Termphin vs iSH

iSH runs a small Alpine Linux userland on the device, so you can install packages and use a Linux shell with no server. You can install OpenSSH inside it to connect out. Termphin is an SSH client whose sessions keep running on the server when you disconnect.

TermphinFree

iSHFree

What it is

Local Linux shell

Alpine, with its package manager

SSH client

Built in

Install openssh with apk

Last App Store update

Regular releases

May 2023

Over SSH

Session survives a dropped connection

Agent on the server keeps the shell, on by default

Saved hosts and keys

Profiles and key manager

Command line

SFTP browser

Browser with code editor and image preview

sftp command

Price and source

Price

Free, nothing to buy

Free

Open source

Server agent and terminal renderer

Yes

Included Partly, or on a paid plan Not available Soon In progress

Last reviewed 25 September 2026, against the sources listed at the end of this page.

Which one is for you

Pick Termphin if you want

Built for SSH
Profiles, keys, host key pinning and jump hosts, without setting up OpenSSH by hand.
Sessions that survive
Termphin's open-source agent keeps the shell running on the server when you disconnect.
Actively updated
Regular releases. The iSH App Store build was last updated in May 2023.

Pick iSH if you want

Linux with no server
Install Alpine packages and work in a real Linux shell on the device.
Open source
The whole project is on GitHub.
Free
No purchase and no subscription.

Using both

iSH for local Linux
Keep it for tools you want to run on the device.
Termphin for servers
Use Termphin for SSH sessions and remote files.
Reuse your key
Import the same private key into Termphin.

Try Termphin

A free SSH client whose sessions survive a dropped connection.

Get Termphin

Sources

Every iSH fact on this page comes from these, checked on 25 September 2026. Plans change - if something here is out of date, tell us at [email protected].