# Stream vs a

The clearest difference is rating: a at 4.6 against Stream's 4.1. a also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (553 vs 133). Stream's advantage is iOS requirement (9 vs 14.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stream sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

a holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 133 and 553 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 79% and 79% positive.

Stream ships an update every 3 weeks, a monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stream | a |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stream-network-debug-tool/id1312141691/reviews) | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 133 | **553** |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 78.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #64 | **#18** |
| Size | 33 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **9** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Stream Lab Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499306893) | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) |

## What reviewers say

### Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stream-network-debug-tool/id1312141691)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This tool allows developers to inspect HTTP and HTTPS network traffic on iOS devices. It enables capturing requests, replaying them, and managing host configurations for testing different environments. Essential for debugging network issues and understanding application behavior.

**Highlights:** Sniff HTTP & HTTPS requests, Capture and preview request/response bodies, Compose and replay HTTP requests, Configure hosts for environment switching, Import and replay HAR files, Compatible with iPhone X and iPad multitasking

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coke | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coffee | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Free and powerful HTTP packet sniffer tool
- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🔧 Useful for network debugging and troubleshooting
- 💡 Built-in JSON viewer and utilities (RSA, Base64 encryption/decryption)
- ✏️ Ability to edit and resend requests

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Certificate installation fails on iOS 18.x versions
- 🐛 Gacha history recording not working properly
- 🐛 'Code 0' error when generating JSON links
- 🐛 VPN profile conflicts requiring app reinstallation
- ⚠️ Requires installing system certificates (security concern)

**Reported bugs**

- Certificate installation fails on iOS 18.1 and 18.2
- Gacha/wish history not being captured correctly
- Code 0 error when retrieving JSON links
- VPN profiles becoming non-functional after app use
- Server connection issues (192.168.0.2:8081 unreachable)

**Requested features**

- Select all requests button for bulk export
- Ability to delete individual capture sessions/records
- Gzip response content decompression
- Breakpoint setting for request modification
- Media file saving capability


### a

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

**Currently charting:** #18 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 Stream free?

Stream 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, Stream or a?

a is rated higher. Stream averages 4.1 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while a averages 4.6 from 553 ratings.

### Do Stream or a have ads?

Neither Stream nor a shows ads.

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

Stream ships an update every 3 weeks, and a monthly. Most recently, Stream was updated on September 22, 2026 and a on September 23, 2026.

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

Stream currently peaks at #64 in the App Store charts, and a at #18. 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.*