# SocketClaw vs Shellby

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SocketClaw at none against Shellby's 3. SocketClaw also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 11 days). Shellby's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shellby sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SocketClaw asks for nothing beyond the download.

SocketClaw ships an update daily, Shellby every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SocketClaw | Shellby |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 19 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Serhat Can Bakir](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896761584) | [荟 马](https://appshunter.io/developer/1859998670) |

## What reviewers say

### SocketClaw

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socketclaw-ssh-terminal/id6770700680)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shellby

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellby-ssh-client-and-terminal/id6786177565)

A native SSH client for Apple devices that offers SFTP, tunnels, and server monitoring. It features an AI assistant to translate plain language tasks into commands and Mosh-compatible transport for resilient sessions.

**Highlights:** AI-powered command generation, Mosh-compatible sessions, SFTP file transfer, Port forwarding and tunnels, Server monitoring (CPU, memory), On-screen key bar

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SocketClaw free?

SocketClaw is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shellby free?

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

### Do SocketClaw or Shellby have ads?

SocketClaw shows ads; Shellby does not.

### Which is updated more often, SocketClaw or Shellby?

SocketClaw ships an update daily, and Shellby every 11 days. Most recently, SocketClaw was updated on September 20, 2026 and Shellby on September 14, 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.*