Comparison

Shellby vs OpenPig

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

Head to head
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
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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/

About

OpenPig

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OpenPig 是为现有 API 服务账户设计的移动管理工具。登录后,无需打开网页,即可查看账户余额、消费趋势和调用明细,并管理自己的 API 密钥。 核心功能 • 账户概览:查看余额、今日实际消费、请求数、Token 用量和平均响应时间 • 用量趋势:按今天、近 7 天或近 30 天查看每日实际消费变化 • 调用明细:查看模型、端点、输入与输出 Token、缓存 Token、实际费用、首字延迟和总耗时 • 密钥管理:创建、复制、编辑、启用、停用和删除 API 密钥 • 精细控制:为每把密钥设置分组、总额度、5 小时/日/7 天限额、IP 白名单与黑名单及有效期 • 配置向导:根据当前密钥的实时可用模型生成常用 AI 开发客户端配置 • 隐私保护:默认遮盖完整密钥,登录令牌存放在系统安全存储中,并可一键隐藏金额 所有账户、用量、密钥和模型数据均由生产服务实时返回,App 不使用内置演示数据。实际可用功能和显示内容取决于账户权限及服务状态。 使用 OpenPig 需要已有服务账户。本 App 不提供账户注册、充值、购买、订阅、转账或提现,也不包含 App 内购买或外部购买入口。 本 App 中的“Token”是 AI 模型处理内容时使用的计量单位,不是加密货币、虚拟资产或金融产品。 配置向导中出现的第三方产品和模型名称仅用于说明兼容性;相关名称和商标归其各自权利人所有,不代表任何赞助、认可或合作关系。

Screenshots

Shellby4 screens
OpenPig4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenPig at none against Shellby's 3. OpenPig also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Shellby's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads 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. Shellby sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. OpenPig asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shellby ships an update every 11 days, OpenPig every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Shellby versus OpenPig: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShellbyOpenPig
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPod, Mac
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer荟 马ZhiEra LLC

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
None

OpenPig

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shellby free?
Shellby is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenPig free?
OpenPig is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shellby or OpenPig have ads?
Neither Shellby nor OpenPig shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shellby or OpenPig?
Shellby ships an update every 11 days, and OpenPig every 2 months. Most recently, Shellby was updated on October 26, 2026 and OpenPig on October 28, 2026.

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