# a vs Spectre VPN

The clearest difference is rating: a at 4.6 against Spectre VPN's 3.9. a also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 68%) and chart position (#19 vs #88). Spectre VPN's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ratings volume, 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.

a holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 553 and 248 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of a's written reviews are positive against 68% of Spectre VPN's.

a ships an update monthly, Spectre VPN every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | Spectre VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** | [3.9 (248 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectre-vpn/id1508712998/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **553** | 248 |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 68.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | #88 |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 136 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [Passion Only](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508712997) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Spectre VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectre-vpn/id1508712998)

**Currently charting:** #88 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides secure internet access using Shadowsocks and Trojan protocols. It offers strong encryption to protect your privacy from third parties and features an intuitive design for ease of use. It is available for free.

**Highlights:** Shadowsocks and Trojan protocol support, Strong encryption for privacy, Lightweight and efficient proxy, Intuitive and simple design, Free to use

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable and efficient app
- 🚀 Smooth and fast performance
- 🔒 Secure and trustworthy
- 💡 Lightweight and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Video loading issues
- 🐛 Connectivity problems after updates
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and timeouts
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 12.5.5 and older
- Incompatibility with certain devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Support for more protocols (e.g., VMess, VLESS, SSTP)
- Server sorting by ping/latency
- Websocket connection support
- Manual server configuration
- Multiple server import from clipboard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is Spectre VPN free?

Spectre VPN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, a or Spectre VPN?

a is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 553 ratings, while Spectre VPN averages 3.9 from 248 ratings.

### Do a or Spectre VPN have ads?

Neither a nor Spectre VPN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, a or Spectre VPN?

a ships an update monthly, and Spectre VPN every 2 weeks. Most recently, a was updated on September 23, 2026 and Spectre VPN on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, a or Spectre VPN?

a currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and Spectre VPN at #88. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*