# a vs Terminal#

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against Terminal#'s 8. a also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (553 vs 153). Terminal#'s advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 79%). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Terminal# sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 4.5 for Terminal#. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 553 and 153 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of a's written reviews are positive against 91% of Terminal#'s.

a ships an update monthly, Terminal# every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | Terminal# |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** | [4.5 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terminal/id1632249346/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **553** | 153 |
| Positive reviews | 78.6% of reviews | **91.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Paid** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#20** | #68 |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [Vasilii Shaidullin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1423700543) |

## What reviewers say

### a

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438)

**Currently charting:** #20 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


### Terminal#

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terminal/id1632249346)

**Currently charting:** #68 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides a secure and convenient way to manage your servers directly from your mobile device. It offers a powerful terminal interface for efficient server management on the go, with an intuitive design suitable for all users.

**Highlights:** Secure SSH connection, Convenient server management, Intuitive user interface, Mobile flexibility, Quick and efficient terminal

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Semi-annual | $8.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Two hundred connections | $2.99 | one-time |
| Five hundred connections | $3.99 | one-time |
| Eight hundred connections | $5.99 | one-time |
| A thousand connections | $7.99 | one-time |
| Infinity connections | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Reliable and stable
- 🔒 Secure remote access
- 💡 Useful keyboard shortcuts
- 👍 Clutter-free interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs with text editor
- 🔒 Concerns about password storage
- 🔋 Issues with background operation

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing on login screen
- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Scrolling problems with on-screen keyboard

**Requested features**

- Add support for 2FA
- Improve text editor functionality
- Provide option to disable password storage


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is Terminal# free?

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

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

a is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 553 ratings, while Terminal# averages 4.5 from 153 ratings.

### Do a or Terminal# have ads?

Neither a nor Terminal# shows ads.

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

a ships an update monthly, and Terminal# every 5 months. Most recently, a was updated on September 29, 2026 and Terminal# on September 27, 2026.

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

a currently peaks at #20 in the App Store charts, and Terminal# at #68. 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.*