Shepherd vs XCTL
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Fast SSH client
- Save server connections
- Custom command shortcuts
- Extensive terminal themes
- Face ID protected keys
- Multiple simultaneous sessions
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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
XCTL
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XCTL is the official mobile console for operators who manage their own XCTL deployment. Instead of opening a desktop browser, you can run day-to-day operations and monitoring from your iPhone or iPad. WHO IT’S FOR • Platform administrators with an existing XCTL instance • Teams that need on-the-go visibility into hosts, nodes, and sync jobs • Tenant admins managing users, groups, and business configuration This app is an administration tool only. It does not provide proxy or VPN client functionality. You must have a reachable XCTL console URL and a valid administrator account. OVERVIEW & MONITORING • Dashboard with live platform and host health metrics • Traffic and bandwidth charts to track resource usage over time • Quick visibility into online status, heartbeats, and recent activity NETWORK MANAGEMENT • Logical nodes: create, edit, and bind hosts • Node groups for organizing your infrastructure • Protocol templates and protocol catalog • Config sync queue to track pending and completed pushes HOST OPERATIONS • Server list with status, heartbeat, and connectivity monitoring • Guided provisioning: SSH pre-check, remote install, and configuration • Host groups for batch organization • SSH credentials and certificate management • Online Client upgrades and remote maintenance actions BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION • Tenants, users, and user groups • Role-based access so each account sees only permitted modules SYSTEM & SECURITY • Audit logs and system events • Platform settings and personal account management • Connect via QR scan or manual URL entry • Switch between multiple saved console endpoints • Light and dark appearance, with system-wide or manual theme • English and Simplified Chinese interface PRIVACY & SECURITY Sign-in credentials are stored in the system secure enclave (Keychain). App preferences remain on your device. The app does not collect personal data unrelated to your Master connection. REQUIREMENTS • A self-hosted or privately operated XCTL Master console • Network access to your Master endpoint • Administrator credentials issued by your platform SUPPORT Official website: https://xctl.cc For account or deployment questions, contact your platform administrator or visit the website above.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Shepherd at weekly against XCTL's every 2 months. 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.
Shepherd ships an update weekly, XCTL every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Shepherd | XCTL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 61 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | Egor Kolesnikov | SmartBuildGo Inc |
In-app purchases
Shepherd
No in-app purchases
XCTL
No in-app purchases








