Kex vs Shelify SSH Remote Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Kex
This app provides a full xterm-256color terminal emulator for iOS, allowing users to connect to servers via SSH, Mosh, and Telnet. It includes SFTP file management, multiple session support, and a specialized keyboard for efficient remote server access and administration.
- Full xterm-256color terminal emulation
- SSH, Mosh, and Telnet protocol support
- Built-in SFTP file manager
- Multiple simultaneous terminal sessions
- Purpose-built terminal keyboard accessory
- Extensive customization options (themes, fonts, cursor)
- Hardware keyboard support with shortcuts
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A desktop-grade SSH terminal emulator built for iOS. Kex is not a simplified command runner โ it's a full xterm-256color terminal that runs vim, htop, nano, and everything you expect from a real terminal. Leave your laptop behind. Restart a crashed service from the beach. Check your CI pipeline at the airport. SSH into production from a cafรฉ. Monitor your AI coding agent from the couch. With Kex, your entire server infrastructure fits in your pocket. WHO IS KEX FOR? ยท DevOps engineers who need to respond to incidents anytime, anywhere ยท Developers running AI coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, or Aider on remote servers ยท System administrators managing fleets of Linux servers ยท Cloud engineers working with AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and more ยท Homelab enthusiasts monitoring Raspberry Pi clusters and self-hosted services ยท Students learning Linux and server administration ยท Anyone who has ever thought "I wish I had a terminal right now" REAL TERMINAL EMULATION Full xterm-256color support with CSI, ESC, OSC, and SGR sequences. Alternate screen buffer for full-screen apps like vim, nano, top, and htop. 256-color and TrueColor rendering. SSH, MOSH & TELNET Connect to any server with SSH. Authenticate with password or SSH keys (Ed25519 and RSA). Mosh support keeps your session alive through Wi-Fi switches, cellular handoffs, and unstable hotel networks. Telnet for legacy systems and network equipment. All protocols, one app. BUILT-IN SFTP FILE MANAGER Browse, upload, download, and manage files on your remote servers. Create folders, rename, delete โ all from an intuitive file browser. Pull a log file, push a config change, or grab a backup. No need for a separate SFTP app. MULTIPLE SESSIONS Run multiple terminal sessions simultaneously. Switch between them with a tap or with keyboard shortcuts. Each session maintains its own independent state โ monitor production on one tab, debug staging on another. Manage all your servers from one place. TERMINAL KEYBOARD DONE RIGHT A purpose-built keyboard accessory bar with ESC, Ctrl, Alt, Tab, arrow keys, and F1โF12. Auto-repeat on directional keys. Modifier key toggles. Every key a terminal user needs โ designed for real work, not bolted on as an afterthought. CUSTOMIZE EVERYTHING 10+ built-in terminal themes including Dracula, Nord, Solarized, Monokai, Gruvbox, Tokyo Night, One Dark, GitHub Dark, and more. Choose your monospace font and size. Pick your cursor style โ block, underline, or beam with optional blink. Make it yours. iPAD POWER USER Full hardware keyboard support with Cmd+N, Cmd+W, Cmd+T, and Cmd+1โ9 shortcuts. Switch sessions, open new connections, and navigate โ all without touching the screen. Pair with a keyboard and your iPad becomes a proper workstation. SECURITY FIRST SSH keys and credentials stored in the iOS Keychain โ encrypted on your device, never in the cloud. Ed25519 and RSA key support. Host key verification with SHA-256 fingerprints. Organize keys into groups, see which connections use each key. All connections encrypted end-to-end. STAY CONNECTED Configurable keep-alive to prevent session drops. Detailed connection logs for troubleshooting. Save and organize your servers into groups with one-tap access. Host key memory so you connect with confidence every time. Kex is built for people who take their work seriously โ but don't want to carry a laptop everywhere. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Shelify SSH Remote Connect
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Your servers, one tap away. Shelify is a fast, no-nonsense SSH client for your phone. Connect to a server, run what you need, and get on with your day โ no account, no cloud sync, no setup ritual. SSH IN SECONDS Save a host once and reconnect with a single tap. Password and private key authentication, custom ports, and standard SSH options โ all in a form that takes under a minute to fill in. A REAL TERMINAL Full-screen terminal with proper key handling, an extra key row for Ctrl, Tab, Esc and arrows, and pinch-to-zoom text sizing. Colors, cursor and control sequences behave the way you expect them to. SNIPPETS AND SAVED COMMANDS Store the commands you type over and over โ deployments, log tails, service restarts โ and run them in one tap instead of retyping them on a phone keyboard. MULTIPLE SESSIONS Keep several servers open at the same time and switch between them without dropping a connection. KEYS STAY ON YOUR DEVICE Private keys, passwords and host details are stored in the device keychain. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is synced to a server we control. WORKS WHEN YOU NEED IT Import an existing key, generate a new one, or paste one in. Connection details are yours to export and back up whenever you want. NO ACCOUNT REQUIRED No sign-up, no email, no profile. Install the app and connect. Shelify is built for people who administer servers and want a terminal in their pocket that doesn't get in the way. Shelify is free to use. Some features are available with Premium. โ Premium is an auto-renewable subscription. It renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings. Shelify SSH Remote Connect is a terminal client. It does not provide server administration advice, and you are responsible for the commands you run on your own systems. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://shelify.com/privacy/ App Terms: https://shelify.com/terms/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Shelify SSH Remote Connect at none against Kex's shown. Kex's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Kex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Shelify SSH Remote Connect sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Kex ships an update every 2 days, Shelify SSH Remote Connect monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 19, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kex | Shelify SSH Remote Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | โ |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days โ better | Monthly |
| Ads | Yes | No โ better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | โ |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad โ better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ali Mert TUFEKCI | SELECTA LAB LLC |
In-app purchases
Kex
- Weekly Plan$4.997 Days
- Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
- Yearly Plan$29.991 Year
Shelify SSH Remote Connect
- Saved Hosts & Sessions - Month$1.991 Month
- Snippets & Commands - Yearly$8.991 Year
Questions
Is Kex free?
Is Shelify SSH Remote Connect free?
Do Kex or Shelify SSH Remote Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Kex or Shelify SSH Remote Connect?
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