SimpleSSH vs Simple Shell
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SimpleSSH
This app provides a streamlined way to interact with SSH servers from your iPhone and iPad. Execute commands with a single tap, browse files, and view logs with a user-friendly interface. It's designed for quick access to server information when you're on the go.
- Execute commands with one tap
- Manage commands in groups
- View and export colored command results
- Browse and export text files
- Primitive terminal for command testing
- Private key or password authentication
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SimpleSSH is a powerful tool tailored for your needs when working with SSH servers on your iPhone and iPad. When you’re on the go, most often you don’t want to work a lot in the shell. You simply want to execute a command or view a log file to see what’s going on. SimpleSSH makes SSH easy and comfortable by tailoring it for your needs. ⁃ Simple and intuitive User Interface ⁃ Commands Execute commands with a single tap Manage commands with groups View and Export colored command results Get more commands from the Script Library ⁃ Terminal Primitive terminal to test your commands Colored Shell output View and Export Shell Log Tab, Ctrl and Arrow Up/Down, Left and Right keys ⁃ File Viewer Browse files and folders easily View and export text files on the SSH server ⁃ Bright and Dark User Interface ⁃ Authentication via private key or password ⁃ Private key import through iTunes or other apps ⁃ No ads, banners or in app purchases - you get everything for the price you pay! Do you want to see a new feature in SimpleSSH? Contact us within the app, tweet @simpleSSH or send us an email to support@hirmer.me. We’re happy to take SimpleSSH on the next level with you!
Simple Shell
This utility app offers a secure and efficient SSH client for iOS devices. It provides a cost-effective alternative for remote terminal access, based on an open-source project.
- SSH client functionality
- Mosh protocol support
- Remote terminal access
- Cost-effective alternative
- iOS compatibility
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This project is a clone of shell application for iOS by Nicolas Holzschuch, https://github.com/holzschu/blink It is created to provide lower cost version of the ssh client for iPhone and iPad with older iOS versions
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: SimpleSSH at 59% against Simple Shell's 0%. SimpleSSH also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 40 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 1). Simple Shell's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.4) and chart position (#179 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
SimpleSSH costs $1.99 and Simple Shell $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Simple Shell holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleSSH has 42 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of SimpleSSH's written reviews are positive against 0% of Simple Shell's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SimpleSSH ships an update every 3 weeks, Simple Shell every 40 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SimpleSSH | Simple Shell |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | 3.4 (42 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.7% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 42 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 40 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #179 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Benedikt Hirmer | ASHER SYED |
Customer experience
SimpleSSH
Simple Shell
Bugs and requests
SimpleSSH
Reported bugs
23 issues- Handshake failed SSH connection
- App constantly crashing
- App crashes when clicking commands
- Command history doesn't work (up arrow)
- App crashes when executing a script
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- App freezes and closes on command execution
- App crashes in terminal mode
- Fails to connect via SSH
- Can't display htop
- Freezes when running vi
- Soft keyboard gets stuck
- Pasting previous history
- Nano editor fails to render
- Cannot type commands
- iOS 10 input issues
- Keyboard unusable after 'top' command
- Screen doesn't scale vertically
- Doesn't work with on-demand VPN
- Ctrl keys messed up with iPad Pro keyboard
- First few lines of output hidden
- File viewer crashes
- Tab stops not implemented
- No ESC key
Requested features
9 requests- Update the app
- Add fingerprint validation
- Improve iPad Pro keyboard support
- Add upload/download capabilities
- Sync scripts/SSH keys using iCloud/Dropbox
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Option to change font color & size
- More color options
- Dark background in terminal mode
- Custom icons on home page to trigger app actions
Simple Shell
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SimpleSSH
No in-app purchases
Simple Shell
No in-app purchases
