Blink Shell

Desktop-grade SSH and Mosh terminal for iPhone and iPad, with a built-in code editor.

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 3
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Blink Shell

Blink Shell is a terminal app for iOS and iPadOS aimed at people who do real work from an iPad. It is built around Mosh, which keeps sessions alive while you switch networks or put the device to sleep, plus a full SSH client with Ed25519, ECDSA and RSA keys, agent forwarding, tunnels and hardware security keys. Local Unix tools, Files app integration for remote folders and full external keyboard support round it out. Blink Code adds a VS Code-based editor that can connect to VS Code for the web, GitHub Codespaces, Gitpod or your own VS Code server. The source is published on GitHub under the GPL-3.0, while the App Store version is sold as a subscription with a free trial, and optional Blink Build cloud machines cost extra. It is Apple-only and assumes comfort with the command line.

Best for: iPad and iPhone users who SSH into servers or code remotely.

What works

Mosh keeps sessions alive across networks and sleep
Strong SSH key and security key support
Built-in VS Code-based editor for remote coding

Why people leave

iOS and iPadOS only
App Store version is a subscription
Cloud machines cost extra

Top Blink Shell alternatives

See all 3

1
Termius
SSH client that syncs hosts and keys between iOS, Android and desktop.
66.5
2
Termux
The Android equivalent for a local Linux environment and SSH.
62.6
3
electerm
Free open-source SSH and SFTP client with mobile builds.
59.6

Why people left Blink Shell

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Blink Shell: common questions

Is Blink Shell free?

No, Blink Shell is a paid product.

Is Blink Shell open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at blinksh/blink.

What platforms does Blink Shell run on?

Blink Shell is available for iOS.

What are the best alternatives to Blink Shell?

The highest-ranked Blink Shell alternatives right now are Termius, Termux and electerm. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 3 Blink Shell alternatives

Blink Shell facts

4 of 4 verified

License: GPL-3.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: GPL-3.0 (GNU General Public License v3.0).”
Mosh: Built in; Checked Oct 25, 2026blink.sh(opens source in a new tab); “Mosh was built for constant mobile connectivity.”
SSH keys: Ed25519, ECDSA, RSA; Checked Oct 25, 2026blink.sh(opens source in a new tab); “Supports Ed25519, ECDSA and RSA keys.”
Code editor: Connects to VS Code for web, Codespaces, Gitpod; Checked Oct 25, 2026blink.sh(opens source in a new tab); “A coding experience fitted to your device, that connects to Microsoft Visual Studio Code for web, GitHub Codespaces, GitPod or your own VS Code server.”