8Terminal vs OrbitSSH
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
8Terminal
This app provides a secure SSH workspace for managing multiple terminal sessions and hosts across Apple devices. It offers SFTP file transfers, an encrypted local vault for credentials, and optional AI assistance for command preparation. Security is a core focus, with explicit user approval required for commands and host key changes.
- Manage multiple SSH sessions
- SFTP file transfers
- Encrypted local host vault
- Cross-device vault sync (Pro)
- Live Activities for mobile sessions
- AI-assisted command preparation
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8Terminal is an SSH client for iPhone and iPad that needs no account. Your hosts, keys and passwords live in an encrypted vault on your device — there is nothing to sign up for and no server of ours in between. TERMINAL • Native SSH, built in — not a wrapper around another client • GPU-accelerated terminal with a key row for Esc, Ctrl, Alt, Tab, arrows, Shift-Tab, Home, End, Page Up/Down and F1–F12 • Hardware keyboard on iPad: Esc, Tab, Ctrl keys, Cmd+T, Cmd+W and Cmd+1–9 • Several sessions at once, with a Live Activity that shows when a coding agent is waiting — and Return, Ctrl-C and Reconnect buttons • Reconnects when you come back, and reattaches your tmux or zellij session • Paste a screenshot straight into the terminal; its location data is removed first • Find in the terminal, and open https links after you confirm • Send a saved password into a prompt with Face ID — it never touches the clipboard HOSTS AND KEYS • Password, key and two-factor keyboard-interactive sign-in; Ed25519, ECDSA and RSA keys in OpenSSH and PuTTY formats • Generate a key on the phone and install it on a host in one step • OpenSSH certificates from your CA • A key kept in the Secure Enclave, used with Face ID for every sign-in • Agent forwarding that asks you before every signature • Chains of up to four jump hosts, and environment variables per host • Unknown host keys ask first; a changed host key blocks the connection • Post-quantum key exchange (mlkem768x25519-sha256) with servers that offer it SFTP AND TUNNELS • Browse, upload and download over the connection you already opened • Folders, permissions, Quick Look and Share, keep both or replace • An interrupted transfer resumes where it stopped • Local, remote and dynamic (SOCKS5) port forwarding WIDGETS AND SHORTCUTS • A Home Screen widget with your recent hosts • Shortcuts to connect to a host, run a snippet (after you review it) or start a tunnel ENCRYPTED VAULT, ON YOUR TERMS • Argon2id and XChaCha20-Poly1305; unlock with Face ID or your master password • Several vaults if you keep work and home apart • Back up to your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive, or export one file — free • Import hosts from MobaXterm, PuTTY, Tabby and your OpenSSH config; export and import readable JSON without secrets AI ASSISTANT, YOUR KEY • Bring your own OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter or compatible key; it stays on this device • By default you choose what it reads, and a command it suggests runs only after you approve it, exactly once • Optional Auto mode, off until you turn it on: give it a goal and it runs read-only checks on your Linux server by itself, without touching your terminal, and asks before anything that changes the server • In Auto mode what those checks print is sent to your AI provider. Your passwords, keys and vault are never sent, and you agree before the first run • Stop ends a run at once 8TERMINAL PRO — $5.99 ONCE • End-to-end encrypted vault sync between your iPhone, iPad and Mac, through your own cloud • Link a new device with a verification code • One purchase covers every device on your Apple Account and your Family Sharing group. No subscription. Everything else in 8Terminal is free, on every device, with no time limit. PRIVACY No account, no tracking, no analytics. Crash reports stay off until you turn them on, and never contain hostnames, usernames, terminal output or anything from your vault. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
OrbitSSH
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OrbitSSH is a modern SSH and SFTP client for iPhone and iPad. Connect directly to the servers you manage and work from a focused mobile terminal. TERMINAL WORKFLOW • Open SSH sessions in tabs or Split View • Use tmux sessions and terminal tools built for touch • Save server groups, startup directories, commands, and snippets FILES AND SERVER INSIGHT • Browse and manage remote files over SFTP • Monitor server metrics and view containers • Keep several servers organized in one place PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Connections go directly from your device to your servers • Passwords and private keys stay in the iOS Keychain • Host-key changes are detected and shown to you • Optional Face ID app lock protects saved servers • Voice input and smart formatting use on-device Apple features OrbitSSH has no account, no ads, and no tracking. Use it with your compatible SSH servers. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
8Terminal and OrbitSSH are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. 8Terminal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and OrbitSSH sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | 8Terminal | OrbitSSH |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Milos Vesic | Daniel Dobrowolski |
In-app purchases
8Terminal
- 8Terminal Pro Lifetime$5.99
OrbitSSH
- OrbitSSH Pro Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
- OrbitSSH Pro Lifetime$499.99









