Comparison

ShellPilot vs Remote Desktop

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ShellPilot

Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

ShellPilot4 screens
Remote Desktop4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ShellPilot sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Remote Desktop asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ShellPilot versus Remote Desktop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShellPilotRemote Desktop
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSahana A SBees Studio

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ShellPilot

One-time1
  • ShellPilot Pro$4.99
None

Remote Desktop

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ShellPilot free?
ShellPilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Remote Desktop free?
Remote Desktop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ShellPilot or Remote Desktop have ads?
Neither ShellPilot nor Remote Desktop shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ShellPilot or Remote Desktop?
ShellPilot ships an update every 6 months, and Remote Desktop every 6 weeks. Most recently, ShellPilot was updated on October 13, 2026 and Remote Desktop on October 12, 2026.

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