Comparison

Shellby vs NConvo

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

Head to head
About

Shellby

This app provides a modern, native SSH client experience across Apple devices. It features an AI assistant for command generation, Mosh compatibility for persistent sessions, and robust terminal and file management capabilities. Designed for developers and sysadmins, it offers secure and audited access to remote servers.

Highlights
  • AI-powered command generation
  • Mosh-compatible sessions
  • SFTP file management
  • Secure SSH key authentication
  • On-screen keyboard and hardware mapping
  • Port forwarding and tunnels
  • Cross-device sync
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/

About

NConvo

Features
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NConvo is a local-first network operations toolbox that puts an SSH terminal, an RDP remote desktop, network diagnostics, LAN tools and an iperf3-client speed test into one app. Features - SSH Terminal: password, SSH key and keyboard-interactive auth; import connections from OpenSSH config, MobaXterm and Xshell; type the password right in the editor and save it as a credential; Save & Connect jumps straight into the session. - RDP Remote Desktop: native FreeRDP engine with an immersive landscape view and certificate verification on first connect. - Floating trackpad: inside a remote desktop session, drag it anywhere, pinch to resize, snap it to an edge; it carries left and right buttons and an on-screen arrow cursor. - Network diagnostics: Ping, TCP Ping, Traceroute, DNS, Whois, IP lookup, HTTP check, SSL/TLS and unlock checks. - LAN tools: LAN scan, port scan, device IP, mDNS, Wake on LAN, MAC lookup (OUI vendor) and subnet calculator. - Performance: iperf3-compatible bandwidth testing in both upload and download directions. - LAN transfer: send files and text peer to peer, no server involved. Local-first: connections and credentials stay on your device, sealed by the system keychain, and private keys are never exported. No ads, no analytics. WebDAV backups go to the server you choose, encrypted.

Screenshots

Shellby4 screens
NConvo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NConvo at none against Shellby's 3. Shellby's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Shellby sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. NConvo asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shellby ships an update every 2 weeks, NConvo fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 6 level
Shellby versus NConvo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShellbyNConvo
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer荟 马红 高

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

NConvo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shellby free?
Shellby is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NConvo free?
NConvo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shellby or NConvo have ads?
Neither Shellby nor NConvo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shellby or NConvo?
Shellby ships an update every 2 weeks, and NConvo fortnightly. Most recently, Shellby was updated on November 10, 2026 and NConvo on October 29, 2026.

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