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a-Shell

a-Shell

*Local* Unix terminal (& ssh)

547 ratings
292 reviews
#20 in free Developer Tools
📊 Productivity
🛠️ Developer Tools
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • October 25, 2019
  • September 12, 2026

Features

Developer

Nicolas Holzschuch
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a-Shell screenshot #1 for iPhone
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iphone
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📉no. 20
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❓5 answered
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📦~ in 3 weeks
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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
Show original description

What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of a. Based on 547 reviews and a 4.6/5 average, it highlights the 5 positives and 4 negatives reviewers mention most about this Developer Tools app.

Positive things

  • 🚀Powerful terminal with Linux commands
  • 👍Useful for programming and development
  • 🔒Secure and reliable
  • 💡Impressive capabilities for an iOS app
  • 👍Helpful documentation and developer support

Negative things

  • 🐛Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🔍Limited customization options
  • 🔍Missing some basic terminal features
  • 🔍Compatibility issues with certain packages
See all reviews
+1

What's New in a

2.2.1

September 12, 2026

- multiple bug fixes: making sure we're not in bracketed paste mode, interactive input in WebAssembly commands. - more complete cleanup after "exit" on iPhones - added the new options in "man config" (they were already in config, but the man page was lagging behind)

More

Charts

Top Free

📉 20-1

Developer Tools

This app dropped -1 position in Developer Tools chart.

Last updated on September 18, 2026.

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Good

Personally im not in developing but this is incredible for mobile developers
vlvuchchvlvuchch

I cannot use clang

I cannot user clang and i cannot pkg install llvm-18
NemozhwangNemozhwang

Response from developer

I would need a more detailed description of the issue in order to understand it, then fix it. Please get in touch using any of the methods listed under the "help" command: e-mail (another_shell@icloud.com), Bluesky (@a-shell-ios.bsky.social‬), github (https://github.com/holzschu/a-shell/issues) or Discord (https://discord.gg/cvYnZm69Gy).

Let me try because I was just searching on Safari so I wanted to use it

On Safari, I wanted to use it just to download a vanity mod
DIAMONDS😊DIAMONDS😊

Battle cats

I use this for hacking battle cats as it is safer than other methods, it is smooth and works well for iOS. I still suck at battle cats :( this is very helpful though!!!
an npc player jkan npc player jk

良きかな

ショートカットと連携できたりflaskでlocalhostできるのでおすすめです！
でんでん太鼓田田丸でんでん太鼓田田丸
See 287 more reviews

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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.