Comparison

FreeSSH vs BurnPony

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

Head to head
About

FreeSSH

Features
Read full description

100% free. No ads. Just use it! FreeSSH is a fast, clean, and reliable SSH client built for people who need to manage routers, switches, servers, Linux machines, and network equipment from iPhone. Whether you are a system administrator, network engineer, IT technician, homelab enthusiast, or developer, FreeSSH gives you a focused mobile SSH experience that makes remote access simple and practical when you are away from your desk. With FreeSSH, you can save devices for quick access, organize them into groups, and connect to your infrastructure without re-entering the same information every time. The app is designed to keep the workflow straightforward: add a device, connect quickly, and get to the terminal you need. If multiple systems share the same login, FreeSSH also supports global credentials, making it easier to manage many devices while reducing repeated setup. The interface is optimized for mobile use with a clear layout, readable text, and a terminal experience built to feel responsive on iPhone. Special key controls help with common command-line tasks, and the app is designed to make SSH access easier even on a smaller screen. From quick status checks to active troubleshooting, FreeSSH helps you stay productive when you need to access remote systems on the go. FreeSSH is useful for many types of work, including: Logging into Linux servers Managing routers and switches Running shell commands remotely Checking system status and connectivity Accessing homelab devices Handling quick infrastructure changes while away from a laptop Keeping important SSH targets organized in one place Key features include: Fast SSH connections from iPhone Saved devices for one-tap access Device grouping for better organization Global credential support for shared logins Per-device credential support for unique systems Mobile-friendly terminal interface Clean, focused design without unnecessary clutter Built for servers, routers, network gear, and remote administration FreeSSH is made for users who want a lightweight and practical SSH tool that focuses on the essentials. It is ideal for both quick remote access and everyday infrastructure tasks, giving you a dependable way to reach your systems whenever and wherever you need them.

About

BurnPony

Features
Read full description

Send a secret without making the other person install anything. Write a note, set the self-destruct rules, share one link. The note is encrypted on your iPhone with AES-256-GCM before anything is uploaded, and it decrypts only in the recipient's browser. The decryption key travels in the part of the link after the #, which browsers never send to any server, so the server stores ciphertext it cannot read, plus a note ID, a view count, and an expiry. No accounts, no names, no analytics. THREE KINDS OF NOTE • Simple: one note, one link, optional passphrase • Double bottom: one link with separate compartments, each opened by its own passphrase. Hand over one passphrase and only that compartment shows; nobody can prove the others exist • Split key: the note opens only when enough key links are combined, for example any 2 of 3 WHAT YOU CONTROL • Views: burn after 1 reading, or allow up to 100 • Expiry: 5 minutes to 30 days, changeable later, counted from now • Scheduled opening: the note stays hidden, looking like it does not exist, until the time you pick • Optional passphrase, stretched with PBKDF2 and mixed into the key. Send it through a different channel than the link • Open immediately: skip the confirmation screen when a note should open on the first visit • Auto-hide: the revealed note re-hides after a timer • Read receipts, disclosed to the recipient before they reveal the note. BurnPony does not do silent read tracking • Defaults for new notes, set once in Settings • A private label for your own list; it never leaves your device • QR code for in-person handoff: the whole link, key included, transfers with no network at all SAVED COPIES (OPTIONAL, OFF BY DEFAULT) Keep a copy of a note you send so you can reread it after it burns. You choose per note. Each copy is encrypted to a key held in the Secure Enclave, which only uses it after Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Double bottom notes are never saved. HONEST LIMITS Whoever has the full link (and passphrase, if set) can read the note. A recipient can always copy or photograph a note while it is visible. Self-destruction limits future access; it does not control the moment of reading. OPEN The app, the server, the viewer, and the wire-format specification are open source (Apache-2.0), with cross-implementation test vectors. Self-hosters can point the app at their own server from Settings. Protocol: https://burnpony.app/protocol BurnPony is part of the pony family of privacy tools: encryption you can inspect instead of taking a developer's word for it.

Screenshots

FreeSSH3 screens
BurnPony4 screens

Verdict

The call

FreeSSH and BurnPony 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
FreeSSH versus BurnPony: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFreeSSHBurnPony
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.618.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNhuBao NguyenKevin Stewart

In-app purchases

None

FreeSSH

No in-app purchases

None

BurnPony

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FreeSSH free?
FreeSSH is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BurnPony free?
BurnPony is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FreeSSH or BurnPony have ads?
Neither FreeSSH nor BurnPony shows ads.

Other comparisons