Kex vs DeployGate
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/
DeployGate
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DeployGate is a powerful development and testing support tool designed to streamline the testing, verification, and feedback workflow for your team's in-development apps. From verifying app behavior to reporting bugs, this app seamlessly supports the entire QA process in one place. 【Key Features】 ・Manage Test App Builds & Versions ・Easily view a list of shared test applications, including revision histories and detailed build specifications. ・Effortless Screen Recording ・Select any app under test and start recording right within DeployGate. ・Clearly capture hard-to-explain bugs and reproduction steps visually. ・Review & Manage Captures ・Browse your history of recorded test sessions in a single list. ・Keep track of report statuses, quickly identifying pending and sent feedback. ・Automated Data Collection & Feedback Submission ・Send bug reports along with recorded videos and custom notes instantly to your development team. ・Crucial debugging data—such as OS version, device model, and build metadata—is automatically attached in the background, eliminating the hassle of manual text entry. 【Recommended For Teams Who Want To:】 ・Optimize and accelerate their in-development app testing and QA processes. ・Help testers accurately communicate complex visual bugs to developers without long text explanations. ・Eliminate the tedious work of manually gathering device info and screenshots for every bug report. ・Drastically speed up the feedback loop between testers and developers.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DeployGate at none against Kex's 3. DeployGate also leads on ads (none vs shown). Kex's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). 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. DeployGate asks for nothing beyond the download.
Kex ships an update every 2 days, DeployGate every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kex | DeployGate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ali Mert TUFEKCI | DeployGate Inc. |
In-app purchases
Kex
- Weekly Plan$4.997 Days
- Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
- Yearly Plan$29.991 Year
DeployGate
No in-app purchases









