a-Shell

a-Shell

*Local* Unix terminal (& ssh)

553 ratings
387 reviews
#19 in free Developer Tools
📊 Productivity
🛠️ Developer Tools
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • October 25, 2019
  • September 21, 2026

Features

a-Shell screenshot #1 for iPhone
a-Shell screenshot #2 for iPhone
a-Shell screenshot #3 for iPhone
a-Shell screenshot #4 for iPhone
a-Shell screenshot #5 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
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About

Run a full Unix-like terminal environment on your iOS device. Execute a wide range of commands, edit files, and even program using included interpreters and compilers. Supports multitasking and integration with Shortcuts.

✓Local Unix terminal emulator
✓SSH client
✓File transfer (scp, curl)
✓Text editing (vim, ed)
✓Scripting languages (Python, Lua, Perl, JS)
✓C/C++ compiler
✓TeX distribution
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What users say

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What's New in a

2.2.2

September 21, 2026

Fixed several bugs. - one that caused a crash when entering control-escape - one that caused a crash when clicking on screen while running certain commands - one about the window dimensions on iPhones

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Charts

Top Free

The app has maintained its position at 19 recently.

Last updated on October 9, 2026.

User reviews

who even copies text anymore?

trying to copy output in this app is a living nightmare

Broken scripts

After last update all my scripts are broken. Unusable.

h2so4

ch3cooh

cool

best CLI Tool for iPad. its cool.

Great potential

Thanks for working on this: a-Shell is a very cool app with a lot of potential. Can you make it run more gnu tools like gnu make, Bash and other basic tools for compiling small programs or are there licensing limitations?

Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Toolbar buttons not accessible in portrait mode on some devices

Bug

Pasting from clipboard can insert unexpected characters

Bug

Sourcing certain script files causes crashes

Bug
✨

Requested Features

5 requests

Add support for package managers like Homebrew or APT

Feature

Implement more advanced shell features like job control and better tab completion

Feature

Integrate Git for version control

Feature

Allow installing additional packages and libraries

Feature

Improve clipboard and file management integration

Feature

FAQ

What is a-Shell?

a-Shell is a powerful local terminal emulator for iOS devices. It allows you to run a Unix-like command-line environment directly on your device, enabling you to execute a wide variety of commands, edit files, and even program using included interpreters and compilers.

What programming languages and tools are included?

The app includes Python, Lua, Perl, JavaScript, C, and C++ for programming. It also features a TeX distribution (texlive 2025) for text processing, along with network utilities like nslookup, ping, and ifconfig.

How much does a-Shell cost?

a-Shell is a paid application. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements within the app.

What are the system requirements for a-Shell?

a-Shell requires iOS 13 or later. It leverages iOS 13+'s 'multiple windows' ability, allowing you to run multiple terminal sessions simultaneously.

Can I use a-Shell with Shortcuts?

Yes, a-Shell integrates with iOS Shortcuts. You can create custom workflows to run commands, process files within a-Shell, and transfer results to other apps or receive files from them.