# iSH Shell vs Runestone Text Editor

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iSH Shell at none against Runestone Text Editor's 1. iSH Shell also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Runestone Text Editor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iSH Shell asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for iSH Shell against 4.7 for Runestone Text Editor. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of iSH Shell's written reviews are positive against 76% of Runestone Text Editor's.

iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, Runestone Text Editor every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iSH Shell | Runestone Text Editor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ish-shell/id1436902243/reviews) | [4.7 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runestone-text-editor/id1548193893/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 76.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | #24 |
| Size | 6 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Theodore Dubois](https://appshunter.io/developer/1432356577) | [Simon B. Støvring](https://appshunter.io/developer/423532907) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Runestone Text Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runestone-text-editor/id1548193893)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #48 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

A powerful plain text and code editor for iPhone and iPad. Offers syntax highlighting, line numbers, find and replace, and extensive customization options for developers and writers.

**Highlights:** Syntax highlighting for many languages, Customizable themes and fonts, Advanced find and replace, Line numbers and cursor location, Code formatting with Prettier.js, Multiple windows on iPad

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Excellent text editor
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 🎨 Customizable themes and appearance
- 🔒 Secure file storage and sync
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔍 Difficulty navigating files/folders
- 📝 Limited functionality without premium
- 🔌 Performance issues on older devices
- 🔒 Difficulty accessing files in cloud storage

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing files
- Difficulty pasting text
- Scroll position not saved
- Hangs on startup
- Trouble opening large files

**Requested features**

- Markdown preview
- Code folding
- Syntax highlighting for more languages
- Ability to run/execute code
- Multiple file/window support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iSH Shell free?

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

### Is Runestone Text Editor free?

Runestone Text Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iSH Shell or Runestone Text Editor?

iSH Shell and Runestone Text Editor are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.2K and 2K ratings respectively.

### Do iSH Shell or Runestone Text Editor have ads?

Neither iSH Shell nor Runestone Text Editor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iSH Shell or Runestone Text Editor?

iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, and Runestone Text Editor every 2 weeks. Most recently, iSH Shell was updated on October 2, 2026 and Runestone Text Editor on September 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, iSH Shell or Runestone Text Editor?

iSH Shell currently peaks at #17 in the App Store charts, and Runestone Text Editor at #24. 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.*