# Pyto IDE vs iSH Shell

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iSH Shell at 80% against Pyto IDE's 35%. iSH Shell also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Pyto IDE's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pyto IDE sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. iSH Shell asks for nothing beyond the download.

iSH Shell holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 995 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Pyto IDE's written reviews are positive against 80% of iSH Shell's.

Pyto IDE ships an update every 8 days, iSH Shell every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pyto IDE | iSH Shell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (995 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pyto-ide/id1436650069/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ish-shell/id1436902243/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 995 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | **80.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #44 | **#17** |
| Size | 922 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Develobile S.p.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1212021727) | [Theodore Dubois](https://appshunter.io/developer/1432356577) |

## What reviewers say

### Pyto IDE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pyto-ide/id1436650069)

**Currently charting:** #44 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #51 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app offers a powerful integrated development environment for Python, C, and C++ on iOS devices. It includes a Python interpreter with extensive libraries, a C/C++ compiler, a terminal, and a code editor with advanced features like code completion and debugging.

**Highlights:** Python 3.10 Interpreter, C/C++ Compiler, Code Editor with Completion, Terminal with UNIX Commands, Graphical Interface Builder, Debugging Support, Shortcuts and Picture in Picture

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3-day Trial | Free | one-time |
| Upgrade to Full Version | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lite Version | $7.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for Python development on iOS
- 👍 Supports many Python libraries like Pandas, NumPy
- 💡 Integrates well with Shortcuts and Apple Watch
- 👍 Paid version offers good value

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 👎 Confusing user interface and poor documentation
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription/trial
- 💰 Paid-only access to core functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to run scripts after a few executions
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Paywall issues - app asking to repurchase after prior purchase

**Requested features**

- Improved code editor with better keyboard support
- Ability to read/write external files (CSV, TXT, etc.)
- Support for more Python libraries like Selenium, Tensorflow
- Longer trial period for new users


### iSH Shell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ish-shell/id1436902243)

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Linux-like shell environment, File editing with sed and cat, File manipulation, Command-line operations, Pocket Linux experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent Linux environment
- 👍 Great for SSH and network utilities
- 💡 Allows running Linux apps on iOS
- 🔒 Secure and sandboxed
- 👍 Customizable and flexible

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Battery intensive
- ⚠️ Limited functionality compared to full Linux
- ⚠️ Outdated packages and dependencies

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor focus issues
- Incompatibility with certain commands and packages
- Mounting issues with iOS file system

**Requested features**

- Add support for more Linux distributions
- Improve performance and stability
- Implement GUI support
- Add shortcuts and automation features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pyto IDE free?

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

### Is iSH Shell free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pyto IDE or iSH Shell?

iSH Shell is rated higher. Pyto IDE averages 3.7 out of 5 from 995 ratings, while iSH Shell averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Pyto IDE or iSH Shell have ads?

Neither Pyto IDE nor iSH Shell shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pyto IDE or iSH Shell?

Pyto IDE ships an update every 8 days, and iSH Shell every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pyto IDE was updated on September 30, 2026 and iSH Shell on October 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Pyto IDE or iSH Shell?

Pyto IDE currently peaks at #44 in the App Store charts, and iSH Shell at #17. 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.*