Comparison

Hermit SSH 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

Hermit SSH

A focused SSH client for developers interacting with AI coding assistants on remote machines. Connect to your dev server, manage tmux sessions, and use configurable soft keys and voice input for efficient command execution.

Highlights
  • SSH connections with ed25519 private key authentication
  • Automatic tmux session attach
  • Configurable soft key ribbon bar
  • Voice input with iOS dictation
  • xterm.js terminal rendering
  • iCloud Drive sync
  • Private keys stored securely in iOS Keychain
Features
Read full description

Hermit is a focused SSH client built for developers who work with AI coding assistants on remote machines. Connect to your dev server, attach to tmux sessions, and interact using configurable soft keys and voice input. Unlike general-purpose terminal apps, Hermit is designed around a specific workflow: you have an AI CLI tool running in a tmux session on a remote machine, and you want to monitor and interact with it from your phone. Five soft keys — 1, 2, Enter, Escape, and a microphone — give you everything you need to approve tool calls, reject changes, send commands, and dictate instructions. KEY FEATURES * SSH connections with ed25519 private key authentication * Automatic tmux session attach on connect * Configurable soft key ribbon bar optimized for AI coding workflows * Voice input with iOS dictation — speak your instructions, proofread, and send * xterm.js terminal rendering with proper color and escape code support * Automatic iCloud Drive sync — your hosts and sessions available on all devices * Dark mode interface designed for terminal use * Private keys stored securely in the iOS Keychain BUILT FOR AI CODING WORKFLOWS The default soft keys map directly to common AI CLI approval patterns: 1 — Accept (approve tool calls and edits) 2 — Reject Enter — Confirm multi-line input Escape — Cancel or interrupt Mic — Open voice input for longer instructions OPEN SOURCE Hermit is open source so you can review exactly what runs on your device and how your SSH credentials are handled. No analytics, no tracking, no data collection.

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

Hermit SSH4 screens
Hey Terminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hey Terminal at every 6 days against Hermit SSH's monthly. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hermit SSH against 5.0 for Hey Terminal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hermit SSH ships an update monthly, Hey Terminal every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Hermit SSH versus Hey Terminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHermit SSHHey Terminal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB14 MB
Age rating4++9
DeveloperDave StantonJONGMIN CHOI

Customer experience

Hermit SSH

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Hey Terminal

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

In-app purchases

None

Hermit SSH

No in-app purchases

None

Hey Terminal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hermit SSH free?
Hermit SSH is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hey Terminal free?
Hey Terminal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hermit SSH or Hey Terminal?
Hermit SSH and Hey Terminal are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Hermit SSH or Hey Terminal have ads?
Neither Hermit SSH nor Hey Terminal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hermit SSH or Hey Terminal?
Hermit SSH ships an update monthly, and Hey Terminal every 6 days. Most recently, Hermit SSH was updated on October 4, 2026 and Hey Terminal on October 13, 2026.

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