Comparison

AirShell vs QuickTerminal

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

Head to head
About

AirShell

Features
Read full description

AirShell is a mobile SSH terminal for developers who live in the command line. Connect to your Mac, Linux server, VPS or dev box from iPhone and keep working in the same CLI-first environment you already use on desktop. AirShell is designed for AI coding tools, tmux workflows, remote shells and repeatable terminal actions. Key features: - Live SSH terminal built for focused mobile work - Saved connection profiles with Keychain-backed secrets - OpenSSH ED25519 and RSA private key support - Trusted host-key verification on device - Press-and-hold speech input for terminal commands and prompts - Custom command shortcuts for deploys, logs, tests and tmux actions - Quick entries for Codex, Claude Code, Gemini CLI and CodeBuddy - CLI completion notifications when supported tools return to the shell prompt - tmux window and directory workflows for long-running sessions - iCloud sync for server profiles and custom commands AirShell does not replace your paid CLI tools. It extends them. Use the subscriptions, servers and command-line workflows you already have, even when you are away from the computer. Ideal for: - Checking long-running AI coding agents - Sending quick follow-up prompts by voice - Restarting services or tailing logs from anywhere - Keeping SSH and tmux workflows available from your pocket - Making desktop-grade CLI tools useful beyond the desk Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

QuickTerminal

Features
Read full description

QuickTerminal is a professional terminal emulator and SSH client designed for iOS and macOS. It combines local shell access, remote SSH sessions, SFTP file browsing, and AI-powered command assistance in one workspace. TERMINAL: - Full xterm-256color terminal emulation - Local shell support (bash, zsh, fish, sh, ksh) - Multiple concurrent sessions with tabs - Horizontal and vertical terminal splitting - Customizable fonts: Fira Code, JetBrains Mono, Source Code Pro, Cascadia Code - Adjustable font size (8โ€“32px) and cursor styles (block, underline, bar) - Scrollback buffer up to 50,000 lines SSH & SFTP: - SSH remote sessions with saved host profiles - Key-based and password authentication - SSH jump host / bastion support - SFTP file browser for remote directories - Connection pooling and session reuse - Secure credential storage AI ASSISTANT (Pro): - Claude and Gemini AI integration - Natural language command suggestions and explanations - Command safety analysis before execution - Context-aware help with working directory and git status COMMAND TOOLS: - Command snippets: save, categorize, search, and import/export as JSON - Command history with search, favorites, and directory tracking (500 entries) - Command palette for unified search across actions and snippets SECURITY POLICIES: - Command approval modes: None, Risky Only, Always - Risky command detection (rm -rf, mkfs, dd, shutdown, etc.) - Directory-based sandboxing with allowed paths - Configurable safety levels WORKSPACE: - Dockable floating panels - Integrated file browser - Resizable sidebar with icon-only mode - Grid and tabbed layout modes CUSTOMIZATION: - 20+ theme colors with dark/light mode - Customizable keyboard shortcuts - Responsive layout for mobile, tablet, and desktop ADVANCED CONNECTIVITY: - Mosh (Mobile Shell) for resilient connections over flaky networks - Port forwarding with local and remote SSH tunnels - GCP IAP tunneling for Google Cloud SSH access QuickTerminal Pro unlocks: - Unlimited AI agent execution - Ad-free experience - Advanced security policies - Priority support Terms of Use: https://kakitiro.com/quickapps/quickterminal/terms/

Screenshots

AirShell4 screens
QuickTerminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: AirShell at none against QuickTerminal's shown. QuickTerminal's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. AirShell sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and QuickTerminal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
AirShell versus QuickTerminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAirShellQuickTerminal
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac โ€” better
Requires iOS17.013.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size5 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAny Learner LLCKAZUHIRO KAKIMOTO

In-app purchases

3 purchases

AirShell

Subscriptions2
  • AirShell Pro Monthly$6.991 Month
  • AirShell Pro Yearly$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • AirShell Pro Lifetime$99.99
2 purchases

QuickTerminal

Subscriptions1
  • Pro - Annual$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro - Lifetime$6.99

Questions

Is AirShell free?
AirShell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is QuickTerminal free?
QuickTerminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AirShell or QuickTerminal have ads?
QuickTerminal shows ads; AirShell does not.
Which is updated more often, AirShell or QuickTerminal?
AirShell ships an update every 6 weeks, and QuickTerminal every 6 weeks. Most recently, AirShell was updated on October 11, 2026 and QuickTerminal on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons