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I discovered WebSSH a few weeks ago and I’m kicking myself for not finding it sooner.
It’s an iOS and iPadOS app that works as an SSH, SFTP, and even Telnet client. The developer, Arnaud Mengus, is French (from Alsace, to be precise). The app has been on the App Store since 2012 — over ten years of development behind it.
Why WebSSH over the alternatives
There are quite a few SSH clients on iOS. Termius is the most well-known. The problem is that Termius has moved to a subscription model and costs around €120 a year. For an SSH terminal, that’s hard to justify.
WebSSH is a one-time purchase. You pay once, you get the app and all future updates. No account to create, no mandatory cloud. The app runs locally, your data doesn’t go anywhere.
The interface is well thought out
That’s what won me over. The terminal is clean, responsive, and above all the app was designed for touch use. Keyboard shortcuts are accessible, and the special keys (Ctrl, Esc, Tab) are placed logically above the keyboard.
With a Bluetooth keyboard on iPad it’s even better. You end up with a genuinely portable terminal.
The app also handles SFTP for browsing your server’s files, creating, renaming, downloading. Everything is integrated in the same interface.
My use case: Claude Code on a VPS
My main use case is running Claude Code from my iPad by connecting to my VPS. WebSSH makes this seamless. I connect via SSH, launch Claude Code, and work as if I were on my Mac.
It’s the solution I found for using Claude Code on iPad without waiting for Apple to open up a real terminal on iPadOS. We’re still in the same spot we’ve been in for years on that front — the iPad still doesn’t replace a computer . But with an app like WebSSH and a VPS, you get pretty close.
What sets it apart
Authentication is comprehensive: password, private key (RSA, Ed25519), 2FA, port knocking. You can lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID. Sessions sync via iCloud between your Apple devices.
The developer is very active. He has a public issue tracker on GitHub and responds to requests. For an app that costs a few euros, that’s rare.
The price
One-time purchase for under €8. When you compare that to Termius at €120 a year, the math is straightforward. WebSSH covers 95% of the same features for a fraction of the price.
The app is available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac (Apple Silicon and Intel).
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