Multiplex vs Astra Shell

Multiplex Remote keeps you connected to the terminal and Coding agents like Claude code sessions running on your Mac, from your phone. Pair your iPhone with the Multiplex app on your Mac and pick up any running session: watch live output, type commands, and respond the moment Claude Code needs your input. TERMINAL, WHEREVER YOU ARE Every paired session is a real terminal, mirrored from your Mac in real time. Scroll back through history, use the on-screen arrow keys and modifiers, or fit the output to your phone's width for readable text on the smallest screens. NEVER MISS A "NEEDS YOU" MOMENT Get a lock screen Live Activity and a notification the instant a Claude Code session is waiting on you, so you can approve, answer, or steer it without opening your Mac. GIT, WITHOUT LEAVING THE SESSION Open the built-in git inspector to browse changes, diffs, commit history, and branches for the repo your session is working in. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your session reaches your phone through a relay that only ever routes opaque traffic between your own devices. Pairing uses a one-time code shown on your Mac and confirmed on your phone. Requires the free Multiplex app on your Mac.

Astra Shell is a native terminal client designed for persistent remote work. Traditional remote terminals are tied to the current device and network. When a client restarts, the network disconnects, or you switch devices, you often need to reconnect and find your place again. Astra Shell keeps shells running on a remote host you control, so your Mac, iPhone, and iPad can return to the same terminal and continue from the existing context. Key features: • Persistent remote shells Remote shells and their tasks continue running after the client disconnects. Reconnect to return to an existing terminal. • Continue across devices Open the same shell from Mac, iPhone, or iPad to keep viewing and entering commands. • Native terminal experience Supports common terminal modes, colors, wide characters, alternate screens, mouse input, paged history, and copy and paste. • Remote files Browse remote directories, upload and download files, preview text, view transfer progress, and inspect Git status. • Astra and SSH hosts Connect to a self-hosted Astra service over QUIC/TLS, or use standalone SSH/SFTP mode with a standard server. • Private-key security SSH private keys are stored in Keychain. Host configurations and credentials can synchronize through iCloud Keychain when enabled. Astra mode requires the open-source astrad service on a host you own or manage, with an authorized public key configured. Standard SSH hosts do not require astrad. Installation instructions are available on the support website. Astra Shell contains no advertising or behavioral analytics. It does not send terminal commands, remote files, or SSH private keys to the developer.