Comparison

Shelly vs SSH Client

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

Head to head
About

Shelly

A powerful and user-friendly SSH client for mobile devices. It offers robust terminal emulation, gesture controls, and customizable keyboard shortcuts for efficient remote server management. Supports key-based authentication and iCloud sync.

Highlights
  • Hardware accelerated text rendering
  • Robust terminal emulation
  • Gesture control for navigation
  • Customizable keyboard toolbar
  • Key file authentication
  • iCloud sync support
  • Terminal color themes
Features
Read full description

SSH client designed for usability and performance. RELIABLE AND FAST • Hardware accelerated text rendering. • Robust terminal emulation based on the PuTTY engine. • Works great with programs such as 'screen' and 'irssi'. CONTROL WITH GESTURES • Default gestures optimized for irssi. Just swipe to switch channels or to scroll up and down. • Fully customizable. Any keypress or action can be attached to any gesture. EASY CONNECTING • Save user credentials and configure a remote command such as ‘screen -rd’ to connect with one tap. • 3D touch support. Connect directly from the iOS home screen. CUSTOMIZABLE KEYBOARD • Easily bind custom actions to buttons on the keyboard toolbar. • Works with custom iOS keyboards such as SwiftKey. OPEN LINKS AND SELECT TEXT • Familiar iOS text selection experience. Long-press on text to show the selection controls. • Copy and paste text. • Select a URL to easily open it in the web browser. OTHER FEATURES • iCloud sync support. • Terminal color themes. Choose your favorite from the several themes included or make your own. • Key file authentication support. Import an existing private key, or create a new key and export the public key. • Host key verification and management. • Agent forwarding (OpenSSH servers only). • Keep connections alive while the app is in the background. • Connection history with optional realtime location data. • Plenty of other configuration options. Please note that some features require a paid upgrade. You can try all features for free for a limited time.

About

SSH Client

This app provides a powerful and advanced SSH and Telnet client for managing remote servers on iOS and Mac. It offers robust features like multi-session support, customizable terminals, and SFTP file transfer capabilities for seamless server administration.

Highlights
  • SSH and Telnet client
  • SFTP file transfer
  • Multi-session capability
  • Customizable terminal
  • Private key import/generation
  • Server folder organization
  • Bluetooth keyboard support
Features
Read full description

Here is one of the most intelligent & advanced SSH Client apps to manage and connect remote servers for your iOS and Mac devices About SSH Client: SSH Client is an on-the-go SSH-Telnet app with the best putty, console, and shell ios app with powerful remote access & terminal emulator. Our enterprise-grade mobile app is built for all kinds of server management needs. Our comprehensive features are not limited to terminal keyboard and language support, multi-session capability, and Bluetooth keyboard support but many more. Our SSH Client app can easily integrate with AWS, Azure, and Digital Ocean. The app is most popular because of its administrator-friendly approach; we have also considered our valued customers suggestions and constantly released updates for SSH Client to become reliable and robust in real-world usage and development. • Private key files can now be directly imported in multiple formats (RSA, DSA, Putty) using iTunes sharing from other apps and Clipboard • RSA / DSA key generation and authentication and share it via email or Clipboard • Get 'Local Notification Alert or blink' before the connection starts terminating • Quick retrieval of the last top 3 connected servers to join instantly SSH Client Functionalities: • Launch (Run) a saved command/script at connection startup • Connect with your servers using username, password, or private key authentication through SSH • Configurable' Standard and Non-Standard' port Adaptive Terminal: • Customize Terminal like background, foreground, cursor colour selection • Standard Terminal features, including 'Terminal Emulator with Editor.' • Personalize Terminal Size • Support Terminal Screen copy/paste and easy text selection Server Folders: • Organized groupwise server to easily and freely manage and control interoperability in a blink. Customizable Keyboard: • Fully External / Bluetooth keyboard support • Special keys such as Esc, Tab, Ctrl, /, :, -, !, |, $, * • Built-In keyboard keys with fixed keys like Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Esc, Up, Down, Left, Right and F1-12 Easy Connect: • Run multiple prompt sessions at a time • Active connection counts indicator at App Badge • Configure and manage unlimited future sessions to reduce workload Gesture Control: • Pinch Scaling Terminal Screen • One touch on / off for Auto scroll • Single tap connection/disconnection from 'Home Screen' Key Handy Features of Free SSH Client (Best Putty, Console, Shell App): • Works over mobile Cellular or WiFi network • Use Custom or Mac Built-In fonts • Uninterrupted operationality in 'Portrait or Landscape modes • Multiple editors supported like Vi, vim, pico, nano, etc • Built-in Passcode features • Its 'Universal Binary,' hence, no need to buy 2 apps for iPhone and iPad SFTP Functionalities: • Quickly create, rename, and delete files & directories • Easily edit text files • Upload and Download files from your device to your server and server to your device What's New? • Perform batch execution by selecting the servers • Integrate DigitalOcean droplets to a group in SSH • Add VM servers from the account • Integrate AWS to a group in SSH • Integrate Azure to a group in SSH Know about supported technologies: Protocols: SSH, SFTP Channel types: Session Shell, Session SFTP, Local Forward iOS versions: 14 Subscription Details: - Subscriptions allow users to have prompt access to all features with unlimited access to all platforms – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account – The free trial period lasts for 7 days and automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours - User can manage subscriptions & auto-renewal by turning it off from Account Settings after purchase - All features for all platforms will be disabled upon completion of the subscription Terms of use: http://moondialer.moontechnolabs.com/v1/ssh-terms Contact us at support@moonapps.xyz We welcome suggestions or feedback, as we keep adding new features based on our customers' feedback and requests.

