# a vs Blink Shell, Build & Code

The clearest difference is rating: a at 4.6 against Blink Shell, Build & Code's 3.1. a also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 37%) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Blink Shell, Build & Code sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

a holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 553 and 418 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of a's written reviews are positive against 37% of Blink Shell, Build & Code's.

a ships an update monthly, Blink Shell, Build & Code every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | Blink Shell, Build & Code |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** | [3.1 (418 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blink-shell-build-and-code/id1594898306/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **553** | 418 |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 36.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #19 | **#13** |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 211 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [Blink Shell, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526795995) |

## 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


### Blink Shell, Build & Code

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blink-shell-build-and-code/id1594898306)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #74 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Transform your iOS device into a powerful terminal for coding and development. Leverage Mosh and SSH for stable, fast connections. Integrate with VS Code and manage your entire development workflow from your pocket.

**Highlights:** Mosh and SSH connections, VS Code integration (Blink Code), Remote runtime creation (Blink Build), Full SSH toolset, Hardware keyboard support, External display support, SFTP transfers

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Build Basic - 50 credits/month | $7.99 | per month |
| Blink+Build Basic | $9.99 | per month |
| Blink Plus | $19.99 | per year |
| Blink+ | $19.99 | per year |
| Blink Shell Classic | Free | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is Blink Shell, Build & Code free?

Blink Shell, Build & Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, a or Blink Shell, Build & Code?

a is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 553 ratings, while Blink Shell, Build & Code averages 3.1 from 418 ratings.

### Do a or Blink Shell, Build & Code have ads?

Neither a nor Blink Shell, Build & Code shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, a or Blink Shell, Build & Code?

a ships an update monthly, and Blink Shell, Build & Code every 3 weeks. Most recently, a was updated on September 23, 2026 and Blink Shell, Build & Code on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, a or Blink Shell, Build & Code?

a currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and Blink Shell, Build & Code at #13. 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.*