AirShell vs QuickTerminal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
AirShell
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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/
QuickTerminal
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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 (8โ32px) 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
Verdict
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
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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AirShell | QuickTerminal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No โ better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac โ better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Any Learner LLC | KAZUHIRO KAKIMOTO |
In-app purchases
AirShell
- AirShell Pro Monthly$6.991 Month
- AirShell Pro Yearly$59.991 Year
- AirShell Pro Lifetime$99.99
QuickTerminal
- Pro - Annual$1.991 Year
- Pro - Lifetime$6.99









