# Kodex vs a

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against Kodex's 1. a also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (79% vs 63%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kodex sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

a holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 207 and 553 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Kodex's written reviews are positive against 79% of a's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kodex | a |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (207 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodex/id1038574481/reviews) | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 207 | **553** |
| Positive reviews | 63.1% of reviews | **78.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #87 | **#19** |
| Size | 14 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Bruno Philipe Resende Silva](https://appshunter.io/developer/605892017) | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) |

## What reviewers say

### Kodex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodex/id1038574481)

**Currently charting:** #87 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

An advanced code editor for iOS devices, offering desktop-class features like multi-caret editing, regex search, and syntax highlighting for over 150 languages. It integrates with the Files app and supports external keyboards for a seamless coding experience.

**Highlights:** Multi-caret editing, Regex search and replace, Minimap for navigation, Syntax highlighting (150+ languages), External keyboard support, Files app integration, Customizable themes and fonts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful code editor
- 👍 Well-integrated with iPad features
- 🎨 Excellent syntax highlighting and theming
- 📁 Broad file format support
- 💡 Useful QuickEdit mode

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Lack of search and replace functionality
- 🔀 Difficulty navigating between files
- 🚫 No option to run/compile code
- 📏 Forced word wrapping with no toggle

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain file types
- Loses data after copy/paste and undo/redo
- Compatibility issues with latest iOS versions
- Overlapping UI elements in search/replace

**Requested features**

- Add search and replace feature
- Implement code execution/compilation
- Improve file management and navigation
- Provide option to disable word wrapping
- Introduce more keyboard shortcuts


### a

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🔍 Missing some basic terminal features
- 🔍 Compatibility issues with certain packages

**Reported bugs**

- Toolbar buttons not accessible in portrait mode on some devices
- Pasting from clipboard can insert unexpected characters
- Sourcing certain script files causes crashes

**Requested features**

- Add support for package managers like Homebrew or APT
- Implement more advanced shell features like job control and better tab completion
- Integrate Git for version control
- Allow installing additional packages and libraries
- Improve clipboard and file management integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kodex free?

Kodex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is a free?

a is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Kodex or a?

a is rated higher. Kodex averages 4.2 out of 5 from 207 ratings, while a averages 4.6 from 553 ratings.

### Do Kodex or a have ads?

Neither Kodex nor a shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kodex or a?

Kodex ships an update monthly, and a monthly. Most recently, Kodex was updated on September 21, 2026 and a on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Kodex or a?

Kodex currently peaks at #87 in the App Store charts, and a at #19. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*