Comparison

Hermit SSH vs BirdyBeep

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

BirdyBeep

Read full description

Walk away while your coding agents work. Pair your machine once, then BirdyBeep sends a push to your phone the moment your agents need you. Made for developers who run agentic coding tools and want to step away while they work. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Hermit SSH4 screens
BirdyBeep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hermit SSH at none against BirdyBeep's 2. 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. BirdyBeep sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Hermit SSH asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hermit SSH ships an update monthly, BirdyBeep every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Hermit SSH versus BirdyBeep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHermit SSHBirdyBeep
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDave StantonRebecca Despoiu

In-app purchases

None

Hermit SSH

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

BirdyBeep

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Plus Annual$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Hermit SSH free?
Hermit SSH is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BirdyBeep free?
BirdyBeep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hermit SSH or BirdyBeep have ads?
Neither Hermit SSH nor BirdyBeep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hermit SSH or BirdyBeep?
Hermit SSH ships an update monthly, and BirdyBeep every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hermit SSH was updated on November 9, 2026 and BirdyBeep on November 5, 2026.

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