Comparison

LexShell vs RootDeck

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

Head to head
About

LexShell

Connect to remote servers and Bonjour services with ease. This client remembers your frequently accessed servers, adapting to different locations for seamless access. It's designed for efficient and reliable SSH connections.

Highlights
  • SSH terminal client
  • Remote server access
  • Bonjour server support
  • Location-aware server memory
  • Connect from anywhere
Features
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Sometimes you need to SSH into a server. This app helps you do exactly that. Remote servers, Bonjour servers — we welcome them all. We'll optionally remember the servers you frequently access from a given spot, too; so if you're always connecting to one network from the coffeeshop and another from home, we've got you covered. With built-in support for the keyboard keys that iOS forgot (Esc, Tab, and Control-combos), a slew of themes, and a ton of functionality included for free. Need Pro features like 1Password keys, SFTP support throughout iOS, and Snippets? Take a look at a Pro subscription. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

RootDeck

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Manage your servers straight from your iPhone and iPad. RootDeck is a fast, secure SSH and SFTP client — a full terminal and file manager in your pocket. Connect directly to your own servers — no RootDeck account, no cloud in between. Built for developers, sysadmins, and DevOps who need their infrastructure on the go. Features: • Interactive SSH terminal • SFTP file browser and transfers • Upload, download, copy, move, rename, and delete remote files • Password and SSH key authentication • Jump host support for reaching servers behind a bastion • Host key verification to protect against MITM attacks • Saved server profiles • Face ID or Touch ID app lock • Server availability monitoring • Support for Linux, macOS, and Windows OpenSSH servers Credentials are stored securely in Apple Keychain. SSH connections, commands, and transferred files go directly between your device and the servers you choose. RootDeck does not collect analytics and does not send your server data to the developer.

Screenshots

LexShell4 screens
RootDeck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: LexShell at every 3 days against RootDeck's weekly. LexShell also leads on chart position (#179 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LexShell ships an update every 3 days, RootDeck weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
LexShell versus RootDeck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLexShellRootDeck
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#179 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLex FriedmanEvgenii Lav

In-app purchases

None

LexShell

No in-app purchases

None

RootDeck

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LexShell free?
LexShell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RootDeck free?
RootDeck is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LexShell or RootDeck have ads?
Neither LexShell nor RootDeck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LexShell or RootDeck?
LexShell ships an update every 3 days, and RootDeck weekly. Most recently, LexShell was updated on October 3, 2026 and RootDeck on September 30, 2026.

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