# a vs Desktop Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against Desktop Browser's 3. a also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 64%). Desktop Browser's advantage is ratings volume (3.3K vs 553). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Desktop Browser sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for a against 4.5 for Desktop Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Desktop Browser has 3.3K ratings behind it against 553, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of a's written reviews are positive against 64% of Desktop Browser's.

a ships an update monthly, Desktop Browser every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | Desktop Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** | [4.5 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser-zoomable/id1568442831/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 553 | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 64.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | #21 |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [Actowise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563247119) |

## 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


### Desktop Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser-zoomable/id1568442831)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Developer Tools, #105 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Experience a full desktop web on your mobile device. This browser simulates a large, resizable screen to display desktop versions of websites, avoiding mobile-optimized layouts. Enjoy features like zoom control, full-screen mode, and privacy-focused data collection.

**Highlights:** Desktop website rendering, Zoomable screen (1x-3x), Full screen mode, Portrait/landscape transitions, Favorites management, UI customization, Multiple tabs (Pro), Theme customization (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2 Extra Tabs | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Intuitive user interface
- 🔍 Effective desktop mode
- 💡 Useful zoom feature
- 🔒 Secure browsing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and reloads
- 🔍 Inconsistent desktop mode performance
- 📱 Incompatible with some mobile apps
- 💸 Paid version required for full functionality
- 🔌 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Issues connecting to local IP addresses
- Inability to use Google account login
- Blank pages when resizing or zooming
- Redirects to search engine instead of desired site

**Requested features**

- Add ad-blocking capabilities
- Implement local network access
- Allow setting as default browser
- Introduce a virtual trackpad mode
- Improve bookmark management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is Desktop Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, a or Desktop Browser?

a is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 553 ratings, while Desktop Browser averages 4.5 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do a or Desktop Browser have ads?

Neither a nor Desktop Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, a or Desktop Browser?

a ships an update monthly, and Desktop Browser every 5 weeks. Most recently, a was updated on September 23, 2026 and Desktop Browser on September 22, 2026.

### Which is more popular, a or Desktop Browser?

a currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and Desktop Browser at #21. 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.*