Both manage SSH connections, but one is a full terminal. Here's how they differ.
Termius and yaw both solve the problem of managing SSH connections across multiple servers. But they come at it from different directions. Termius is a dedicated SSH client with team sync. Yaw is a full terminal emulator that happens to have SSH management - plus database connections and AI - built in.
| Feature | Yaw | Termius |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Terminal emulator | SSH client |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Click to move cursor | Yes | No |
| SSH connections | Built-in manager | Core feature |
| Database connections | 5 engines built-in | No |
| Local terminal | Full terminal | Limited |
| AI assistant | 9 providers, your own API keys | No |
| Credential storage | Local only (encrypted on disk) | Cloud sync (encrypted) |
| Mobile apps | No | Yes (iOS, Android) |
| Free tier | Full product, no account | Limited (few connections) |
| Built-in file editor | Yes | No |
| Telemetry | None | Standard analytics |
Termius is an SSH-first tool. It does SSH connections well - organizing them into groups, syncing across devices via the cloud, supporting SFTP, and providing a polished interface for managing dozens or hundreds of servers. If your primary need is SSH and you want mobile access, Termius has a clear edge with its iOS and Android apps.
Yaw is a terminal-first tool. It is your local shell with tabs, split panes, and a command palette - and it doubles as an SSH and database connection manager. Five database engines are supported natively (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, Redis), living alongside your SSH hosts in the same organized list. You do not need a separate terminal application; yaw is both your terminal and your connection manager.
Termius syncs credentials through its cloud infrastructure. They are encrypted end-to-end, but your credentials do leave your machine. This is the trade-off for cross-device sync and mobile access.
Yaw keeps all credentials on your local disk, protected with AES-256-GCM encryption. Nothing is transmitted or stored externally. The trade-off is that there is no mobile access and no automatic sync between your own machines.
This is a gap Termius does not fill. If you regularly check data or run queries as part of server work, yaw connects to Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, and Redis without a separate application. Browse schemas, run ad-hoc queries, and save reusable snippets - all inside the same window where your SSH sessions live.
Termius does not have an AI assistant. Yaw supports nine AI providers - including Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and self-hosted models through Ollama - all via bring-your-own-key. Ask about errors, request command suggestions, or pair it with AI CLI tools like Claude Code in an automatic split-pane layout.
Choose Termius if you need SSH access from your phone or tablet, prefer cloud sync across devices, or want a focused SSH-only tool with a polished mobile experience.
Choose yaw if you want one app for your terminal, SSH, databases, file editing, and AI. If you already use a terminal and a separate SSH client, yaw consolidates both - plus adds database connections, a built-in file editor, and AI.
Published by Yaw Labs.