# a vs Apps Connect

The clearest difference is monetization model: Apps Connect at free against a's paid. a's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 61%) and ratings volume (553 vs 130). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 553 and 130 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of a's written reviews are positive against 61% of Apps Connect's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | Apps Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** | [4.4 (130 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apps-connect/id1643688878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **553** | 130 |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 60.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #19 | **#16** |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 148 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [CITY OF THE SKY NETWORK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643688880) |

## 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


### Apps Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apps-connect/id1643688878)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides a one-click connection to various proxy protocols like Shadowsocks, Vmess, and Trojan. It offers a lighter, simpler interface with custom themes and aims for faster, more secure connections.

**Highlights:** One-click connection, Supports multiple proxy protocols, Lighter and simpler interface, Customizable themes, Faster connection speeds, Secure kernel

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is Apps Connect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, a or Apps Connect?

a is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 553 ratings, while Apps Connect averages 4.4 from 130 ratings.

### Do a or Apps Connect have ads?

Neither a nor Apps Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, a or Apps Connect?

a ships an update monthly, and Apps Connect monthly. Most recently, a was updated on September 23, 2026 and Apps Connect on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, a or Apps Connect?

a currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and Apps Connect at #16. 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.*