Comparison

ZenTerm vs Chameleon GO

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

Head to head
About

ZenTerm

Features
Read full description

ZenTerm is a self-hosted terminal client for iPhone and iPad, designed to run AI coding agents on a server you own — 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 • Full Terminal — A real xterm.js-based shell with tmux multi-window tabs • Multiple Sessions — Run several AI coding agents in parallel and switch between them • iPad Workspace — Landscape support, sidebar navigation, and split panes for side-by-side work • Guided Setup — Start the Gateway, pair by QR code, and configure remote access step by step • Rate Limit Tracking — Monitor your AI agent usage at a glance from Settings • File Browser — Browse, upload, and download files on your server • Dark & Light Themes — 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 — your data stays with you. WHO IT'S FOR • Check on your server from anywhere • Operate AI coding agents from your iPhone or iPad • 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

Chameleon GO

Read full description

Control your Chameleon Ultra and Lite from your iPhone over Bluetooth. *Requires a Chameleon Ultra or Chameleon Lite device (sold separately). • Read HF (MIFARE, Ultralight, NTAG) and LF (EM410x, HID, and more) tags • Emulate cards in your device slots — 3 free, all 8 with a one-time unlock • Recover MIFARE Classic keys: dictionary, MFKey32/64, Nested • Write & copy magic cards (Gen1a,Gen2,Gen3,Gen4,T5577) • Manage slots, edit dumps, and update firmware (DFU) No ads, no tracking — your cards and keys never leave your device unless you export them. For research and cards you own or are authorized to test. Not affiliated with RFID Research Group. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

ZenTerm4 screens
Chameleon GO3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZenTerm at none against Chameleon GO's 1. ZenTerm also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Chameleon GO's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 9 days). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Chameleon GO sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ZenTerm asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZenTerm ships an update every 9 days, Chameleon GO daily. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences Ā· 2 level
ZenTerm versus Chameleon GO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZenTermChameleon GO
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuki NakanoKonstantin Rafikov

In-app purchases

None

ZenTerm

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Chameleon GO

One-time1
  • 8 Slots$4.99

Questions

Is ZenTerm free?
ZenTerm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chameleon GO free?
Chameleon GO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ZenTerm or Chameleon GO have ads?
Neither ZenTerm nor Chameleon GO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZenTerm or Chameleon GO?
ZenTerm ships an update every 9 days, and Chameleon GO daily. Most recently, ZenTerm was updated on October 5, 2026 and Chameleon GO on October 14, 2026.

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