Comparison

Clive vs SFTP Access

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

Head to head
About

Clive

Features
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Clive is an SSH and Mosh terminal for iPhone and iPad that keeps your place on the server. Phones are hostile to terminals. You switch apps to copy a code, the screen locks, you walk out of Wi‑Fi, and the connection is gone with your output and the job you were watching. Clive keeps the session on the server and brings you straight back to it. WHY SESSIONS THAT SURVIVE CHANGE EVERYTHING β€’ Walk away. Start a coding agent, a build or a training run, pocket the phone, and check on it from the train. β€’ Nothing is lost. Mosh rides out locks, app switches and network changes without reconnecting. tmux keeps your shell and scrollback alive on the server, so even a session you closed days ago is still there. β€’ Pick up where you left off. Clive lists the sessions it left on each server. Tap one to resume it, or end the ones you are done with. β€’ No tricks. No keep-alive hacks and no battery drain. The right protocols, used properly, with automatic reconnect when the network returns. MADE FOR AGENTIC CODING β€’ Claude Code, Codex and any other terminal agent run as they do on your desktop, in full colour. β€’ A keyboard built for the terminal: Esc, Tab, Ctrl, arrows and a joystick-style key bar, plus full hardware-keyboard support. β€’ Several connections at once, even to the same server. A REAL TERMINAL β€’ xterm-256color with true colour, so TUIs, games and editors look as they should. β€’ Ten themes, or let Clive match its own chrome to the colours of the program on screen. (Themes and custom fonts are Clive Pro) β€’ Adjustable scrollback and two-finger scrolling that reaches the program itself. YOUR FILES, RIGHT THERE β€’ A built-in SFTP browser with a code editor, syntax highlighting and Markdown rendering. (Clive Pro) β€’ Rename, create folders, delete, or jump straight to a path. Save-conflict warnings keep your draft when the remote file has changed. β€’ Type "open" and a path at any prompt and the file opens in Clive. YOUR KEYS, PROTECTED β€’ Verify each new server's fingerprint; a changed host key blocks the connection until you replace the trust yourself. β€’ Generate Ed25519 keys on the device or import your own. Private keys and passwords stay in the Keychain, behind Face ID if you choose. β€’ Optional iCloud sync shares hosts and eligible secrets through your own iCloud Keychain. Secure Enclave keys never leave their device. CALM BY DESIGN β€’ No account, no ads, no tracking. Your traffic goes only to the servers you add. β€’ One app for iPhone and iPad, with a side-by-side layout on wide screens. CLIVE PRO Clive Pro is a one-time purchase that adds themes, custom fonts, the SFTP browser and the file viewer and editor, after a seven-day full-access trial. Everything else is free: the terminal, SSH, Mosh, tmux, hosts, keys and iCloud sync. No subscription. Pull out your phone. Your session is right where you left it.

About

SFTP Access

Features
Read full description

Manage your remote servers, websites, and infrastructure right from your pocket with SFTP Access, the lightning-fast, premium SSH and SFTP client designed for security and ease of use. Whether you are a system administrator, web developer, or IT professional, SFTP Access provides a beautiful, intuitive interface to monitor system resources, execute terminal commands, and manage your filesβ€”all secured by industry-standard encryption. Powerful Server Management System Dashboard: Instantly view real-time server health, including OS details, uptime, CPU load, RAM usage, and root disk space. Full SSH Terminal: Execute commands flawlessly with a built-in, responsive terminal emulator. Advanced File Browser: Navigate your remote directories, manage configurations, and oversee your file system with ease. Quick Connect: Paste your standard SSH connection strings to instantly parse host, port, and user details. Multi-Server Profiles: Save and organize multiple connection profiles for one-tap access to your entire infrastructure. Uncompromising Security Private Key Authentication: Connect securely using passwords or your own private keys (.pem, id_rsa), including passphrase support. 100% Local Storage: Your credentials, passphrases, and server IP addresses are heavily encrypted and stored safely on your local device. We never transmit or store your server data externally. Biometric App Lock: Secure the app itself with Fingerprint or Face ID authentication, ensuring no one can access your servers even if your phone is unlocked. One-Tap Disconnect: Terminate your active SSH sessions cleanly and instantly. Premium User Experience Dark & Light Modes: Seamlessly switch between a sleek dark theme and a clean light theme to match your environment. Dynamic UI: Enjoy a modern, responsive interface with smooth animations and intuitive navigation. Customizable Settings: Tailor your notifications, appearance, and security preferences directly within the app. Take control of your infrastructure with absolute confidence. Download SFTP Access today and put the power of the command line in the palm of your hand.

Screenshots

Clive4 screens
SFTP Access4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SFTP Access at none against Clive's 1. SFTP Access also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Clive's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

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

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

Both are free to download. Clive sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SFTP Access asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Clive versus SFTP Access: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCliveSFTP Access
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksβ€”
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS17.013.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size34 MB28 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperPhilip OrangeAlka Rose Benny

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Clive

One-time1
  • Clive Pro$14.99
None

SFTP Access

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Clive free?
Clive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SFTP Access free?
SFTP Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Clive or SFTP Access have ads?
SFTP Access shows ads; Clive does not.

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