last reviewed 2026-08
Shellton vs Blink Shell
Blink is a capable mobile shell with a broad Unix-style environment. Shellton is narrower and centers native remote-agent control, Mosh-first connections, and auditable key handling.
| Capability | Shellton | Blink |
|---|---|---|
| Source posture | ShelltonOpen-core GPLv3 | BlinkOpen-source client |
| Primary focus | ShelltonNative terminal and coding-agent cockpit | BlinkMobile shell and Unix-style workspace |
| Agent cockpit | ShelltonNative Claude Code and Codex conversation over ACP | BlinkTerminal workflow; no ACP cockpit documented |
| Mosh workflow | ShelltonAutomatic Mosh → SSH fallback per host | BlinkMosh available as an explicit connection command |
| Host requirement for Mosh | Shelltonmosh-server optional; SSH fallback when absent | Blinkmosh-server required for Mosh |
| Files and local environment | ShelltonNo file browser | BlinkFiles.app integration and a broad command environment |
| Keyboard customization | ShelltonYAML accessory bar with macros and escape sequences | BlinkExtensive software and hardware keyboard support |
| Platforms | ShelltoniOS and iPadOS | BlinkiOS and iPadOS |
BOTTOM LINE
Pick for the workflow you actually have.
Choose Blink for its command-line environment, Files integration, broad keyboard workflows, and established Mosh tooling. Choose Shellton for a native agent cockpit, automatic fallback, and an iOS-native host and session model.