Comparison

Hermit SSH vs MuxCLI

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

MuxCLI

Manage AI coding sessions on your server directly from your iPhone. Create, attach, and resume tmux-backed sessions for various AI CLIs and shell workflows. Continue prompt work without losing context and send terminal input with mobile-friendly controls.

Highlights
  • Run AI coding sessions remotely
  • Manage tmux-backed sessions
  • Resume interrupted workflows
  • Send terminal input from mobile
  • Receive attention signals
  • Pair phone with server quickly
Features
Read full description

MuxCLI lets you run and manage AI coding sessions on your own server from iPhone. Create, attach, detach, and resume tmux-backed sessions for Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Claude Code, and shell workflows. Use MuxCLI to: - Pair your phone with your server in seconds - Browse existing sessions and create new ones - Continue prompt workflows without restarting context - Send terminal input with mobile-friendly control keys - Get attention-required signals when a session needs your input MuxCLI is designed for long-running development sessions where your server does the heavy work and your phone acts as the control surface.

Screenshots

Hermit SSH4 screens
MuxCLI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hermit SSH at 100% against MuxCLI's 0%. Hermit SSH also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. MuxCLI sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hermit SSH asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hermit SSH holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Hermit SSH's written reviews are positive against 0% of MuxCLI's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hermit SSH ships an update monthly, MuxCLI every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hermit SSH versus MuxCLI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHermit SSHMuxCLI
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDave StantonTim Chen

Customer experience

Hermit SSH

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

MuxCLI

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Hermit SSH

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MuxCLI

One-time1
  • MuxCLI Lifetime Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is Hermit SSH free?
Hermit SSH is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MuxCLI free?
MuxCLI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hermit SSH or MuxCLI?
Hermit SSH is rated higher. Hermit SSH averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while MuxCLI averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Hermit SSH or MuxCLI have ads?
Neither Hermit SSH nor MuxCLI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hermit SSH or MuxCLI?
Hermit SSH ships an update monthly, and MuxCLI every 4 weeks. Most recently, Hermit SSH was updated on September 21, 2026 and MuxCLI on September 15, 2026.

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