Comparison

ZenTerm vs Shakescape

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

Head to head
About

ZenTerm

Features
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ZenTerm is a self-hosted terminal client for iPhone and iPad, designed to run AI coding agents on a server you own โ€” no cloud, no middleman, no account. It connects your device directly to your own machine (a Mac at home, a single-board computer, or a Linux VPS), letting you browse, edit, and run commands from anywhere. FEATURES โ€ข Full Terminal โ€” A real xterm.js-based shell with tmux multi-window tabs โ€ข Multiple Sessions โ€” Run several AI coding agents in parallel and switch between them โ€ข iPad Workspace โ€” Landscape support, sidebar navigation, and split panes for side-by-side work โ€ข Guided Setup โ€” Start the Gateway, pair by QR code, and configure remote access step by step โ€ข Rate Limit Tracking โ€” Monitor your AI agent usage at a glance from Settings โ€ข File Browser โ€” Browse, upload, and download files on your server โ€ข Dark & Light Themes โ€” A calm Zen Garden visual design HOW IT WORKS Run the open-source ZenTerm Gateway on a computer you own (any Mac, Linux machine, single-board computer, or VPS). Your iPhone or iPad communicates directly with the Gateway over WebSocket. Nothing routes through our servers โ€” your data stays with you. WHO IT'S FOR โ€ข Check on your server from anywhere โ€ข Operate AI coding agents from your iPhone or iPad โ€ข Prefer a self-hosted, open-source solution over a SaaS terminal PRIVACY No account required. No ads. No analytics. No tracking. All data stays on your device and on your server. Gateway source code on GitHub: https://github.com/phni3j9a/zenterm

About

Shakescape

Features
Read full description

Shakescape brings ICANN and Handshake websites into one browser and shows how each connection was verified. Browse: - Open ordinary HTTPS sites while Handshake headers synchronize - Enter Handshake names such as example/ and name.tld/ - Verify Handshake headers and name proofs on your device - Inspect resolver paths, DNSSEC, TLSA, DANE, and WebPKI security details - Use optional HNS peer-to-peer DNS relay or DNS-over-HTTPS recovery - Manage tabs, history, downloads, cookies, and website data in WebKit Wallet and names: - Create or restore a device-local HNS and Bitcoin wallet - Sync HNS balances and activity directly with Handshake peers - Sync Bitcoin with compact filters and relevant blocks from Bitcoin peers - Receive HNS by address or payment QR code, and review guarded HNS and Bitcoin sends - Track Handshake names, edit resource records, and transfer or finalize names - Delete the local wallet when needed ShakeScape offers and swaps: - Connect to peers and publish, inspect, or cancel signed BTC/HNS offers - Follow noncustodial BTC/HNS atomic swaps through funding, redemption, or refund - Resume swap progress after an interruption Wallet keys stay on your device. Websites cannot read the wallet or start native wallet actions. Sends and swap funding require your approval in the app. QR scanning is processed on the device. No sign-in is required.

Screenshots

ZenTerm4 screens
Shakescape4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shakescape at every 5 days against ZenTerm's every 9 days. ZenTerm's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZenTerm ships an update every 9 days, Shakescape every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
ZenTerm versus Shakescape: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZenTermShakescape
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size50 MB67 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperYuki NakanoDenuo Web, LLC

In-app purchases

None

ZenTerm

No in-app purchases

None

Shakescape

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZenTerm free?
ZenTerm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shakescape free?
Shakescape is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ZenTerm or Shakescape have ads?
Neither ZenTerm nor Shakescape shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZenTerm or Shakescape?
ZenTerm ships an update every 9 days, and Shakescape every 5 days. Most recently, ZenTerm was updated on October 5, 2026 and Shakescape on October 21, 2026.

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