# ShellPhone vs Tailscode

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tailscode at every 2 days against ShellPhone's every 9 days. ShellPhone's advantage is iOS requirement (15.5 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ShellPhone sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year and Tailscode sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ShellPhone ships an update every 9 days, Tailscode every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ShellPhone | Tailscode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tailscode/id6791660932/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Antonio Martinez Gimeno](https://appshunter.io/developer/445290519) | [Midgar Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484270247) |

## What reviewers say

### ShellPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellphone-ssh-client/id6764346831)

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Power user | $1.99 | per year |
| Network tools | $1.99 | per year |
| Remote desktop | $3.99 | per year |
| All-in-one | $5.99 | per year |


### Tailscode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tailscode/id6791660932)

Interact with AI agents like Claude Code and Oh My Pi from your phone. Monitor and approve commands, view code changes, and manage conversations live on your lock screen. All data is transmitted point-to-point over your private network.

**Highlights:** Live Lock Screen Activities for conversations, Approve commands and answer agent questions, View code diffs and output inline, Manage multiple servers and conversations, Track conversation costs and model usage, End-to-end encrypted communication

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tailscode Pro | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lavish Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ShellPhone free?

ShellPhone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Tailscode free?

Tailscode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ShellPhone or Tailscode have ads?

Neither ShellPhone nor Tailscode shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ShellPhone or Tailscode?

ShellPhone ships an update every 9 days, and Tailscode every 2 days. Most recently, ShellPhone was updated on September 17, 2026 and Tailscode on September 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*