Comparison

KKCode vs Shellby

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

Head to head
About

KKCode

This mobile client connects to an AI coding agent running on your Mac, offering AI-powered coding assistance on the go. It supports multiple AI models, real-time streaming responses, and rich markdown rendering for an enhanced development experience.

Highlights
  • Connects to local OpenCode server
  • Supports multiple AI models
  • Real-time streaming responses
  • Code and Markdown rendering with syntax highlighting
  • Tool call transparency
  • Image attachment support
  • Session management and organization
Features
Read full description

KKCode is the mobile client for OpenCode — the AI coding agent that runs on your Mac. Connect to your local OpenCode server over Wi-Fi or Tailscale, and bring AI-powered coding assistance wherever you go. FEATURES • Multiple AI Models — Switch freely between DeepSeek, Zhipu, Qwen, Kimi, MiniMax, and any model supported by your OpenCode server. Model preferences are remembered per session and persist across conversations. • Streaming Responses — Responses stream in real time. Scroll freely while the AI is generating; KKCode keeps your position and never interrupts your reading experience. • Code & Markdown Rendering — Enjoy full syntax highlighting for code blocks, inline formatting, and rich markdown display. • Tool Call Transparency — See exactly which tools the AI invoked, review file changes, and inspect inputs and outputs for every tool call. • Image Attachment — Send screenshots or design mockups directly from your photo library. • Session Management — Organize conversations by project directory. Rename, swipe to delete, or bulk remove sessions whenever you need. • Split View Support — Keep your session list and active chat side by side for a desktop-class multitasking experience. • Offline-Safe Draft — Your unfinished messages are automatically saved per session and restored when you return. • Multi-language Support — English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 日本語, 한국어, Deutsch, Français, Português, Русский. • Dark & Light Mode — Automatically follows your system appearance. HOW IT WORKS KKCode connects to the OpenCode server running on your Mac. Start the server with: opencode serve –hostname 0.0.0.0 –port 4096 Then add your server connection in KKCode and start chatting. For remote access outside your home network, Tailscale is recommended. KKCode requires an OpenCode server to function. It does not include built-in AI inference or AI models.

About

Shellby

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
Read full description

Shellby is a modern, native SSH client for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — one app, one experience across all your Apple devices. It does more than connect: a built-in AI agent turns plain-language ops tasks into commands you approve one by one, Mosh-compatible transport keeps sessions alive across network changes, and on Mac your AI coding tools reach your servers read-only, fully audited. Built for developers, sysadmins, and anyone who manages remote servers. No account, no tracking. AI ASSISTANT & AGENT (BRING YOUR OWN KEY) • Describe an ops task in plain language — the agent plans and runs it step by step • Every command passes an approval gate; destructive ones need explicit confirmation — nothing runs behind your back • Customizable allow/deny lists; approve & allowlist in one tap • Standard chat-completion APIs, so you pick the service — DeepSeek, Kimi, GLM, Qwen, or a local Ollama model • Off by default; bring your own key and endpoint — no AI service is built in EXTERNAL AGENTS — MCP (macOS) • Let claude-code, codex, and other MCP clients use hosts you already configured — no passwords, keys, or jump-host setup handed over • Read-only: list hosts, run read-only commands, read files, fetch metrics; mutating commands are refused with a reason • Loopback only, token-checked per request, token in the Keychain, every call audited • Runs only while Shellby is open — no background daemon MOSH-COMPATIBLE CONNECTIONS • Switch Wi-Fi to cellular, roam, ride through a tunnel — the session survives and resumes instantly • Typing stays responsive even on slow, high-latency links • Connection test detects a missing mosh-server and gives install steps for your distro TERMINAL • Fast, standards-compliant terminal (xterm-256color) • Password and SSH key authentication (Ed25519 / RSA / OpenSSH) • On-screen key bar: Esc, Tab, Ctrl combos, arrows, symbols • Full hardware-keyboard mapping on iPad and Mac • Terminal themes and font size • Scrollback buffer up to 50,000 lines SNIPPETS & COMMAND TOOLBAR • Save commands you use daily; run, insert, or copy them from a toolbar above the terminal • Shell syntax highlighting and line numbers; review before running DESKTOP-CLASS ON MAC & iPAD • Three-column layout: hosts, sessions, and content each in place • Multiple windows and session tabs, with live terminal previews • Split view, and command broadcast — type once, send to many sessions • Native menu bar, shortcuts, and window toolbar on Mac FILES (SFTP) • Browse, upload, download, rename, move, delete, create folders • One transfer queue both ways — progress, resume, choice of destination • Drag & drop on Mac; notification when background transfers finish • Integrates with the Files app PORT FORWARDING & TUNNELS • Local (-L), remote (-R), and dynamic SOCKS5 (-D) forwarding • Jump hosts / ProxyJump (-J) with multi-hop chains • Standalone tunnels that stay up and auto-reconnect, with live bandwidth • For reaching services inside your own server network (databases, internal dashboards) — not for bypassing network restrictions SERVER MONITOR • Live CPU, memory, swap, disk, load, and top processes SYNC — YOUR DATA, YOUR STORAGE • Optional iCloud sync of hosts, groups, and rules (CloudKit); passwords and keys only via the end-to-end-encrypted iCloud Keychain • Or bring your own storage: hosts, keys, snippets, AI settings & chats via any WebDAV or S3-compatible service you control • Pair a new device by scanning a QR code SECURITY & PRIVACY • Credentials stored only in the device Keychain — never in plaintext • Host fingerprint verification (TOFU), with a strong warning if one ever changes • Face ID / Touch ID app lock • No account, no tracking, no data collection You bring your own SSH servers; Shellby connects only to machines you own or are authorized to access. Languages: English, 简体中文, 繁體中文. Privacy Policy: https://shellby.app.mahui.me/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

KKCode4 screens
Shellby4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KKCode at none against Shellby's 3. On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Shellby sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. KKCode asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KKCode ships an update fortnightly, Shellby every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
KKCode versus Shellby: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKKCodeShellby
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer军保 张荟 马

Customer experience

KKCode

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Shellby

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

KKCode

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Shellby

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is KKCode free?
KKCode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shellby free?
Shellby is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do KKCode or Shellby have ads?
Neither KKCode nor Shellby shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KKCode or Shellby?
KKCode ships an update fortnightly, and Shellby every 11 days. Most recently, KKCode was updated on September 24, 2026 and Shellby on September 14, 2026.

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