Choose Terminal when…
Your phone is where you check progress between other things. See agents across your Macs, jump to a pane, and answer a question from the Lock Screen.
Which one fits your work?
We make Terminal. Here’s why you might choose it, and why you might choose Blink Shell.
Choose Blink Shell when…
You spend long sessions at an iPad keyboard, use Vim or Emacs, or want local command-line tools, Files app integration and Blink Code.
Side by side.
Compare the workflow and what it takes to get connected.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare.
| At a glance | Terminal | Blink Shell |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Every agent on every Mac in one native list. | A command-line workspace for iPhone and iPad. |
| Client platforms | iPhone, iPad and Mac. App Store launch coming soon. | iOS and iPadOS. |
| Working with agents | herdr panes sorted by who needs you; answer from the Lock Screen. | Run agents in remote shells; bring your own terminal workflow. |
| Connections | SSH and Mosh. Tailscale for the paired-Mac workflow. | SSH and Mosh, with tunnels, ProxyCommand and ssh-agent. |
| Host setup | Terminal Bridge and herdr on each Mac. iCloud Keychain for automatic pairing, or pair by QR code. | Configure SSH access; install mosh-server on the host for Mosh. |
| Cost | Free, with no account to make. | Blink+ subscription after a free trial. Blink Build is a separate offering. |
Reviewed November 3, 2026 against official sources. Features and plans can change; check current details before choosing.
Terminal’s agent workflow needs herdr and Terminal Bridge on your Macs, with Tailscale for access from your phone. Without herdr, it’s a plain SSH and Mosh terminal for Mac and Linux. See Terminal’s setup and FAQ.
Keep comparing.
Terminal vs Moshi
Two ways to keep your coding agents close.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs Claude Code Remote Control
All your agents in a terminal, or your Claude session in the Claude app.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs Happy
Your existing terminal panes or an agent orchestration workspace.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs KittyLitter
Your existing herdr panes or a native mobile client for agent conversations.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs Paseo
Your existing herdr panes or a full agent development workspace.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs Orca
Your existing herdr panes or a development environment for parallel agents.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs T3 Code
Your existing herdr panes or a shared interface for coding agents.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs Termius
An agent list or a shared SSH workspace.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs Prompt 3
An agent list or a configurable terminal across Apple devices.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs Secure ShellFish
An agent list or a terminal connected to your remote files.
Read the comparison →Terminal vs La Terminal
An agent list or a terminal with host monitors and command search.
Read the comparison →Put your agents in your pocket.
Coming soon for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Free, with no account. Leave your email and hear when it’s out.