iHost vs ShortFlow
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iHost
Create and share webpages directly from your iOS device. Features a built-in code editor with syntax highlighting for multiple languages and easy file sharing to continue your work on a computer. Ideal for developers on the go.
- Local web server
- File sharing
- Built-in code editor
- Syntax highlighting
- Web inspection tools
- HTML Live support
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iHost is a local server on your iOS device! You can easily share files and create a webpage all from your iOS device so that anyone on your network can see your creation. There is a built in code editor with syntax highlighting for multiple languages with a beautiful clean user interface. You can save the files with any extension meaning you can take off where you left on your computer with easy file sharing. iHost can work with HTML Live and Web Inspect to create an array of amazing web tools that will help you code on the go to become a better developer. Localhost was brought to you from: https://github.com/swisspol/GCDWebServer
ShortFlow
Access your favorite apps, websites, and custom shortcuts directly from your iPhone's Lock Screen. Create personalized widget buttons with a vast icon library for quick launching. Supports Always-On display and offers advanced customization options.
- Launch apps from Lock Screen
- Open URLs from Lock Screen
- Access Shortcuts app actions
- Customizable widget buttons
- Over 4,000 icons available
- Supports Always-On display
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Open any apps, shortcuts, URLs from the Lock Screen. Place custom widget buttons on your Lock Screen, with your choice of over 4,000 icons. Each can be configured to launch your favorite app, website, or any shortcut from the Shortcuts app. Other Features: • Display custom title on a widget • Built-in presets for quick configuration • Supports iPhone 14 Pro's Always-On display • Easily change widgets through the app Pro Features: • Transparent widget backgrounds • Create up to 20 different widgets • Place an inline widget above time
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ShortFlow at 4.7 against iHost's 4.3. ShortFlow also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 44%) and ratings volume (196 vs 52). iHost's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. iHost sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ShortFlow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ShortFlow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 196 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of iHost's written reviews are positive against 68% of ShortFlow's.
iHost ships an update every 5 days, ShortFlow every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iHost | ShortFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (52 ratings) | 4.7 (196 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | 67.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 52 | 196 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 8 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | INNOVATIVE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED | Kenneth Kao |
Customer experience
iHost
ShortFlow
In-app purchases
iHost
- iHosts Pro Features$4.99
ShortFlow
- ShortFlow Pro$2.99
