Kex - SSH & Mosh Client

Description

A desktop-grade SSH terminal emulator built for iOS. Kex is not a simplified command runner — it's a full xterm-256color terminal that runs vim, htop, nano, and everything you expect from a real terminal.

Leave your laptop behind. Restart a crashed service from the beach. Check your CI pipeline at the airport. SSH into production from a café. Monitor your AI coding agent from the couch. With Kex, your entire server infrastructure fits in your pocket.


WHO IS KEX FOR?

· DevOps engineers who need to respond to incidents anytime, anywhere
· Developers running AI coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, or Aider on remote servers
· System administrators managing fleets of Linux servers
· Cloud engineers working with AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and more
· Homelab enthusiasts monitoring Raspberry Pi clusters and self-hosted services
· Students learning Linux and server administration
· Anyone who has ever thought "I wish I had a terminal right now"


REAL TERMINAL EMULATION

Full xterm-256color support with CSI, ESC, OSC, and SGR sequences. Alternate screen buffer for full-screen apps like vim, nano, top, and htop. 256-color and TrueColor rendering.


SSH, MOSH & TELNET

Connect to any server with SSH. Authenticate with password or SSH keys (Ed25519 and RSA). Mosh support keeps your session alive through Wi-Fi switches, cellular handoffs, and unstable hotel networks. Telnet for legacy systems and network equipment. All protocols, one app.


BUILT-IN SFTP FILE MANAGER

Browse, upload, download, and manage files on your remote servers. Create folders, rename, delete — all from an intuitive file browser. Pull a log file, push a config change, or grab a backup. No need for a separate SFTP app.


MULTIPLE SESSIONS

Run multiple terminal sessions simultaneously. Switch between them with a tap or with keyboard shortcuts. Each session maintains its own independent state — monitor production on one tab, debug staging on another. Manage all your servers from one place.


TERMINAL KEYBOARD DONE RIGHT

A purpose-built keyboard accessory bar with ESC, Ctrl, Alt, Tab, arrow keys, and F1–F12. Auto-repeat on directional keys. Modifier key toggles. Every key a terminal user needs — designed for real work, not bolted on as an afterthought.


CUSTOMIZE EVERYTHING

10+ built-in terminal themes including Dracula, Nord, Solarized, Monokai, Gruvbox, Tokyo Night, One Dark, GitHub Dark, and more. Choose your monospace font and size. Pick your cursor style — block, underline, or beam with optional blink. Make it yours.


iPAD POWER USER

Full hardware keyboard support with Cmd+N, Cmd+W, Cmd+T, and Cmd+1–9 shortcuts. Switch sessions, open new connections, and navigate — all without touching the screen. Pair with a keyboard and your iPad becomes a proper workstation.


SECURITY FIRST

SSH keys and credentials stored in the iOS Keychain — encrypted on your device, never in the cloud. Ed25519 and RSA key support. Host key verification with SHA-256 fingerprints. Organize keys into groups, see which connections use each key. All connections encrypted end-to-end.


STAY CONNECTED

Configurable keep-alive to prevent session drops. Detailed connection logs for troubleshooting. Save and organize your servers into groups with one-tap access. Host key memory so you connect with confidence every time.


Kex is built for people who take their work seriously — but don't want to carry a laptop everywhere.

Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Growth change in ratings

Tracking since 09/05/2026. History accumulates as changes are observed — check back soon.

Alternatives to Kex - SSH & Mosh Client

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Moshi: herdr/tmux on SSH/MOSH by Moshi Tech Limited	543	4.7
NeoServer SSH Mosh Terminal by Space-Time Transformation Technology Co., Ltd.	292	4.8
La Terminal: Mosh & SSH Client by Xibbon, Inc	104	4.7
Echo - SSH + Mosh Client by Replay Software Limited	38	3.8
ShadowTerm ssh & mosh Terminal by Carlos Savcic	17	4.3
Tempest 3 - SSH, RDP & Mosh by Atlas Express LLC	9	5.0
Redock - SSH / Mosh Terminal by 尚渝 张	7	5.0
Conduit: SSH, Mosh & SFTP by Grzegorz Witkowski	2	5.0
ServerSSH - Tmux & Mosh Client by 小玲 王	—	—
Exec Terminal: SSH & Mosh by Ilia Khabadaev	—	—

Rising in Developer Tools this week

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