Terminal app for iPad that lives on the iPad Pro.
ShellDrop is a fast, native terminal app for iPad. SSH into a headless Mac or VPS, attach to tmux, scroll with one finger, and drive Claude Code from the iPad Pro. Free, no subscription.
Native on iPhone. Full support on iPad, including the 13-inch iPad Pro and hardware keyboards. The Vision Pro app arrives with version 5, and a macOS app is coming soon.
What a terminal on iPad looks like with ShellDrop.
Open the iPad, tap a saved connection, and the terminal fills the screen. ShellDrop is built native in SwiftUI for iOS 17+ and iPadOS, optimized for iOS 26, with full iPad support including the iPad Pro 13-inch (M4).
Pair a Magic Keyboard and the accessory toolbar sits centre-aligned above the keys. The trackpad scrolls the terminal, so reading back through output feels the way it does on a laptop.
Full-screen iPad terminal
The terminal takes the whole iPad Pro display when you attach.
Magic Keyboard, centre toolbar
The accessory toolbar centre-aligns above the keys on iPad.
Trackpad scrolls the terminal
Scroll back through output with the Magic Keyboard trackpad.
SSH from your iPad to a headless box.
An iPad SSH terminal earns its keep when there is a real machine on the other end. A typical setup: a headless Mac Mini agent operating system or a VPS does the work, and the iPad reaches it over SSH, often via Tailscale, so the connection holds wherever you are.
Open ShellDrop, tap into the session, and you are on the box. Run a build, check a log, restart a service, all from the iPad.
Tmux and AI agents, from the iPad.
ShellDrop is tmux-aware. Scroll the scrollback with a single finger, keep separate sessions in tabs, and let background persistence hold the connection when you lock the iPad or switch apps.
Run Claude Code in a tmux session on the headless machine, then SSH in from the iPad to read what it did and send the next instruction. Codex, OpenClaw, Hermes, Aider and Cline run the same way.
Built for the iPad, down to the toolbar.
Voice Drop
Speak straight into the prompt. On-device by default, or through your own Groq key.
Image paste
Paste screenshots into the session. Your agent reads them on the server.
Text selection mode
A dedicated selection mode button, plus long-press to select a word.
Magic Keyboard
Centre-aligned accessory toolbar. Put the keys you reach for most where your hands land.
Trackpad scrolling
The Magic Keyboard trackpad scrolls the terminal.
Tmux gestures
Vertical swipe scrolls history. Horizontal swipe changes sessions.
Sessions stay alive
Background sessions keep running while you use other apps.
iCloud sync, no telemetry
Saved connections sync across your devices. Passwords and private keys stay on-device.
Attach a file
Pick a file from Files, or a photo or video from Photos. Uploads over SSH, path lands at the prompt. You choose the upload size limit. Settings goes from 100 MB to 1 GB, and if a file is over, ShellDrop offers to raise it on the spot.
Terminal for iPad, answered.
Tap to expand. See the full FAQ for everything else.
Is there a terminal app for iPad?
Yes. ShellDrop is a native terminal app for iPad. It connects over SSH to a headless Mac or a VPS, so you get a full terminal on the iPad without running anything locally. It is free, with no subscription.
Does ShellDrop work on iPad Pro?
Yes. ShellDrop runs on iPad and iPad Pro, including the 13-inch iPad Pro M4. It is built in SwiftUI for iPadOS and optimized for iOS 26.
Can I use a Magic Keyboard and trackpad with the terminal?
Yes. The Magic Keyboard works with ShellDrop, and the accessory toolbar above the keyboard sits centre-aligned. The trackpad scrolls the terminal.
Does the iPad terminal support tmux?
Yes. ShellDrop is tmux-aware. You can scroll tmux scrollback with a single finger, keep sessions in tabs, and hold the connection in the background while you switch apps.
Can I run Claude Code or other AI agents from my iPad?
Yes. Run Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, Hermes, Aider or Cline in a tmux session on your headless box, then SSH in from the iPad to read the output and send the next instruction. The Mac Mini agent OS write-up covers the full setup.
Is ShellDrop a free terminal for iPad?
Yes. ShellDrop is free, with no subscription. Every feature ships with the app.
The terminal app for iPad and iPad Pro.
Free. No subscription. Every feature ships with the app.
Download on the App Store