# Pyto IDE vs a

The clearest difference is review sentiment: a at 79% against Pyto IDE's 35%. a also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Pyto IDE's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). 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. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

a holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 995 and 553 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Pyto IDE's written reviews are positive against 79% of a's.

Pyto IDE ships an update every 8 days, a monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pyto IDE | a |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (995 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pyto-ide/id1436650069/reviews) | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **995** | 553 |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | **78.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #24 | **#19** |
| Size | 922 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Develobile S.p.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1212021727) | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) |

## What reviewers say

### Pyto IDE

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

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #52 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


### 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 Pyto IDE free?

Pyto IDE 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, Pyto IDE or a?

a is rated higher. Pyto IDE averages 3.7 out of 5 from 995 ratings, while a averages 4.6 from 553 ratings.

### Do Pyto IDE or a have ads?

Neither Pyto IDE nor a shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pyto IDE or a?

Pyto IDE ships an update every 8 days, and a monthly. Most recently, Pyto IDE was updated on September 28, 2026 and a on September 29, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Pyto IDE or a?

Pyto IDE currently peaks at #24 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.*