TermAI vs ConnectBot — modern mobile SSH, or classic FOSS?
Honest comparison from the TermAI team. Updated June 2026.
Disclosure: We make TermAI. We tried to be fair anyway. Read methodology →
If you want AI help, ShellMon, Tailscale, SFTP, cloud sync and iOS support, choose TermAI. If you want a free, open-source, no-frills Android SSH client and nothing more, ConnectBot is a dependable classic.
Feature-by-feature at a glance
| Feature | TermAI | ConnectBot |
|---|---|---|
| iOS native app | ✓ | — |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | partial | ✓ |
| AI command helper | ✓ | — |
| Intelligent monitor (ShellMon) | ✓ | — |
| Tailscale built-in | ✓ | — |
| SFTP file manager | ✓ | — |
| Cloud sync of configs | ✓ (Pro) | — |
| Port forwarding | Coming soon | ✓ |
| Snippets | ✓ (Pro) | — |
| Free tier | 3 hosts, 20 AI/day | Free, fully |
| Price | $2.99/mo Pro | Free |
Last verified: June 2026. Feature parity changes — let us know if anything looks off.
Choose TermAI if…
AI command help, ShellMon, built-in Tailscale, SFTP browser and cloud sync are all in TermAI. ConnectBot focuses on core SSH and little else.
ConnectBot is Android-only with no built-in SFTP file manager. TermAI covers both platforms and includes SFTP.
TermAI ships frequent updates and a touch-first interface. ConnectBot is stable but evolves slowly by design.
Choose ConnectBot if…
ConnectBot is GPL, ad-free, and free forever. If you want auditable code and only need to open a shell, it's a trustworthy minimal choice.
No accounts, no cloud, no subscription — ConnectBot does one thing. If extra features feel like bloat to you, that minimalism is a feature.
Pricing comparison
| TermAI Free | TermAI Pro | ConnectBot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $2.99/mo | Free (FOSS) |
| SSH | 3 hosts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| SFTP | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| AI helper | 20/day | Unlimited | — |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ | — |
ConnectBot is free and open source with no paid tier. TermAI's free tier is also $0; Pro adds AI, sync and Tailscale for a small monthly fee.
FAQ
Is ConnectBot still maintained?
Yes, but updates are infrequent by design — it's a mature, stable project. TermAI ships features more actively.
Does ConnectBot do SFTP?
Not built-in. If you need an in-app file manager, TermAI includes SFTP on both platforms.
Can I import ConnectBot hosts?
Re-enter them in TermAI or import an OpenSSH config. Most users have a short host list.
Comparisons reflect TermAI v1.1.0 and ConnectBot as of June 2026, tested on iOS 17 and Android 14. Pricing is from official sources. Spot an error? Email comparisons@termai.sh.