Screenshots

Shelly4 screens
SSH Client4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Shelly at 4.4 against SSH Client's 3.6. Shelly also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 47%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). SSH Client's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shelly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SSH Client sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shelly holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 273 and 406 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Shelly's written reviews are positive against 47% of SSH Client's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shelly ships an update every 2 months, SSH Client every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Shelly versus SSH Client: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShellySSH Client
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (273 ratings) — better3.6 (406 ratings)
Positive reviews76.2% of reviews — better47.2% of reviews
Number of ratings273406 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#192#96 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTouch FooMoon Technolabs Pvt Ltd

Customer experience

Shelly

All ratings273 ratings
Positive83.5%
Neutral4.4%
Negative12.1%
Written reviews353 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral8.8%
Negative15.0%

SSH Client

All ratings406 ratings
Positive63.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative34.7%
Written reviews193 reviews
Positive47.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative50.8%

User reviews

Shelly

From 273 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Lightweight and fast
  • 👍 Customizable keyboard and gestures
  • 🔒 Supports SSH key authentication
  • 💡 Useful shortcuts and toolbar
  • 👍 Reliable background connections

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional connection drops when switching apps
  • 🐛 Toolbar issues with hardware keyboard
  • 🐛 Garbled display with some terminal programs
  • 🐛 Lack of support for newer SSH key formats
  • 🐛 Inconsistent behavior with password managers

SSH Client

From 406 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and convenient SFTP
  • 🔒 Secure SSH app
  • 👍 Easy session reconnection
  • 👍 Very easy port forwarding
  • 👍 Reliable SSH client

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Can't try without subscription
  • 🐛 Took my server password then told me it costs
  • 🐛 Quality Garbage
  • 🐛 Why do I have to have a subscription?
  • 🐛 Don't work without Subsription

Bugs and requests

Shelly

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Saved profiles get overwritten unexpectedly
  • Toolbar persists even with auto-hide enabled
  • Cursor movement issues with hardware keyboard
  • Inability to copy/paste with Magic Keyboard

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for port forwarding
  • Implement Mosh protocol support
  • Allow customization of default font
  • Provide option for multiple app instances
  • Add ability to remap hardware keyboard keys

SSH Client

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Incompatible with private networks
  • Keyboard issues on iPad Pro
  • Obscured terminal window on iPad
  • Crashes after initial use

Requested features

1 request
  • Add Chinese language support

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Shelly

One-time1
  • Upgrade To Pro$3.99
5 purchases

SSH Client

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly Plan$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Plan$2.991 Month
  • Half Yearly Plan$6.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • Yearly Plan$11.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Plan$29.99

Questions

Is Shelly free?
Shelly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SSH Client free?
SSH Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shelly or SSH Client?
Shelly is rated higher. Shelly averages 4.4 out of 5 from 273 ratings, while SSH Client averages 3.6 from 406 ratings.
Do Shelly or SSH Client have ads?
Neither Shelly nor SSH Client shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shelly or SSH Client?
Shelly ships an update every 2 months, and SSH Client every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shelly was updated on September 24, 2026 and SSH Client on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Shelly or SSH Client?
Shelly currently peaks at #192 in the App Store charts, and SSH Client at #96. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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