Comparison

Shellora vs Thumbdesk

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

Head to head
About

Shellora

This app provides a comprehensive SSH client for remote server management on mobile devices. It offers terminal sessions, file transfers, host organization, and AI-powered command assistance for developers and IT professionals.

Highlights
  • Real SSH terminal
  • Remote system connection
  • File transfers
  • AI command help
  • Built-in command library
  • Host organization
  • SSH key vault
Features
Read full description

Shellora is a modern SSH client for iPhone and iPad, built for people who need practical remote access and server tools in one clean app. Connect to your own or authorized remote SSH servers, open terminal sessions, transfer files, organize hosts, manage SSH keys, search command references, and get AI command help from a mobile experience designed for serious work. Shellora is more than a basic SSH connection app. It is a focused remote server workspace that helps you connect faster, work smarter, and handle common admin tasks without jumping between multiple apps. Whether you are checking logs, updating packages, restarting a service, reviewing disk usage, managing config files, or looking up the right command while away from your desk, Shellora helps you stay productive from anywhere. Shellora also supports multiple languages, including English, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Hebrew, Greek, Czech, Hindi, Bengali, Russian, Urdu, and more. Core features: • Real SSH terminal for iPhone and iPad Open terminal sessions with a touch-friendly interface built for command-line work. • Connect to remote systems over SSH Use Shellora to access personal servers, cloud instances, lab environments, staging systems, and production machines from your iPhone or iPad. • File transfers Upload and download files between your device and remote systems with a fast workflow and transfer history. • AI command help Ask for terminal commands in plain English and get suggestions you can review before using. • Built-in command library Search useful command references by category and copy commands quickly when needed. • Custom Commands Library Test, save, and quickly reinsert your own commands directly from the command library. • Organize hosts with folders and favorites Group hosts by project or role and keep saved connections easy to manage. • iCloud Sync with selective sync options Sync host information, saved passwords, and private keys with control over what gets synced. • SSH key vault Store, organize, generate, import, and export SSH keys in one place. • Favorite Apps Pin frequently used server tools and apps for faster access inside your workflow. • Terminal themes and personalization Choose from multiple terminal themes for a workspace that feels comfortable day or night. • Mobile workflow for real remote work Check a machine, review logs, transfer a file, confirm service status, or look up a command while on the move. Shellora is useful for: • Developers • DevOps engineers • Sysadmins • IT teams • Cloud engineers • Security professionals • Students learning Linux and server management • Power users who want serious SSH tools on iPhone and iPad Some features may vary depending on device support, operating system version, and remote system compatibility. Subscription Terms Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings. Terms of Use EULA: https://holding.vc/Apps-terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://holding.vc/Apps-privacy-policy

About

Thumbdesk

Access and manage your servers and projects from your mobile device. This app offers a secure, mobile-first workspace with features like real terminals, file browsing, system monitoring, and a code editor-style environment for your projects.

Highlights
  • Real terminal sessions
  • ProjectSpace code editor
  • System monitoring (CPU, memory, disk)
  • File browsing and transfer
  • Encrypted peer-to-peer connections
  • Local web server previews
Features
Read full description

Reach every computer you own from your iPhone or iPad: terminals, the full screen, files, projects and live stats. Pair a machine by scanning a QR code, or connect to any SSH server with nothing to install. PocketShell is now Thumbdesk. Same app, same account, same hosts, with a new name. Install the lightweight Thumbdesk agent on a Mac, Windows or Linux machine, scan the QR code, and you're connected. No SSH keys to copy, no ports to forward, no VPN to set up. Connections go directly between your phone and your machine over encrypted peer-to-peer links whenever the network allows. Built for developers, on-call engineers, homelab users and self-hosters who need safe access to machines they own, from anywhere. SCREEN SHARING - See and control your Mac, Windows or Linux desktop - Trackpad-style gestures, pinch to zoom and direct touch - Soft keyboard with modifier keys and platform shortcuts - Pick a display and quality, and hear the computer's sound - Clipboard sync between phone and computer TERMINAL - Real terminal sessions with a mobile-friendly key bar - Sessions resume where you left off, even after switching networks - Snap a photo, crop it and drop it straight into the terminal - Works with tmux and long-running jobs SSH HOSTS, NOTHING TO INSTALL - Add any server you can reach over SSH: VPS, Raspberry Pi, NAS - Terminal, SFTP files, stats and projects without installing anything on the server - Host keys are verified before your credentials are sent FILES AND PROJECTS - Browse, preview, upload and download files - Transfers resume after a dropped connection and keep going in the background - Upload from any app with the share sheet - Open projects with a code editor, search, and Git status, diffs, staging and commits - Preview local dev servers in the built-in browser CODING AGENTS - Browse and resume Claude Code, Codex and Grok sessions running on your machines - See which agents are working with a Live Activity and widgets - Get notified when an agent finishes MONITORING - Live CPU, memory, disk, network and process stats for every host - Alerts for the disks and thresholds you care about - Stats history charts HOW IT WORKS 1. Install the Thumbdesk agent on your computer with one command, or add an SSH server 2. Scan the QR code to pair your phone 3. Open terminals, the screen, files, projects and stats from anywhere FREE - Up to 2 hosts - Terminals, files, projects, monitoring and dev previews - Screen sharing in 2-minute sessions - 2 alert rules and your latest 10 agent sessions THUMBDESK PRO - Up to 10 hosts - Unlimited screen sharing - Unlimited alert rules - Full agent session history - Stats history charts - Files over 5 MB - Direct host-to-host file transfers SECURITY Thumbdesk uses device-bound pairing, Ed25519 keys, biometric unlock and trusted-device approval. Terminal contents are never stored on our servers. Terminal I/O, files, screen video and stats flow directly between your phone and your machine whenever the network allows. Thumbdesk is for accessing machines you own or are authorized to operate. Privacy Policy: https://thumbdesk.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Shellora4 screens
Thumbdesk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shellora at 100% against Thumbdesk's 0%. Shellora also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and monetization model (free vs freemium). Thumbdesk's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Shellora sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Thumbdesk sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shellora ships an update every 5 days, Thumbdesk monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shellora versus Thumbdesk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShelloraThumbdesk
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB105 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYaser AliYash Agarwal

Customer experience

Shellora

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Thumbdesk

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Shellora

Subscriptions3
  • Shellora Pro$1.997 Days
  • Shellora Pro$4.991 Month
  • Shellora Pro$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Shellora Pro$49.99
3 purchases

Thumbdesk

Subscriptions2
  • PocketShell Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • PocketShell Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • PocketShell Pro Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Shellora free?
Shellora is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thumbdesk free?
Thumbdesk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shellora or Thumbdesk have ads?
Neither Shellora nor Thumbdesk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shellora or Thumbdesk?
Shellora ships an update every 5 days, and Thumbdesk monthly. Most recently, Shellora was updated on November 5, 2026 and Thumbdesk on November 7, 2026.

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