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SPECIFICTION
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Secure ShellFish

shellfishapp.com

Free plan macOSiOS
Visit shellfishapp.com
Spec score 7.4 #25 of 33 in SSH Clients

What it is

Secure ShellFish is an SSH and SFTP client for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It provides a native terminal with native rendering, file-aware drag-and-drop, OSC 52 clipboard synchronization, and inline link detection. Connections expose remote files through the iOS Files app and Mac Finder, where files can be browsed, edited in place, and have permissions changed. Authentication supports passwords, public keys, two-factor authentication, ED25519, ECDSA and RSA keys, YubiKeys, Secure Enclave keys, and short-lived SSH certificates. Server configurations synchronize through iCloud Keychain, and snippets synchronize through iCloud. Shortcuts can upload or download files, list directories, run commands, back up data, or open a terminal. It can launch and destroy Linux virtual machines on DigitalOcean or Hetzner Cloud. Pro features add offline folders, media streaming, tmux controls, widgets, and Live Activities. The Free plan costs nothing.

Spec sheet

Product
Secure ShellFish is an SSH and SFTP client with a native terminal for iPhone, iPad and Mac.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Support
The maker invites questions and feature suggestions by email and says Anders will do his best to assist.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Authentication
It supports password, public-key and two-factor authentication, and can use ED25519, ECDSA or RSA keys, YubiKeys, Secure Enclave keys and short-lived SSH certificates.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Automation
Shortcuts actions include upload, download, listing directories, running commands, backup and starting a terminal.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Cloud integrations
The app can launch Linux virtual machines on DigitalOcean droplets or Hetzner Cloud and destroy them when no longer needed.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Files access
It connects SSH and SFTP servers to the iOS Files app and Mac Finder, where users can browse, edit files in place and change permissions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Media playback
Pro users can stream videos from the Files app without downloading them first.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Offline files
Pro Unlock enables offline folders with foreground and background syncing, resumable partial downloads and failure notifications.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Sync
Server configurations sync between devices through iCloud Keychain, and snippets sync through iCloud.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Terminal
The terminal supports native rendering, file-aware drag-and-drop, OSC 52 clipboard sync and inline link detection.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Terminal multiplexing
It supports tmux session thumbnails, attaching and detaching clients, sharing sessions by universal link and Handoff between Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Widgets
Home Screen, Lock Screen, StandBy and Apple Watch widgets can display server data provided through a shell command, with Live Activities for ongoing tasks.Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free to try; some Pro features require an unlock Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Monthly Price not published Pay monthly if you prefer Pro features; price not stated on the page Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com
Pro Unlock Price not published One purchase unlocks every pro feature across iPhone, iPad and Mac for life Lifetime access to Pro features across iPhone, iPad and Mac Read 7 Oct 2026 · shellfishapp.com

Every Secure ShellFish plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Native terminal on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • SSH and SFTP with multiple authentication methods
  • Remote files appear in Files and Finder
  • Shortcuts actions support uploads, commands, and backups
  • Server configurations sync through iCloud Keychain

Limits

  • Some Pro features require an unlock
  • Offline folders are a Pro feature
  • Media streaming is limited to Pro users

Who it suits

It suits Apple users who manage SSH or SFTP servers from iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It also fits users needing Files or Finder access, Shortcuts automation, or optional Pro synchronization and terminal features.

Verdict

Secure ShellFish combines SSH and SFTP access with Apple file integration, authentication choices, synchronization, and automation. The free plan is listed at free, while several advanced capabilities require a Pro option with no stated price.

Where Specifiction places it

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