Comparison

Tapssh vs Pocket Shell

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

Head to head
About

Tapssh

A visual SSH client for iOS that offers a touch-native interface for managing remote servers. It features a full SSH terminal with xterm emulation and a visual SFTP file browser for easy file management. Secure key generation and cloud sync are also included.

Highlights
  • Visual SSH terminal with xterm emulation
  • SFTP file browser with drag-and-drop upload
  • Secure Ed25519/RSA key generation in Secure Enclave
  • Cross-device cloud sync with zero-knowledge architecture
  • Quick Connect home screen widget
  • Custom keyboard row for CLI tools
Features
Read full description

Tapssh is a visual SSH client for iOS that replaces command-line drudgery with a beautiful, touch-native interface. Built from the ground up with SwiftUI for iPhone and iPad. Whether you're managing a single home server or a complex cloud infrastructure, Tapssh puts your remote environments right at your fingertips. SSH TERMINAL Experience full xterm emulation with 256-color support and crisp JetBrains Mono rendering. Highly optimized for vim, htop, tmux, and every CLI tool you rely on. Features a custom keyboard row for quick access to Esc, Tab, and Ctrl. SFTP FILE BROWSER Browse remote files just like you do in Finder. Drag to upload, tap to preview, and easily batch rename or delete files. Enjoy visual directory tree navigation - no more guessing from ls output. SECURE ENCLAVE KEY GENERATION Generate Ed25519 and RSA key pairs directly inside Apple's hardware security chip. Private keys cannot be extracted - not by us, not by malware. Every session is protected by Face ID or Touch ID. CLOUD SYNC Server metadata syncs seamlessly across all your iOS devices using a zero-knowledge architecture. Your private keys never leave your device. QUICK CONNECT WIDGET Tap your home screen widget to jump straight into any server. One tap, and you're connected. FREE VS PRO Start for free, or upgrade to Pro to unlock your full infrastructure: Free: 2 servers, basic SSH terminal, and basic SFTP browsing. Tapssh Pro ($29.99/year): Unlimited servers, full SFTP capabilities (upload/delete/rename), Quick Connect widget, Siri Shortcuts integration, and priority cloud sync. PRIVACY FIRST Tapssh does not collect your data. No analytics. No tracking. Your infrastructure, your rules. Subscription Details: Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://tapssh.com/terms ⁠

About

Pocket Shell

Features
Read full description

Pocket Shell is a modern SSH client built for developers, server owners, IT users and anyone who needs quick access to remote machines from a mobile device. Connect to your servers, manage saved hosts, browse files with SFTP and run terminal commands from one clean, dark-mode interface. Whether you are checking a VPS, managing a cloud instance, accessing a Linux server or handling quick maintenance tasks while away from your computer, Pocket Shell gives you a simple and focused way to stay connected. Key Features: * SSH Client Save and organize your server connections in one place. Add host details such as hostname, port, username and authentication method, then access your servers quickly when needed. * Terminal Access Open a remote terminal session and run commands directly from your phone. Pocket Shell is designed for quick checks, server monitoring, command execution and remote troubleshooting. * Built-in SFTP File Browser Browse remote folders and manage server files through a clean SFTP interface. Move through directories, view folder structures and access server files without switching tools. * Local Terminal Access a local terminal area for command-line workflows directly inside the app. * Clean Dark Interface Pocket Shell uses a focused dark UI with clear text, simple navigation and developer-friendly controls, making it comfortable to use during long sessions or quick checks. Designed For: - Developers - System administrators - Cloud server users - VPS owners - Linux users - Homelab users - IT support users - Students learning server management - Anyone who needs SSH access on mobile Why Pocket Shell? Pocket Shell is built around one idea: remote server access should feel simple, clean and reliable on mobile. Instead of a cluttered interface, the app keeps the most important tools close: saved hosts, SSH terminal, SFTP file browsing, authentication options and quick access controls. Use Pocket Shell when you need to: - Connect to a Linux server - Check server status - Run quick terminal commands - Manage SSH hosts - Browse remote files with SFTP - Access your VPS or cloud instance - Work with your homelab server - Handle quick server maintenance while away from your computer

Screenshots

Tapssh4 screens
Pocket Shell4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pocket Shell at none against Tapssh's 1. Pocket Shell also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Tapssh sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. Pocket Shell asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Tapssh versus Pocket Shell: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTapsshPocket Shell
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnwar BahouApps Haus

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tapssh

Subscriptions1
  • Tapssh Pro7 Days trial$29.991 Year
None

Pocket Shell

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tapssh free?
Tapssh is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pocket Shell free?
Pocket Shell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tapssh or Pocket Shell have ads?
Neither Tapssh nor Pocket Shell shows ads.

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