Prompt 3 vs Termius: the short answer
Prompt 3 (by Panic) is the most native and polished SSH client in the Apple ecosystem — beautiful, fast, with a one-price option and sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro. Termius is the cross-platform standard that also covers Android, Windows and Linux, built around cloud sync and teams. Pick Prompt if you're all-in on Apple and value native design and a buy-once option; pick Termius if you need Android or desktop Linux/Windows too. If you want an AI-native client — one that writes commands for you and runs on Android — neither is built for that, and that's the gap TermAI fills.
At a glance
| Prompt 3 | Termius | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS (Apple only) | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
| Design | Native, polished, Panic craftsmanship | Consistent cross-platform UI |
| AI | None built in | AI autocomplete |
| Pricing | ~$19.99/yr or ~$99 lifetime | Free Starter; Pro $9.99/mo annual ($19.99 monthly) |
| Best for | All-Apple users who want polish + buy-once | People across many platforms incl. Android |
Prices change — verify on each App Store listing. Figures accurate as of mid-2026.
Where Prompt 3 wins
Panic builds some of the best-designed software on Apple platforms, and Prompt 3 shows it: it's fast, native, and a pleasure to use, with Panic Sync keeping hosts in step across every Apple device including Vision Pro. Crucially, it offers a lifetime purchase option (~$99) for people who hate subscriptions. The trade-offs: it's Apple-only — no Android, no Windows/Linux — and there's no AI assistance.
Where Termius wins
Termius's advantage is reach: the same client on Android, Windows and Linux as well as Apple, with cloud sync, team sharing, SFTP and a free Starter tier. If your devices aren't all Apple — an Android phone, a Windows laptop, a Linux box — Termius is the one that follows you everywhere. The trade-offs: it's subscription-only (Pro around $9.99/mo annually, the priciest here), and its AI is autocomplete, not command generation.
The gap both leave: AI + Android
Prompt and Termius are both excellent, but neither writes commands from natural language, and Prompt doesn't run on Android at all. TermAI is built around exactly those:
- AI that generates the command: describe the task in plain English, review the suggested command before it runs — high-risk commands like
rm -rfrequire confirmation. - iOS and Android, the same app on both.
- Built-in Tailscale: reach private servers with no separate VPN app.
- Android local terminal: a full Alpine Linux shell on the phone itself.
- Price: Pro $2.99/mo; free tier includes 5 AI requests/day plus real SSH/SFTP.
Which should you pick?
- All-Apple, love native polish, want a buy-once option → Prompt 3.
- Need Android / Windows / Linux too, want sync + teams → Termius.
- Want AI that writes commands, on iPhone or Android, cheaply → TermAI.
FAQ
Is Prompt 3 better than Termius?
On Apple devices, Prompt is more native and polished and offers a lifetime purchase. Termius wins on reach — Android, Windows, Linux — and sync/teams. It depends on whether your devices are all Apple.
Does Prompt 3 work on Android?
No — Prompt is Apple-only (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS). For Android, use Termius or TermAI.
Is Prompt a one-time purchase?
Prompt 3 offers both a yearly subscription (~$19.99) and a lifetime option (~$99). Termius is subscription-only.
Do either have AI command generation?
No. Termius has AI autocomplete; Prompt has no AI. Generating full commands from a description is TermAI's core feature.
Quick Facts
- Prompt 3: Apple-only, native + polished, lifetime option (~$99); no AI, no Android
- Termius: cross-platform incl. Android, sync + teams, AI autocomplete; Pro ~$9.99/mo annual
- Both lack: natural-language command generation; Prompt also lacks Android
- TermAI: AI writes commands, iOS+Android, built-in Tailscale, Pro $2.99/mo, free 5 AI/day
Free on iOS and Android. 5 AI requests/day on the free tier, plus unlimited SSH/SFTP and built-in Tailscale.