Comparison

iSH Shell vs RegEx+

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iSH Shell

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
Read full description

A Linux-like shell on iOS. You can edit files with sed and cat, move them around, and more! https://github.com/ish-app/ish/

About

RegEx+

This tool helps developers master regular expressions on macOS and iOS. It offers a comprehensive cheatsheet and cloud synchronization across devices to decode and construct complex text patterns.

Highlights
  • Master regular expressions
  • Comprehensive cheatsheet
  • Cloud synchronization
  • Cross-device support (macOS, iOS)
  • Decode complex patterns
Features
Read full description

Visualize, test, and master regular expressions with RegEx+. RegEx+ is a focused regex toolkit for developers on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Build and test patterns live, then instantly see how they work with interactive flow diagrams — a visual breakdown of every part of your regex. KEY FEATURES • Flow Diagrams — See your regex as a diagram. Instantly understand how each token, group, and quantifier connects. • Live Matching — Results update as you type. Match, capture, and replace in real time. • Cheat Sheet — A comprehensive reference for metacharacters, anchors, groups, and operators. Always one tap away. • Pattern Library — Save and organize your patterns, or start faster with 33 built-in templates. Sync across all your devices via CloudKit. • Multi-language Support — Available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Chinese, Danish, Finnish, and Norwegian. Whether you're debugging a complex pattern or learning regex from scratch, RegEx+ gives you the tools to understand what your expression actually does. Download RegEx+ and start writing better regex today.

Screenshots

iSH Shell1 screens
RegEx+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iSH Shell at Free against RegEx+'s $1.99. iSH Shell also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (80% vs 50%). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

iSH Shell is free to download; RegEx+ costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iSH Shell holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iSH Shell has 1.2K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of iSH Shell's written reviews are positive against 50% of RegEx+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, RegEx+ every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
iSH Shell versus RegEx+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSH ShellRegEx+
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.7 (1.2K ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews80.2% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.2K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#16 — better#104
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS11.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB5 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTheodore Dubois圣罡 汤

Customer experience

iSH Shell

All ratings1,230 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews398 reviews
Positive80.2%
Neutral8.3%
Negative11.6%

RegEx+

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

iSH Shell

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for more Linux distributions
  • Improve performance and stability
  • Implement GUI support
  • Add shortcuts and automation features

RegEx+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

iSH Shell

No in-app purchases

None

RegEx+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iSH Shell free?
iSH Shell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RegEx+ free?
RegEx+ costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iSH Shell or RegEx+?
iSH Shell is rated higher. iSH Shell averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while RegEx+ averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do iSH Shell or RegEx+ have ads?
Neither iSH Shell nor RegEx+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSH Shell or RegEx+?
iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, and RegEx+ every 4 weeks. Most recently, iSH Shell was updated on September 23, 2026 and RegEx+ on September 14, 2026.
Which is more popular, iSH Shell or RegEx+?
iSH Shell currently peaks at #16 in the App Store charts, and RegEx+ at #104. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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