Comparison

AirShell vs Remote Terminal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — 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

Remote Terminal

Features
Read full description

Your servers, and the AI agents working on them, in your pocket. Remote Terminal is a full SSH client for iPhone and iPad: a real terminal emulator, deep tmux integration, a remote file browser, and a dashboard that shows what every terminal-based AI coding agent is doing — including which one is waiting for your approval. Start Claude Code, Codex or another terminal agent inside tmux on your server, lock your phone, switch from Wi-Fi to cellular, and come back later. The agent keeps working on the server, and Remote Terminal reconnects and reattaches so you can see exactly what it did while you were away. AN AGENT COMMAND CENTRE • Every agent, on every server, on one screen • At a glance: which one is thinking, editing files, running a command — or waiting for you • Tap an agent to drop straight into its terminal • A per-agent timeline, with tools used, commands run and files touched A REAL TERMINAL • Complete emulation: 256 and true colour, alternate screen, full-screen TUIs, mouse reporting, hyperlinks • A keyboard built for a terminal: Esc, Tab, Ctrl, Alt, arrows, Home, End, Page Up/Down, function keys — hardware keyboards too • Search your scrollback, copy any region, paste with bracketed paste • Text reflows when you rotate the device instead of scrambling DEEP TMUX INTEGRATION • Create, attach, rename and kill sessions; add windows, split and close panes • Preview any pane without attaching to it • Attach automatically on connect, and reattach after a dropped connection MANY SERVERS AT ONCE • Production, staging and your GPU box connected simultaneously • Switch instantly, with favourites, search and colour tags • Per-server themes, font sizes, startup commands and tmux behaviour RESILIENT BY DESIGN • Automatic reconnection with backoff, so a flaky network does not hammer your server • Instant reconnection when the network comes back, rather than waiting out a timer • A connection state you can read, with errors that say what to do next REMOTE FILES • Browse, read and edit files on your server, with syntax highlighting for 19 language families • Upload and download over the SSH connection you already have • Confirmation before anything destructive VOICE AND IMAGES • Dictate a command or a message for an agent, review the text, then send it • Anything that looks destructive has to be confirmed, because dictation mishears • Photograph an error on another screen and hand the image to an agent BUILT ON KEYCHAIN SECURITY • Passwords, private keys and passphrases live in the iOS Keychain, on this device only, excluded from backups • Optional Face ID or Touch ID for saved credentials, and an App Lock for the app itself • Proper SSH host key verification: a changed key is never accepted silently • Ed25519 and ECDSA keys, including passphrase-protected OpenSSH keys PRIVATE BY CONSTRUCTION No account, no Remote Terminal server, no analytics SDK. Your connections go from your device straight to your machines, and your credentials, commands, output and files never go anywhere except the server you connected to. REMOTE TERMINAL PRO Connecting to your own servers is part of Remote Terminal Pro, with the agent dashboard, file transfer, voice and image input, notifications and insights. It starts with a 3-day free trial; the price and renewal terms are shown before you subscribe, and you can cancel any time in your Apple Account settings. Want to look around first? Turn on Demo Mode in Settings: sample servers that cannot be reached, every screen unlocked, and no connection ever opened. TERMS AND PRIVACY Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Full terms: https://edgemarket.app/remote_terminal#terms Privacy Policy: https://edgemarket.app/remote_terminal#privacy Contacts: info@edgemarket.app

Screenshots

AirShell4 screens
Remote Terminal4 screens

Verdict

The call

AirShell and Remote Terminal are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. AirShell sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Remote Terminal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
AirShell versus Remote Terminal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAirShellRemote Terminal
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAny Learner LLCDanjel Durmo

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
1 purchases

Remote Terminal

Subscriptions1
  • Remote Terminal Pro Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month

Questions

Is AirShell free?
AirShell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Remote Terminal free?
Remote Terminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AirShell or Remote Terminal have ads?
Neither AirShell nor Remote Terminal shows ads.

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