Macky vs SSH
SSH is the standard for remote terminal access. Macky takes a different approach: using WebRTC for direct, zero-config connections from your iPhone to your Mac. Here is how they compare.
The SSH Setup Problem
To SSH into your Mac from your iPhone, you need to:
- Enable Remote Login in System Settings
- Generate an SSH key pair on your iPhone
- Copy the public key to your Mac's authorized_keys
- Configure port forwarding on your router (port 22)
- Set up a static IP or dynamic DNS service
- Configure your firewall to allow incoming SSH
- Install an SSH client on your iPhone
And if your ISP uses Carrier-Grade NAT, you are on a corporate network, or your public IP changes, the connection breaks and you are back to troubleshooting.
With Macky, you install the Mac app, install the iPhone app, sign in, and connect. WebRTC handles NAT traversal, firewall traversal, and encryption automatically. No ports to open, no keys to manage, and no DNS to configure.
When SSH Is the Right Choice
SSH is universal. It works on every OS, connects to any server, and is the backbone of infrastructure management. If you need to connect to Linux servers, cloud VMs, network equipment, or non-Apple hardware, SSH is the industry standard.
Macky is built for one specific scenario: you have a Mac, you have an iPhone, and you want instant terminal and screen access between them without friction.