Hey Terminal vs JTerm
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hey Terminal
A fast, keyboard-first SSH terminal application designed for iPad. It offers a distraction-free environment for real terminal workflows, supporting tools like vim, tmux, and top.
- Fast SSH terminal
- Keyboard-first workflow
- Distraction-free experience
- Supports vim, tmux, top
- Built for real terminal workflows
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Your work machine, from your iPad. Your work computer can stay at home or in the office. Connect to it over SSH with Hey Terminal, open Codex or Claude Code there, and continue working on your project from your iPad. A keyboard-first terminal for iPad Use a physical keyboard to enter prompts and run commands. Review your project with your remote CLI, edit files with vim, or work in tmux when those tools are available on your computer. Keep different connections in separate tabs. Create a tab with Command-T, close it with Command-W, and switch with Command-1 through Command-9. Quick remote work on iPhone When your computer isn't with you, connect for a short command, check a project file, or send a follow-up request to your remote CLI. SSH and a local terminal Connect with an SSH command or a configured host alias. Authenticate with a password or SSH key. Use the local terminal for basic file commands and SSH key generation. Before you connect You need a computer or server with SSH enabled that you can reach from your device. Remote tools run on that machine, not inside Hey Terminal. Install and configure the tools you want to use there, with any required accounts. Your remote machine must be powered on and accessible. No app account or subscription required.
JTerm
A native SSH client and terminal emulator for iOS devices. It allows secure connections, file management via SFTP, and supports multiple live sessions with an AI assistant for terminal workflows. Offers custom keyboard rows and hardware keyboard support.
- Secure SSH connections
- SFTP file explorer
- Multiple live sessions
- AI Assistant
- Custom keyboard row
- Hardware keyboard support
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JTerm is a fast, native SSH client and xterm-compatible terminal for iPhone and iPad. Connect securely, manage remote files with SFTP, and keep essential server workflows close at hand. FEATURES • Secure SSH connections with ordered multi-hop jump hosts • Saved hosts with sortable groups and credentials protected by the iOS Keychain • Reusable SSH keys shared across hosts • SFTP file explorer with uploads, downloads, favorite folders, sharing, and inline text editing • Multiple live sessions — keep several connections open and switch instantly • Automatic reconnection with backoff when your network drops or changes • Saved commands for frequently used terminal workflows • AI Assistant that can work with active terminal sessions using built-in AI or your own provider • Custom keyboard row with Esc, Ctrl, Alt, arrows, Tab, pipe, and more • Hardware-keyboard support on iPad with Command shortcuts • iPad split view with hosts and sessions beside the terminal • Pinch to zoom the terminal font • iCloud sync for hosts, keys, and settings across your devices Your secrets stay on-device: passwords, private keys, and AI API keys are protected by the iOS Keychain and sync only through iCloud Keychain. Built-in AI requires Sign in with Apple and cloud-processing consent. Permanent AI credits do not expire. One-time AI plans last 31 days. Independent monthly AI credit packs renew automatically; different amounts can be subscribed to together and are billed separately. Unused monthly allowance expires at the end of each billing period. These purchases are separate from JTerm Pro. Find balances and purchases in Settings > Buy AI Credits, configure AI in Settings > AI Information, and manage or delete your account in Settings > Account. Privacy Policy: https://jterm.jimeji.com/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hey Terminal at none against JTerm's 7. Hey Terminal also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. JTerm sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Hey Terminal asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hey Terminal against 5.0 for JTerm. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Hey Terminal ships an update every 6 days, JTerm every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hey Terminal | JTerm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | JONGMIN CHOI | Hangzhou Blade Technology Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
Hey Terminal
JTerm
In-app purchases
Hey Terminal
No in-app purchases
JTerm
- 1 Year Pro1 Year trial$1.991 Year
- 1,000 Monthly AI Credits$1.991 Month
- 3,000 Monthly AI Credits$4.991 Month
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- 10,000 Monthly AI Credits$14.991 Month
- 1,000 AI Credits$2.99
- 3,000 AI Credits$7.49
- 10,000 AI Credits$22.49









