Comparison

mssh vs Simple VNC

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

Head to head
About

mssh

Features
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mSSH is a professional SSH and SFTP client for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Connect to your remote servers with password or key-based authentication (Ed25519, ECDSA, RSA). - Six terminal themes, saved command snippets, and cross-device iCloud sync - Everything you need to manage servers on the go. Cross-Device Sync โ€” Your connections, SSH keys, snippets, and settings sync across all your devices via iCloud. Private SSH keys sync optionally through end-to-end encrypted iCloud Keychain. On Mac, your existing ~/.ssh folder is imported automatically. Terminal Themes & Fonts โ€” Choose from six built-in themes: Default, Solarized Dark, Monokai, Nord, Dracula, and Tokyo Night. Pick your preferred font family and size (9โ€“24pt), cursor style (block, bar, or underline), and blink behavior. Changes apply instantly. Snippets โ€” Save commands you run often (deploy scripts, log tailing, service restarts) and send them to any active session with one tap. Access snippets from the terminal toolbar or the iOS keyboard accessory bar. Connection Organization โ€” Star favorites to pin them at the top. Group connections by environment (Production, Staging, Personal). Add color tags for visual scanning. Search across all connections by name, host, username, or group. SSH Terminal โ€” Full shell access with xterm-256color support. Manage multiple sessions with tabs. Split terminal view on iPad. Custom keyboard accessory bar with Esc, Tab, Ctrl, arrow keys, and quick-access snippets. format. Generate Ed25519 keys directly in the app. Import keys by pasting PEM text or from your Mac's ~/.ssh folder. All private keys stored in the Keychain with hardware encryption. SFTP File Browser โ€” Browse remote filesystems, upload and download files, and manage directories with an intuitive touch interface. Security โ€” Face ID and Touch ID for app-level protection. All credentials in the Keychain, hardware-encrypted. Host key verification via Trust On First Use (TOFU) with SHA-256 fingerprints. No accounts, no telemetry, no ads. Mac Support โ€” Native macOS app with sidebar navigation. Import your ~/.ssh keys and config with one click. Sync connections from iPhone via iCloud. Open Source โ€” mSSH is open source at github.com/nirasnet/mssh. Built with SwiftTerm and Citadel.

About

Simple VNC

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Simple VNC is a small iPhone app for viewing and controlling your Mac through macOS Screen Sharing. Why I built it I started building Simple VNC while traveling in Italy. I wanted a simple way to reach my Mac from my iPhone without another monthly subscription. What began as a small tool for my trip grew as I added the features I needed along the way. It worked well for me, so Iโ€™m sharing it for others to use for free. What you can do Keep your Macs in a simple connection library. Move the pointer like a trackpad, scroll with two fingers, pinch to zoom, and type with the iPhone keyboard. Compact floating controls keep common Mac keys, editing shortcuts and app switching within reach. Connect in View Only when you just want to look. Switch back to Control when you need to interact. Send Clipboard and Get Clipboard move plain text between your iPhone and Mac when you need it. Your saved connections stay on your iPhone. Remembered passwords use the device Keychain. There is no Simple VNC account, advertising or tracking. Getting started Turn on Screen Sharing on your Mac and allow access for your Mac user. Your iPhone needs a network route to the Mac, through your local network or a private network such as Tailscale. Use a trusted private network; Simple VNC does not set up a VPN or expose your Mac to the internet. Tailscale is a separate app and service with a free Personal plan. iOS 26 or later is required. Learn more and get support: https://fmnobar.com/work/simple-vnc

Screenshots

mssh4 screens
Simple VNC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple VNC at none against mssh's 3. mssh's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. mssh sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Simple VNC asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
mssh versus Simple VNC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermsshSimple VNC
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysโ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.0 โ€” better26.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size10 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJadesada PonyiumFARZAD MAHMOODINOBAR

In-app purchases

3 purchases

mssh

One-time3
  • Coffee Tip$0.99
  • Lunch Tip$4.99
  • Dinner Tip$9.99
None

Simple VNC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is mssh free?
mssh is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Simple VNC free?
Simple VNC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do mssh or Simple VNC have ads?
Neither mssh nor Simple VNC shows ads.

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