Comparison

Terminalko vs OrbitSSH

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

Head to head
About

Terminalko

Connect to remote servers like VPS, Raspberry Pi, or Linux boxes directly from your iPhone or iPad. This app provides a real terminal experience with advanced features for managing connections and executing commands securely.

Highlights
  • Connect to VPS, Raspberry Pi, Linux
  • xterm-256color PTY with ANSI colors
  • Password or key authentication
  • Jump hosts support
  • Command snippets
  • Auto-reconnect for dropped sessions
  • Multiple parallel sessions
Features
Read full description

Terminalko is a fast, focused SSH terminal for iPhone and iPad. Connect to your VPS, Raspberry Pi or any Linux box, run a real shell, get work done without a laptop. Add a server and you are at a prompt in a minute. [ A real terminal ] A true xterm-256color PTY with ANSI colors, scrollback and a keyboard aware layout. htop, vim and tmux behave exactly like they should. [ SSH, Mosh and Telnet ] SSH with password or key auth, jump hosts through a bastion in one hop. Mosh survives Wi-Fi to cellular switches, IP changes and long sleeps. Your prompt is still there hours later. Telnet for legacy gear: switches, routers, the odd BBS. [ Edit files over SFTP ] Open the config, fix the wrong line, save it back in place. Sizes, permissions and dates on every row. Upload, download, rename, delete, new folder. [ SSH keys, Secure Enclave included ] Generate an Ed25519 key on device and copy its authorized_keys line, ready to deploy. Paste an existing OpenSSH key. Or make one in the Secure Enclave, where the private half cannot leave the chip. A different key per server. Secrets live in the iOS Keychain. [ Dropped connections reconnect ] Connection Keeper retries a dropped session with a visible overlay and a cancel button. Lock the phone, tmux keeps working server side, the session re-attaches when you return. [ Themes and fonts ] Fifteen built in themes, plus an editor for your own: all 16 ANSI slots, text, background, cursor and selection, live preview. Twenty monospace faces bundled, nothing to download. [ Maximum Privacy and Security ] No tracking, no ads, no spying. Face ID, Touch ID, Optic ID or your passcode, with a grace period you choose, and masks it in the app switcher. No analytics, no ads, no accounts, no telemetry. The app talks to your servers and to nothing else. [ Our mission ] Make the best terminal and SFTP app there is. Every version came from someone saying what was missing. If something is missing for you, say so. [ Requirements ] iOS or iPadOS 17 or later. Built for developers, sysadmins and homelab tinkerers. Check a server from the couch, SSH into a Pi from bed, restart a service from the train. Terms of Use: https://terminalko.com/terms/

About

OrbitSSH

Features
Read full description

OrbitSSH is a modern SSH and SFTP client for iPhone and iPad. Connect directly to the servers you manage and work from a focused mobile terminal. TERMINAL WORKFLOW • Open SSH sessions in tabs or Split View • Use tmux sessions and terminal tools built for touch • Save server groups, startup directories, commands, and snippets FILES AND SERVER INSIGHT • Browse and manage remote files over SFTP • Monitor server metrics and view containers • Keep several servers organized in one place PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Connections go directly from your device to your servers • Passwords and private keys stay in the iOS Keychain • Host-key changes are detected and shown to you • Optional Face ID app lock protects saved servers • Voice input and smart formatting use on-device Apple features OrbitSSH has no account, no ads, and no tracking. Use it with your compatible SSH servers. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Terminalko4 screens
OrbitSSH4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: OrbitSSH at Free against Terminalko's $4.99. Terminalko's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

OrbitSSH is free to download; Terminalko costs $4.99 up front. OrbitSSH sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per year. Terminalko asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Terminalko versus OrbitSSH: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTerminalkoOrbitSSH
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBEGRIPDaniel Dobrowolski

In-app purchases

None

Terminalko

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

OrbitSSH

Subscriptions1
  • OrbitSSH Pro Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • OrbitSSH Pro Lifetime$499.99

Questions

Is Terminalko free?
Terminalko costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is OrbitSSH free?
OrbitSSH is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Terminalko or OrbitSSH have ads?
Neither Terminalko nor OrbitSSH shows ads.

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