# iSH Shell vs Apps Connect

The clearest difference is rating: iSH Shell at 4.7 against Apps Connect's 4.4. iSH Shell also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 61%) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 130). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

iSH Shell holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iSH Shell has 1.2K ratings behind it against 130, 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 61% of Apps Connect's.

iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, Apps Connect monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iSH Shell | Apps Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ish-shell/id1436902243/reviews)** | [4.4 (130 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apps-connect/id1643688878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 130 |
| Positive reviews | **80.2% of reviews** | 60.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #17 | **#14** |
| Size | 6 MB | 148 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Theodore Dubois](https://appshunter.io/developer/1432356577) | [CITY OF THE SKY NETWORK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643688880) |

## 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


### Apps Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apps-connect/id1643688878)

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides a one-click connection to various proxy protocols like Shadowsocks, Vmess, and Trojan. It offers a lighter, simpler interface with custom themes and aims for faster, more secure connections.

**Highlights:** One-click connection, Supports multiple proxy protocols, Lighter and simpler interface, Customizable themes, Faster connection speeds, Secure kernel

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iSH Shell free?

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

### Is Apps Connect free?

Apps Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iSH Shell or Apps Connect?

iSH Shell is rated higher. iSH Shell averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Apps Connect averages 4.4 from 130 ratings.

### Do iSH Shell or Apps Connect have ads?

Neither iSH Shell nor Apps Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iSH Shell or Apps Connect?

iSH Shell ships an update every 3 weeks, and Apps Connect monthly. Most recently, iSH Shell was updated on September 23, 2026 and Apps Connect on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, iSH Shell or Apps Connect?

iSH Shell currently peaks at #17 in the App Store charts, and Apps Connect at #14. 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.*