# a vs xTerminal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against xTerminal's 4. a also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (79% vs 69%). xTerminal's advantage is ratings volume (1.9K vs 553). On price, rating, update cadence and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xTerminal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for a against 4.7 for xTerminal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 553 and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of a's written reviews are positive against 69% of xTerminal's.

a ships an update monthly, xTerminal every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | xTerminal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xterminal-ssh-terminal-shell/id1544728400/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 553 | **1.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 68.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | #28 |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [婉媚 邵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1297240696) |

## 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


### xTerminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xterminal-ssh-terminal-shell/id1544728400)

**Currently charting:** #28 Top Free · Developer Tools, #51 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Manage servers remotely with a fast and secure SSH terminal client. Features include a powerful editor, multi-session management, file transfer, and advanced security options. Ideal for IT professionals and developers needing to control servers from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Interactive SSH terminal, Built-in vi/vim editor, Multi-session management, Command snippets, SFTP file management, Secure port knocking, Batch command execution

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| xTerminal Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| xTerminal Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| xTerminal Pro | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connections
- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 💡 Useful app
- 👍 Great support team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Security risks with storing credentials
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional bugs
- 🔒 Lack of secure credential entry

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen on connection
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Nano text editor issues

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Import key functionality
- Improved ANSI support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is xTerminal free?

xTerminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, a or xTerminal?

xTerminal is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 553 ratings, while xTerminal averages 4.7 from 1.9K ratings.

### Do a or xTerminal have ads?

xTerminal shows ads; a does not.

### Which is updated more often, a or xTerminal?

a ships an update monthly, and xTerminal every 3 weeks. Most recently, a was updated on September 23, 2026 and xTerminal on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, a or xTerminal?

a currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and xTerminal at #28. 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.*