shellxBest SSH apps for iPhone and Android in 2026
Quick picks
- Best all-rounder (iOS + Android + desktop sync): Termius
- Best for power users on iPhone/iPad: Blink Shell
- Best native Mac-style client on iOS: Prompt 3 (Panic)
- Best free on Android: JuiceSSH / ConnectBot (open source)
- Best full Linux environment on Android: Termux
- Best when you want your desktop’s terminal, not a server: ShellX (free, no open ports)
Disclosure: ShellX is our product. We put it last on purpose — it solves a different problem from a classic SSH client, explained below.
How we compared
Platforms, price model, key management, Mosh support, port forwarding, sync across devices, and what you need on the other side (open port, public IP, VPN). Feature sets change often — check each app’s store page before buying.
The apps
Termius — iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
Polished SSH/SFTP client with host and key sync across devices, snippets and port forwarding. Free tier; sync and team features are paid. Best if you manage many servers from many devices.
Blink Shell — iOS / iPadOS
Built for developers who live in the terminal: Mosh, SSH keys, a fast terminal renderer, and a strong iPad keyboard experience. Paid subscription.
Prompt 3 — iOS / iPadOS / macOS
Panic’s SSH and Mosh client with a clean native UI and sync between Apple devices. Paid.
JuiceSSH — Android
Long-standing Android SSH client with a friendly UI and a free core. Good default on Android.
ConnectBot — Android
Free and open source, minimal, reliable. Great if you want no account and no ads.
Termux — Android
Not just an SSH client: a Linux userland on your phone. Install openssh, mosh, tmux, git and more. Best for tinkerers.
ShellX — iOS / Android + macOS / Windows
Not an SSH client in the classic sense. ShellX shows the terminal sessions already running on your own Mac or PC — Claude Code, Codex, a dev server, a build — end-to-end encrypted, with no open port, no static IP and no VPN, and push notifications when something needs you. Free and open source.
Comparison table
| App | iOS | Android | Free option | Mosh | Needs reachable host (port/IP/VPN) | Sees sessions already running on your desktop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Termius | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (limited) | ✓ | Yes | Only via tmux |
| Blink Shell | ✓ | – | – | ✓ | Yes | Only via tmux |
| Prompt 3 | ✓ | – | – | ✓ | Yes | Only via tmux |
| JuiceSSH | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes | Only via tmux |
| ConnectBot | – | ✓ | ✓ | – | Yes | Only via tmux |
| Termux | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes | Only via tmux |
| ShellX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a | No | Yes |
Which one should you use?
- You administer remote Linux servers → a classic SSH client: Termius or Blink (iOS), JuiceSSH or ConnectBot (Android).
- You want to reach your home/work computer from your phone → classic SSH needs port forwarding, dynamic DNS or Tailscale. ShellX skips all of that.
- You run AI coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI) on your laptop → ShellX, so you can answer the agent’s prompts from your phone. See Claude Code on your phone.
FAQ
What is the best free SSH client for iPhone? Termius has a free tier. If you only need to reach your own Mac or PC, ShellX is free with no port forwarding.
What is the best SSH app for Android? JuiceSSH for most people, ConnectBot if you want open source, Termux if you want a full Linux toolbox.
Can I SSH into my Mac from my iPhone without opening a port? Not with plain SSH — the Mac must be reachable. Use a mesh VPN like Tailscale, or ShellX, which connects outbound only. See SSH from your phone without opening ports.
Is there a Termius alternative that’s free? For servers: JuiceSSH, ConnectBot or Termux on Android. For your own desktop: ShellX. Full comparison: ShellX vs Termius.