ShellPilot vs Remote Desktop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ShellPilot
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Connect to any server from your iPhone or iPad, and keep the commands you run often ready to reuse. ShellPilot is a full SSH terminal built for developers, sysadmins, and anyone who manages a server, a VPS, or a Raspberry Pi on the go. SAVED SNIPPETS Keep the commands you run often — restarts, log checks, deploy steps — and run them in a tap on any saved server, instead of retyping them every time you connect. FULL TERMINAL A real terminal emulator with xterm-compatible rendering, not a cut-down text box. Works with tmux, vim, and anything else you run over SSH. SSH KEYS Generate or import Ed25519 and RSA keys. Keys stay on your device — nothing is uploaded anywhere. SFTP FILE BROWSER Browse remote files next to your local storage over SFTP. Upload, download, rename and delete without leaving the app. MULTIPLE SERVERS Save connections for every server you manage. Switch between a VPS, a Raspberry Pi, or a Docker host in a tap. RECENT SESSIONS Jump back into a server you connected to recently, without hunting through a list. WORKS WELL FOR • Developers deploying and checking on servers • Sysadmins managing a VPS or home server • Raspberry Pi and homelab owners • Anyone who needs a real terminal without a laptop ABOUT THIS APP Your connections, keys and snippets stay on your device. No account, no cloud sync of credentials. PURCHASES • ShellPilot Pro — one-time purchase • Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase • One-time purchase — no subscription and no renewals Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://cosmovex.web.app/apps/shellpilot/privacy-policy
Remote Desktop
Securely access and control your Windows PC, server, or Mac from your iPhone or iPad. Connect directly using RDP and VNC protocols without needing an account or subscription.
- RDP and VNC protocol support
- Quick Connect for instant access
- Trackpad and direct-touch modes
- Two-way clipboard sync
- Audio redirection
- On-device AI assistant for troubleshooting
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Remote Desktop lets you securely control your Windows PC, server, or Mac from your iPhone and iPad. Built on the industry-standard RDP and VNC protocols, it connects directly to your computers — no account, no cloud middleman, no subscription required to get started. CONNECT YOUR WAY • RDP for Windows (NLA + TLS security) and VNC for Mac, Linux, and Raspberry Pi • Quick Connect — type an address and connect instantly, nothing to set up • Save your PCs, mark favorites, and reconnect in one tap • Auto-reconnect keeps your session alive through network drops BUILT FOR TOUCH • Trackpad and direct-touch modes with adjustable sensitivity • Full gesture set: tap, right-click, middle-click, scroll, pinch-to-zoom, pan • On-screen keyboard plus special keys (Esc, Tab, Ctrl, Alt, Win, F1–F12, Ctrl+Alt+Del, arrows) • Hardware keyboard support • Designed for iPad with a sidebar layout and Split View A REAL DESKTOP, NOT A SLIDESHOW • Crisp Metal-accelerated rendering with fit, fill, native, and integer scaling • Per-connection quality presets, resolution, and color depth • Two-way clipboard sync • Audio redirection • Send files to your PC (they appear under \\tsclient on Windows) KNOW YOUR CONNECTIONS • Usage statistics with charts and per-connection health scores • Smart suggestions to fix unstable or high-latency connections • Exportable PDF usage reports • On-device AI assistant (iPhone/iPad with Apple Intelligence) that explains your usage and helps troubleshoot — running entirely on your device PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account, no analytics, no tracking • Passwords stored only in the device Keychain • AI runs on-device — your data never leaves your iPhone or iPad Connect to the computers you already own. Remote Desktop never sees your data.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Remote Desktop at none against ShellPilot's 1. Remote Desktop also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). ShellPilot's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. ShellPilot sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Remote Desktop asks for nothing beyond the download.
ShellPilot ships an update every 6 months, Remote Desktop every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ShellPilot | Remote Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sahana A S | Bees Studio |
In-app purchases
ShellPilot
- ShellPilot Pro$4.99
Remote Desktop
No in-app purchases









