shortcuts, and works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. • Subscriptions: iTmux Pro Monthly (1 month) and iTmux Pro Yearly (1 year) • Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase • Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Manage or cancel any time in your Apple Account settings REQUIREMENTS iOS/iPadOS 18 or later, macOS 15 or later on Apple silicon. Remote hosts need SSH access and tmux. Claude Code and Codex run on your host and need their own accounts. Terms of Use (EULA): https://hybridtheorylink.github.io/itmux/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://hybridtheorylink.github.io/itmux/privacy.html Support: hswillg@gmail.com

Screenshots

TermCOW4 screens
iTmux4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iTmux at none against TermCOW's 1. TermCOW's advantage is iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, 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. iTmux asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
TermCOW versus iTmux: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTermCOWiTmux
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFynetiq LLC邵伟 黄

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TermCOW

One-time1
  • TermCOW Pro Upgrade$9.99
None

iTmux

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TermCOW free?
TermCOW is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iTmux free?
iTmux is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TermCOW or iTmux have ads?
Neither TermCOW nor iTmux shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TermCOW or iTmux?
TermCOW ships an update fortnightly, and iTmux fortnightly. Most recently, TermCOW was updated on October 31, 2026 and iTmux on October 31, 2026.

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