GateShell vs Prompt 3.5
Prompt 3.5 is Panic's native terminal for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. It supports SSH and Mosh and costs $9.99 a year in the US, less than GateShell Pro. Prompt focuses on the terminal; GateShell adds tools for managing the server behind it. Here is where each one fits.
Written by the GateShell team at Hefty Innovations
GateShell vs Prompt 3.5, at a glance
| Feature | GateShell | Prompt 3.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier, plus Pro from $1.99/month ($19.99/year). | $9.99/year, or $49.99 once in the US. Free download with a seven-day trial; limited Quick Connect remains after a subscription lapses. |
| Terminal | XTerm-256 with fullscreen, scrollback search, split panes, 32 themes, and custom keyboard layouts. | Exceptionally well-crafted terminal with Panic's design polish and a long track record. |
| SFTP file transfer | Graphical SFTP browser with upload, download, in-app editing, and Files.app integration. | Not included. Panic sells file transfer separately as Transmit. |
| Mosh | Native encrypted UDP Mosh with SSH bootstrap, roaming, predictive echo, and SSH fallback. | Mosh and Eternal Terminal supported. |
| Port forwarding | Local and remote forwarding, plus HTTP/SOCKS5 proxy support. | Supported. |
| Server dashboards | 20+ auto-detected dashboards for Docker, databases, Nginx, firewall, cron and PM2, each with real actions. | None; Prompt is a terminal by design. |
| On-device AI | Command composition, log summaries, secret redaction, and a dangerous-command guardrail, all on-device. | No AI assistant (per public information). |
| Coding agents | Detects and runs Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini CLI in a chosen project on your server. | No dedicated agent workflow; agents can be run manually in the terminal. |
| Sync | iCloud private database, end-to-end encrypted. No vendor account. | Panic Sync, a free Panic-hosted sync service for servers, keys, and passwords. |
| Biometric lock | Face ID / Touch ID app lock; keys can be generated in the Secure Enclave. | Favorites encrypted with Face ID / Touch ID and the secure enclave. |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, and Mac. | iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. |
Why developers choose GateShell
Manage the server, not just the shell
Prompt gives you an excellent terminal. GateShell adds live health metrics and 20+ auto-detected service dashboards. Restart a container, tail a failing unit, edit a cron schedule or clear a filling disk, without typing the flags from memory on a phone keyboard.
SFTP and Files.app included
Moving files is part of the job. GateShell has a graphical SFTP browser and can expose server folders as locations in the iOS Files app. Panic sells file transfer as a separate product, Transmit, so a like-for-like setup costs more than the headline price suggests.
Built for coding agents
Detect and run Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini CLI in a project on your server, keep the session alive across network changes with Mosh, review the diff it produced, and preview the dev server it started, all over the SSH connection you already have.
No vendor sync service
Panic Sync is free and well regarded, but it is a Panic-hosted service holding your servers, keys, and passwords. GateShell syncs through your own private iCloud database instead, end-to-end encrypted, with no GateShell account and no GateShell server in the path.
Prompt 3.5 may be the better fit if...
Prompt 3.5 may be the better buy if you want a polished terminal and nothing else. Its US annual price is $9.99, with a $49.99 one-time option, and it covers Vision Pro alongside iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you do not need graphical SFTP, server dashboards, or a dedicated agent workflow, those GateShell features may not matter to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prompt 3 cheaper than GateShell?+
Yes, in the US. Prompt 3.5 is $9.99 a year, or $49.99 as a one-time purchase; GateShell Pro is $19.99 a year or $1.99 a month and has no one-time option. GateShell includes a free tier; Prompt offers a seven-day trial and limited Quick Connect after a subscription lapses. Check your local App Store for current prices.
Does Prompt support SFTP?+
Prompt is an SSH terminal and does not include SFTP file transfer; Panic sells that separately as Transmit. GateShell includes a graphical SFTP browser, in-app file editing, and Files.app integration in Pro. Worth factoring in if moving files is part of your workflow.
Do both apps support Mosh?+
Yes. Prompt 3.5 supports Mosh and Eternal Terminal. GateShell has a native Mosh implementation that bootstraps over verified SSH, roams across network changes with predictive local echo, and falls back to SSH with a clear message when UDP is blocked.
What is the difference between Panic Sync and GateShell's iCloud sync?+
Both keep your servers and keys consistent across devices, and both are free with the app. The difference is where the data rests: Panic Sync is a service Panic operates, while GateShell syncs through your own private iCloud database, which we have no access to. Neither approach is wrong. It depends on whether you would rather trust a vendor with a long privacy record or keep the data in your own Apple account.
Which should I choose?+
Choose Prompt 3 if you want the most refined pure terminal on Apple platforms, especially if you also use Vision Pro, and you do not need file transfer or server management. Choose GateShell if you spend as much time operating servers as typing at them. The dashboards, SFTP, on-device AI, and coding-agent workflow are what the extra $10 a year buys.
Checked against: Panic product page, Panic purchase FAQ, US App Store
Prompt 3.5 is a trademark of its respective owner and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hefty Innovations. Comparison reflects publicly available information as of September 2026; verify current details on the vendor's website. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners.