Comparison

TermRover vs Shepherd

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

Head to head
About

TermRover

This mobile terminal app is designed for managing coding agents and long-running server sessions. It offers first-class tmux integration, allows you to send images to your agents, and enables voice dictation for hands-free prompting.

Highlights
  • Tmux integration
  • Image sending to agents
  • Voice dictation for prompts
  • SSH key and password authentication
  • Host-key verification
  • Multiple host management
Features
Read full description

A tmux-first mobile terminal built for the Agent Age. You're running coding agents and long-lived sessions on real servers — and you want to check in, steer them, and unblock them from your phone. TermRover is an SSH terminal designed for exactly that: first-class tmux, plus two things you won't find in most mobile terminals — send images straight to your agents, and talk to them by voice. DRIVE TMUX WITH YOUR THUMBS • Quick Row — fire Tab, Esc, Ctrl, arrows and the other keys agents need, without hunting through the keyboard • Switch tmux sessions and windows in a single tap • Scroll back through history by touch, with native mouse-mode support • A terminal actually built for a touchscreen — not a desktop one bolted onto a phone SHOW YOUR AGENT WHAT YOU SEE • Attach a screenshot or photo and hand it straight to the agent in your session • Ideal for design feedback, error screens, diagrams — anything faster to show than to type TALK TO YOUR AGENT, HANDS-FREE • Dictate prompts by voice; the transcript drops straight into the composer, ready to send • Describe what you want while you're away from the keyboard CONNECT SECURELY • Standard SSH — password and OpenSSH key (Ed25519/RSA) authentication • Host-key verification on first connect (trust-on-first-use), so you always know which server you're talking to • Manage multiple hosts and jump back into your work in seconds FREE TO USE, PRO WHEN YOU NEED IT Everything you need to connect and work is free — full SSH, full tmux, and a daily allowance of voice dictation and image attaches. TermRover Pro lifts those daily limits (unlimited voice, unlimited image-to-agent) and unlocks the full theme set, via an optional annual subscription (with a 7-day free trial) or a one-time lifetime purchase. A subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends; manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Your keys and credentials are stored in the iOS Keychain. TermRover collects no personal data for tracking. More information: https://termrover.sh Guide: https://termrover.sh/guide.html Privacy policy: https://termrover.sh/privacy.html

About

Shepherd

This app provides a fast and secure SSH client for accessing servers directly from your mobile device. It offers features like saved connections, custom command shortcuts, and extensive theming options for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Fast SSH client
  • Save server connections
  • Custom command shortcuts
  • Extensive terminal themes
  • Face ID protected keys
  • Multiple simultaneous sessions
Features
Read full description

Mochi is the place to control your AI coding agents from your iPhone. The agents run in herdr on your server. Mochi shows what each one is doing and takes you to it when it needs you. CONTROL YOUR AGENTS WITH HERDR • Live Activity on the lock screen: which agents are working and which are waiting for you • A notification when an agent is blocked or done, even when Mochi is closed • Tap it to open that agent's pane and answer from the chat input • Swipe to switch herdr tabs A REAL TERMINAL UNDERNEATH Mochi is a fast, beautiful SSH client built on the Ghostty terminal engine — a real terminal emulator in your pocket, not a toy. SSH INTO ANY SERVER Save your connections and jump into any of them in a tap. Password and key auth, custom ports, works great over Tailscale. FIRE COMMANDS IN ONE TAP Build your own shortcut groups: tmux prefixes, Ctrl combos, slash commands, whole snippets with Enter. The keyboard toolbar puts esc, tab, ctrl and ⌘ right above the keys — no more fighting the mobile keyboard. MAKE IT YOURS 500+ built-in terminal themes with search and light/dark filters. Real monospace fonts (JetBrains Mono and more), adjustable size, pinch to zoom in session. LOCK KEYS BEHIND FACE ID Private keys live in the iOS Keychain. Flip one switch and every use of a key requires Face ID. BUILT FOR ENGINEERS • Ghostty-powered terminal emulation — fast, correct, modern • Multiple simultaneous sessions • Native iOS design that feels at home on iOS 26 • No accounts, no tracking — your servers are your business

Screenshots

TermRover3 screens
Shepherd4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shepherd at none against TermRover's 2. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. TermRover sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. Shepherd asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for TermRover against 5.0 for Shepherd. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TermRover ships an update every 5 days, Shepherd weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
TermRover versus Shepherd: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTermRoverShepherd
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB61 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperAnh TrinhEgor Kolesnikov

Customer experience

TermRover

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Shepherd

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

TermRover

Subscriptions1
  • TermRover Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • TermRover$79.99
None

Shepherd

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TermRover free?
TermRover is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shepherd free?
Shepherd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TermRover or Shepherd?
TermRover and Shepherd are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do TermRover or Shepherd have ads?
Neither TermRover nor Shepherd shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TermRover or Shepherd?
TermRover ships an update every 5 days, and Shepherd weekly. Most recently, TermRover was updated on October 28, 2026 and Shepherd on October 29, 2026.

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