Comparison

Helmrig Shell vs JTerm

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

Head to head
About

Helmrig Shell

Features
Read full description

The terminal from your desk, now on iPhone and iPad. Helmrig Shell is a native terminal — btop, tmux, vim, true color, ligatures, full escape-sequence support, rendered natively. Not a web view, not a cut-down mobile shell. A real desktop terminal that feels like the one you already use. Your sessions run on your own Mac or server. The iPad or iPhone is just the window — so they never drop. Lock the screen, lose signal, switch to another app, come back hours later: every tab, every running process, your full scrollback, exactly where you left it. No reconnect dance, no lost output. Drop a file onto the terminal and it uploads to your machine, with the full path dropped straight into your command line. Hand a screenshot to a CLI tool, attach a file to a running command — it just works, as if the file were already there. Built on libghostty for the rendering you'd expect from a desktop terminal. Hardware keyboard shortcuts, split panes, tabs that name themselves after what's running. Designed for iPad first, not ported from somewhere else. Works anywhere over an end-to-end encrypted connection — at your desk, on the couch, or across the world. Not limited to your local network. Helmrig Shell requires a subscription to use. A free trial is available, after which continued access requires Helmrig Shell Pro at $8.99/month. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. WHAT IT IS A window into your own machine. Your shell, your tools, your environment — running where they always have, now reachable from your iPad. WHAT IT NEEDS A Mac or Linux machine you control, running the Helmrig server. Setup takes one command. PRIVACY No third-party SDKs. No analytics. No crash reporting. Helmrig Shell servers never see terminal output. Full policy at helmrig.app/shell-privacy.html CONTACT hi@helmrig.app Support Link: https://helmrig.app/support Privacy Policy: https://helmrig.app/shell-privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://helmrig.app/shell-terms.html

About

JTerm

A native SSH client and terminal emulator for iOS devices. It allows secure connections, file management via SFTP, and supports multiple live sessions with an AI assistant for terminal workflows. Offers custom keyboard rows and hardware keyboard support.

Highlights
  • Secure SSH connections
  • SFTP file explorer
  • Multiple live sessions
  • AI Assistant
  • Custom keyboard row
  • Hardware keyboard support
Features
Read full description

JTerm is a fast, native SSH client and xterm-compatible terminal for iPhone and iPad. Connect securely, manage remote files with SFTP, and keep essential server workflows close at hand. FEATURES • Secure SSH connections with ordered multi-hop jump hosts • Saved hosts with sortable groups and credentials protected by the iOS Keychain • Reusable SSH keys shared across hosts • SFTP file explorer with uploads, downloads, favorite folders, sharing, and inline text editing • Multiple live sessions — keep several connections open and switch instantly • Automatic reconnection with backoff when your network drops or changes • Saved commands for frequently used terminal workflows • AI Assistant that can work with active terminal sessions using built-in AI or your own provider • Custom keyboard row with Esc, Ctrl, Alt, arrows, Tab, pipe, and more • Hardware-keyboard support on iPad with Command shortcuts • iPad split view with hosts and sessions beside the terminal • Pinch to zoom the terminal font • iCloud sync for hosts, keys, and settings across your devices Your secrets stay on-device: passwords, private keys, and AI API keys are protected by the iOS Keychain and sync only through iCloud Keychain. Built-in AI requires cloud-processing consent and either a connected App Store wallet on supported devices or Sign in with Apple. Guest wallets are specific to JTerm. Purchases made while signed in remain with that registered account. Permanent AI credits do not expire. One-time AI plans last 31 days. Independent monthly AI credit packs renew automatically; different amounts can be subscribed to together and are billed separately. Unused monthly allowance expires at the end of each billing period. These purchases are separate from JTerm Pro. Find balances and purchases in Settings > Buy AI Credits, configure AI in Settings > AI Information, and manage or delete your account in Settings > Account. Privacy Policy: https://jterm.jimeji.com/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Helmrig Shell4 screens
JTerm3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Helmrig Shell at none against JTerm's 10. JTerm's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, 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

Both are free to download. JTerm sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Helmrig Shell asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Helmrig Shell ships an update every 2 weeks, JTerm every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Helmrig Shell versus JTerm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelmrig ShellJTerm
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNikita KislitsinHangzhou Blade Technology Co., Ltd

In-app purchases

None

Helmrig Shell

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

JTerm

Subscriptions4
  • 1,000 Monthly AI Credits$1.991 Month
  • 1 Year Pro1 Year trial$3.991 Year
  • 3,000 Monthly AI Credits$4.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • 10,000 Monthly AI Credits$14.991 Month
One-time6
  • 1,000 AI Service · 31 Days$1.99
  • 1,000 AI Credits$2.99
  • 3,000 AI Service · 31 Days$4.99
Show 3 more
  • 3,000 AI Credits$7.49
  • 10,000 AI Service · 31 Days$14.99
  • 10,000 AI Credits$22.49

Questions

Is Helmrig Shell free?
Helmrig Shell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is JTerm free?
JTerm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Helmrig Shell or JTerm have ads?
Neither Helmrig Shell nor JTerm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Helmrig Shell or JTerm?
Helmrig Shell ships an update every 2 weeks, and JTerm every 5 days. Most recently, Helmrig Shell was updated on November 10, 2026 and JTerm on October 31, 2026.

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