Do I need to be on the same network?

No. On the same Wi-Fi, Servey uses a direct, high-performance stream for the sharpest possible picture. On different networks it automatically switches to a private connection between your own devices. Either way it just works.

Is it secure and private?

Yes, and there are two locks rather than one. Signing in with Google pairs only your own devices, scoped to your account. On top of that you set a master password on your Mac that every device must produce before it can connect, each new device waits for you to approve it on the Mac itself, and you can revoke any device at any time. Your screen video travels end-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer between your devices; if your network will not allow a direct connection, it relays through our own server rather than a third party's cloud.

What happens to my terminal session if I disconnect?

It keeps running. Every terminal session in Servey is a named session that lives on your Mac rather than inside the app, so closing Servey, losing signal or putting the phone in your pocket does not stop the work. Start a long build from the iPad, come back an hour later, and you rejoin it exactly where it got to. You can also open the same live session on your Mac and your iPad at once.

Can I hide what I am doing from people near my Mac?

Yes. Privacy Mode blacks out every monitor physically attached to your Mac while the stream you are watching keeps showing the real desktop. It covers every app, every space and every connected display, including the cursor, and nothing is overlaid on screen. If Servey quits or the connection drops, macOS restores the displays on its own, so it cannot leave the Mac stuck on black.

What if I stop using Servey - am I locked in?

No. Servey runs your terminal sessions in tmux on your own Mac, and the app shows you the attach command for each one. Paste it into Terminal.app, iTerm, Ghostty or an SSH connection and you are in the same live session with Servey uninstalled. Nothing you start in Servey is trapped in a format only Servey can open.

Does it work over cellular?

Yes. Servey is built to connect reliably even on strict mobile and carrier networks where most tools give up, and it tunes quality to your connection automatically so the picture stays smooth.

Which devices are supported?

A Mac as the host, controlled from an iPhone or iPad. Servey needs macOS 15.3 or later on the Mac and iOS or iPadOS 18.5 or later on the device you control it from, so it is worth checking your versions before you join the waitlist. Any Mac that runs macOS 15.3 works, Apple silicon or Intel, and a MacBook can be driven with the lid shut. Servey is built natively for the Apple ecosystem - not an Electron or Java port - so it feels fast and right at home on your devices.

Do I need a VPN or port forwarding?

No. There's no VPN to configure and no ports to forward. Sign in with Google on both devices and your Mac appears - that's the entire setup.

Is there a free version?

Yes. Servey has a free tier with no card and no countdown: five-minute sessions, five sessions a day, and your daily allowance resets at local midnight. Everything Servey does is in it - screen mirroring, input and the terminal - so what you are paying for on a paid plan is time, not a longer feature list.

When is it launching and how much will it cost?

Servey is in pre-submission hardening now, and the waitlist is how you get in first. Pricing is already set: free to start, the Terminal plan at $1.99/month or ₹99/month in India, and Full access - screen mirroring plus terminal - at $4.49/month or ₹299/month in India. Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment it's ready. You're never charged until launch.

Can I get a real terminal on my Mac from my iPhone?

Yes. Servey runs a genuine shell on your Mac - not a limited web console - over both local and remote connections.

Isn't SSH enough for a terminal on my Mac?

SSH works but is fiddly to expose safely. Servey gives you the same shell with no port forwarding, keys, or VPN to configure.

Does the terminal work when I'm away from home?

Yes. The terminal is available over the remote path too, so you can fix a build or run a deploy from anywhere.

Run a real terminal on your Mac from your iPhone

By Janesh Kapoor · July 9, 2026 · Updated September 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Sometimes you do not need your whole desktop - you just need a command line on your Mac. Here is how to get a real shell in your pocket, and why the quality of that terminal matters.

A surprising amount of Mac work is command-line work: restart a stuck service, tail a log during an incident, re-run a failed build, pull the latest changes, or drive a headless Mac Mini sitting in a closet. For all of that, a full mirrored desktop is overkill - what you want is a fast, honest terminal.

Why not just SSH?

SSH from a phone works, but getting there is the hard part: you need your Mac reachable from the internet, which usually means a VPN, port forwarding, or a jump host, plus key management on a device with a touch keyboard. That is a lot of setup for a quick command. A purpose-built app can give you the same shell without any of the network plumbing.

What makes a mobile terminal actually usable

A genuine shell on your Mac - your real environment, tools, and paths - not a sandboxed web console.
The keys you actually need on a touch keyboard: Esc, Tab, Ctrl, arrows, and pipe, ready without hunting through menus.
It works both on your local network and remotely, so the same terminal is there whether you are home or out.
No VPN or port forwarding to reach your machine.

How Servey handles it

Servey includes a real terminal as a first-class feature, right next to screen mirroring. It is a genuine shell on your Mac, available over both the direct local connection and the private remote path, so you can fix a build from the couch or check a process on a headless Mac from a train. Setup is just signing in with Google on both devices - no VPN, no ports.

If a real terminal in your pocket sounds useful, Servey is launching soon. Join the waitlist and we will let you know the moment it is ready.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a real terminal on my Mac from my iPhone?: Yes. Servey runs a genuine shell on your Mac - not a limited web console - over both local and remote connections.
Isn't SSH enough for a terminal on my Mac?: SSH works but is fiddly to expose safely. Servey gives you the same shell with no port forwarding, keys, or VPN to configure.
Does the terminal work when I'm away from home?: Yes. The terminal is available over the remote path too, so you can fix a build or run a deploy from anywhere.

Servey puts your Mac in your pocket. Launching soon.