0cloud and iSH
iSH is an open-source app that runs Alpine Linux by interpreting 32-bit x86 code. The 0cloud app runs a real Linux kernel on an emulated arm64 machine on the iPhone or iPad itself, compiled by WebKit’s JIT, with apt, coding agents and SSH, and the same encrypted workspaces as the browser.
0cloud and iSH, row by row
Their side is read from their App Store listings and public pages on 14 November 2026.
Where 0cloud is the better fit
When you want modern tools at usable speed on the phone: arm64 binaries, compiled hot code, and agents that finish their tasks.
- arm64 Debian with apt
- Compiled instead of interpreted
- The same workspace in a browser
Where iSH is the better fit
When you want a small, open-source shell and speed does not matter.
- free and open source
- A long-running community project
Questions
Why is iSH slow?
It interprets 32-bit x86 one instruction at a time, because it has no JIT. 0cloud emulates its processor too, a 64-bit arm64 one, but compiles hot code into WebAssembly that WebKit’s JIT turns into machine code, so it is much faster.
Can I move my iSH files?
Yes: copy them through Files into a 0cloud workspace.