Comparison

Hey Terminal vs JTerm

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Fast SSH terminal
  • Keyboard-first workflow
  • Distraction-free experience
  • Supports vim, tmux, top
  • Built for real terminal workflows
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Secure SSH connections
  • SFTP file explorer
  • Multiple live sessions
  • AI Assistant
  • Custom keyboard row
  • Hardware keyboard support
Features
Read full description

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

Hey Terminal4 screens
JTerm3 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hey Terminal versus JTerm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHey TerminalJTerm
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB16 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJONGMIN CHOIHangzhou Blade Technology Co., Ltd

Customer experience

Hey Terminal

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

JTerm

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Hey Terminal

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

JTerm

Subscriptions4
  • 1 Year Pro1 Year trial$1.991 Year
  • 1,000 Monthly AI Credits$1.991 Month
  • 3,000 Monthly AI Credits$4.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • 10,000 Monthly AI Credits$14.991 Month
One-time3
  • 1,000 AI Credits$2.99
  • 3,000 AI Credits$7.49
  • 10,000 AI Credits$22.49

Questions

Is Hey Terminal free?
Hey Terminal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is JTerm free?
JTerm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hey Terminal or JTerm?
Hey Terminal and JTerm are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Hey Terminal or JTerm have ads?
Neither Hey Terminal nor JTerm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hey Terminal or JTerm?
Hey Terminal ships an update every 6 days, and JTerm every 5 days. Most recently, Hey Terminal was updated on October 25, 2026 and JTerm on October 21, 2026.

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