Kex vs Moshroom
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — 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 — 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 café. Monitor your AI coding agent from the couch. With Kex, your entire server infrastructure fits in your pocket. WHO IS KEX FOR? · DevOps engineers who need to respond to incidents anytime, anywhere · Developers running AI coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, or Aider on remote servers · System administrators managing fleets of Linux servers · Cloud engineers working with AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and more · Homelab enthusiasts monitoring Raspberry Pi clusters and self-hosted services · Students learning Linux and server administration · 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 — 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 — 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 F1–F12. Auto-repeat on directional keys. Modifier key toggles. Every key a terminal user needs — 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 — 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+1–9 shortcuts. Switch sessions, open new connections, and navigate — 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 — 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 — but don't want to carry a laptop everywhere. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Moshroom
This app provides a mobile terminal experience designed for modern developers, syncing across devices. It allows SSH/Mosh connections, AI coding assistance, and file editing with a touch-friendly interface.
- SSH/Mosh connections
- AI coding agent
- Full-screen composer for prompts
- Inline file attachment (SFTP)
- Remote file browser
- Floating quick-keys
- Snippets and iCloud sync
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Your terminal. Your servers. Wherever you are. Moshroom brings SSH, Mosh, remote files, and your everyday developer tools together on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Connect to the machines you already run, manage a project, work with an AI coding agent on your server, or fire off a quick command from your phone. TYPE YOUR WAY • Direct: type straight into the terminal for commands, shortcuts, and interactive programs. • Composer: write longer prompts in a spacious editor, revise before sending, and add files right where you need them. Your unsent draft stays there when you close it. • Automatic: use Direct with a hardware keyboard and Composer with the on-screen keyboard. Composer is the default. Switch modes in Settings and open the composer whenever you need more room. YOUR REMOTE WORKSPACE • Quick Connect: choose SSH or Mosh and tap a saved host to connect. • Hosts and projects: save a server once, then give each project its own folder, startup command, and tab. Use tmux sessions when available to return to work between connections. • Inline attachments: add a photo, PDF, log, or code file to your message. When you send, Moshroom uploads it over SFTP and inserts its remote path. Images are resized on your device before upload. • Remote files: browse folders, preview images and code, edit files in place, and save copies to Files or Finder over SFTP. • Terminal keys: keep Esc, Tab, Ctrl, and arrow keys close at hand. Use keyboard shortcuts on Mac and with a hardware keyboard. • Copy and paste: select terminal text with touch or a pointer. Compatible remote programs can send text to your clipboard through OSC 52. • Tabs: keep servers, projects, and tools in separate tabs so you can move between tasks. • Saved snippets: keep frequently used commands and prompts ready to insert into the composer. • Passwords and 2FA: keep credentials and verification codes in the built-in vault. • Music: play music stored on your server while you work. ACROSS YOUR DEVICES Enable iCloud sync to bring your hosts, projects, snippets, passwords, and 2FA codes across your devices. Secrets and syncable SSH keys use end-to-end-encrypted iCloud Keychain. Secure Enclave keys stay on the device where they were created. GET STARTED AT YOUR OWN PACE The welcome tour explains hosts, projects, connection options, and typing modes. Reopen it from Settings whenever you need a refresher. BRING YOUR OWN SERVER Moshroom connects to your existing SSH service. Mosh connections also require mosh-server and an allowed UDP port on the server. tmux is optional and can keep sessions running between connections; it is not required to use Mosh. No proprietary Moshroom server agent is needed. Your command-line tools and AI agents run on your own machines. Moshroom is the terminal you use to reach them. Moshroom is open-source software under the GNU GPLv3 license.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Kex at 100% against Moshroom's 50%. Kex also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Moshroom's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Kex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Moshroom asks for nothing beyond the download.
Kex ships an update every 2 days, Moshroom weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kex | Moshroom |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 88 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ali Mert TUFEKCI | Alvaro Franz |
Customer experience
Kex
Moshroom
In-app purchases
Kex
- Weekly Plan$4.997 Days
- Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
- Yearly Plan$29.991 Year
Moshroom
No in-app purchases









