1. Home
  2. πŸ› οΈ Developer Tools
  3. iSH Shell
iSH Shell

iSH Shell

Linux in your pocket

1.2K ratings
392 reviews
#15 in free Developer Tools
πŸ”§ Utilities
πŸ› οΈ Developer Tools
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • October 22, 2020
  • May 21, 2023

Features

Developer

Theodore Dubois
✨Promote your app ✨
iSH Shell screenshot #1 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
πŸ“‰no. 15
Chartsβ†˜οΈŽ
πŸ“ŒReady
Reviews summaryβ†˜οΈŽ
⭐392
Reviewsβ†˜οΈŽ
πŸ“40+ tags
Tagsβ†˜οΈŽ
πŸ”„6+ apps
Alternativesβ†˜οΈŽ
❓4 answered
FAQβ†˜οΈŽ
πŸ“¦w/o updates
Updates frequencyβ†˜οΈŽ
πŸ–ΌοΈGet Icon
Iconsβ†˜οΈŽ

About

Experience a Linux-like command-line environment directly on your iOS device. This application allows you to perform common Linux operations such as editing, moving, and manipulating files using familiar commands.

βœ“Linux-like shell environment
βœ“File editing with sed and cat
βœ“File manipulation
βœ“Command-line operations
βœ“Pocket Linux experience
Show original description

What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of iSH Shell. Based on 1.2K reviews and a 4.7/5 average, it highlights the 5 positives and 4 negatives reviewers mention most about this Developer Tools app.

Positive things

  • πŸš€Excellent Linux environment
  • πŸ‘Great for SSH and network utilities
  • πŸ’‘Allows running Linux apps on iOS
  • πŸ”’Secure and sandboxed
  • πŸ‘Customizable and flexible

Negative things

  • πŸ›Crashes and freezes
  • πŸ”‹Battery intensive
  • ⚠️Limited functionality compared to full Linux
  • ⚠️Outdated packages and dependencies
See all reviews

What's New in iSH Shell

1.3.2

May 21, 2023

Fixed bugs: - Make better diagnostics work in the file provider too, to diagnose Files app issues

Charts

Top Free

πŸ“‰Β 15-1

Developer Tools

This app dropped -1 position in Developer Tools chart.

Last updated on August 22, 2026.

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Serious Bugs

I recently installed iSH and it says content unavailable in the files app and the console goes fuzzy.
ITDUDE207ITDUDE207

Great Linux app

I used this to mod my 3DS because my computer broke recently and this app worked perfectly as if I was using my computer. Simple and easy to use (if you know what you’re doing) and my 3DS is fully modded and I’m playing tomodachi life rn❀️✌️😼
Randomguyontheintern3tRandomguyontheintern3t

Real good

Can run all alpine commands, you might as well make a server out of it! I tried running rm -rf /*, and I got error code 2! Realistic!
Yusaa1Yusaa1

Perfect!

I’m using this with an iPad mini 6 and a Logitech Keys-To-Go. I have wanted linux on my iPad for the longest time. It’s great! For anyone who is reading this review and is not the developers, if your external keyboard isn’t working, just turn off full keyboard access. Anyway, that sums up my review!
Show more
actuallytrustablereviewsactuallytrustablereviews

hoi lag

edit big C file kinda laggy with Neovim
cαΊ·cb jsjsisvcαΊ·cb jsjsisv
See 387 more reviews

Developer apps

Modulus Calculator
Modulus Calculator

by Theodore Dubois

πŸ”§ Utilities

(8)

Free
nasin sitelen Wakalito
nasin sitelen Wakalito

o sitelen kepeken tenpo lili a

πŸ”§ Utilities

(25)

Free
See developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Cursor focus issues

Bug

Incompatibility with certain commands and packages

Bug

Mounting issues with iOS file system

Bug
✨

Requested Features

4 requests

Add support for more Linux distributions

Feature

Improve performance and stability

Feature

Implement GUI support

Feature

Add shortcuts and automation features

Feature

FAQ

What does iSH Shell do?

iSH Shell provides a Linux-like command-line environment on your iOS device. It allows you to execute common Linux commands for tasks like editing files with tools such as sed and cat, moving files, and other file management operations.

What are the key features of iSH Shell?

Key features include a Linux-like shell, the ability to edit files using commands like sed and cat, and general file manipulation capabilities. It essentially brings a pocket Linux experience to your iPhone or iPad.

Is iSH Shell free to use?

Yes, iSH Shell is a free application. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements within the app.

What can I use iSH Shell for?

You can use iSH Shell for various command-line tasks on your iOS device, such as basic file management, scripting, or learning Linux commands in a portable environment. It's useful for developers or anyone who needs terminal access on the go.