LexShell vs RootDeck
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- SSH terminal client
- Remote server access
- Bonjour server support
- Location-aware server memory
- Connect from anywhere
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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/
RootDeck
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RootDeck is a fast, secure SSH and SFTP client for iPhone and iPad: a terminal, file manager, server dashboard and AI agent for the servers you already own. Connect to your servers directly — no RootDeck account and no cloud in between. Built for developers, sysadmins and DevOps who need their infrastructure on the go. AI AGENT ON YOUR SERVER • Chat with Codex, Claude Code, Grok or GitHub Copilot running on your own server, or with your own API agent for any OpenAI-compatible provider. • Install the agent and sign in without leaving the app. Choose the model and how hard it thinks. • Decide what the agent may do: read only, the working folder, Auto with a reviewer model, or full access — and approve requests as they come. • Add MCP connectors from the catalog, attach files and photos, and dictate — speech is recognized on the device. • Follow background tasks and your account's usage limits, and sign out to switch accounts. SERVER AND TERMINAL • SSH terminal with ten color themes, Day and Night mode, cursor styles and a key bar with function keys. • Inline command suggestions — RootDeck never runs them on its own. • Server dashboard: CPU, memory, disks, network, services and processes. • Live logs with pause, filtering and links. FILES • SFTP file browser: upload, download, copy, move, rename and delete. • Built-in text editor, file details and permissions. CONNECTIONS • Password and SSH key authentication, jump hosts. • Host key verification against man-in-the-middle attacks. • Find SSH servers on your local network. • Optional: keep your session alive when you switch apps, with a connection card on the Lock Screen. • Linux, macOS and Windows OpenSSH servers. PRIVACY Credentials stay in Apple Keychain. SSH traffic goes straight between your device and your servers; the AI agent talks to its provider from your server, and API keys stay there. RootDeck collects no analytics, and none of our servers sit in the path. Available in English, Russian and Simplified Chinese.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: LexShell at every 3 days against RootDeck's monthly. LexShell also leads on chart position (#64 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
LexShell ships an update every 3 days, RootDeck monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | LexShell | RootDeck |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #64 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lex Friedman | Evgenii Lav |
In-app purchases
LexShell
No in-app purchases
RootDeck
No in-app purchases









