a vs Developer Tools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
a
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide full description
a-Shell is a complete local terminal emulator, allowing to run most Unix commands on your iOS device. You can transfer files using scp and curl, edit them with vim and ed, process them using grep, awk and sed. You can work with git repositories using lg2. Most commands are compiled for iOS native Arm64 format, making them fast and well integrated with the BSD Unix that powers iOS/iPadOS. a-Shell includes Python, Lua, Perl, JavaScript, C, C++ for programming and TeX (texlive 2025, with Tikz and LuaTeX) for text processing. There are also multiple network utilities: nslookup, ping, whois, ifconfig... Type help for help, help -l to get the full list of commands. a-Shell can be controlled from Shortcuts: run commands in order, process files in a-Shell, get the results as text or files, transfer files to other apps... a-shell uses iOS 13+ “multiple windows” ability, so you can run multiple shells at the same time, with different commands, in different directories. You can edit a file in one window with vim and process it in the other with python. Compile your C or C++ programs to webAssembly using clang or clang++, and execute the resulting binary. A complete webAssembly SDK is included (WASI-libc). a-Shell is the complete version. If you need a smaller app, and you don't need a C compiler, a TeX engine, or numpy and matplotlib, there is a-Shell mini.
Developer Tools
Read full descriptionHide full description
Tooly is an all-in-one toolkit designed to simplify and accelerate your development workflow. Whether you’re a software engineer, a web developer, or a designer, Tooly provides a comprehensive set of tools that seamlessly integrate into your development environment. Packed with essential utilities, Tooly is designed to help you handle everyday development tasks faster and more efficiently. Available Tools: - Base64 Encoder/Decoder: Easily convert text to Base64 and back again with just a few taps. - Unix Time Converter: Convert timestamps across various formats like Unix, Hexa epoch, and CoreData epoch, or display human-readable dates. - String Case Converter: Easily convert text to different cases such as camelCase, snake_case, or uppercase. - JSON to XML: Convert JSON data to XML, perfect for API development or data interchange. - JSON to YAML: Convert JSON data to YAML format for easier configuration and readability. - JSON to Swift: Convert JSON to Swift structs or classes for use in your iOS/macOS projects. - ID Generator and Decoder: Generate and decode UUIDs, ULIDs and NanoIDs for use in your projects. - Color Converter: Convert colors between formats such as HEX, RGB, HSL, HSB, XYZ, Lab, and named colors for fast color management. - Lorem Ipsum Generator: Quickly generate placeholder text, customizable by the number of words, phrases, or paragraphs. - Hash Generator: Create hashes in formats such as MD2, MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 to ensure data consistency and integrity. - Hash Validator: Verify the integrity of text or files by comparing them with a generated hash. - QR Code Generator: Create custom QR codes instantly from any input string. - Number Base Converter: Convert numbers between different bases, including binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal. - X.509 Certificate Decoder: Decode and inspect X.509 certificates in PEM format, extracting all the vital details. - JWT Decoder: Decode JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) and inspect their contents for easier debugging and integration. - Date Formatter: Format dates quickly and easily using the Unicode Standard (e.g., yyyy, MM, dd). - URL Encoder/Decoder: Encode URLs to make them safe for use in web addresses or decode them to read their original form. Enjoy all the features of Tooly and its tools with a one-week free trial. No commitment and cancellable at any time. Additionally, the following tools: Base64 Encoder/Decoder, JSON to XML, String Case Converter, and Unix Time Converter are available for free! And more to come! We are constantly improving Tooly and adding more useful utilities to make your development process smoother and more productive. Tooly is fully built for macOS and iPadOS, ensuring perfect integration into your workflow on any device. All tools are available as Shortcut Actions on iPad and macOS, enabling you to automate routine tasks. Additionally, Tooly supports a Command-Line Interface (CLI) on macOS for developers who prefer a terminal-based workflow. Why Tooly? - Convenience: All the essential developer tools in one app. - Efficiency: Perform conversions, generate hashes, and handle data with ease. - Future-Proof: New tools are on the way, expanding the app’s utility even further. - Tailored for Developers: Tooly is crafted with developers in mind, making it the perfect addition to your toolbox. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against Developer Tools's 4. a also leads on chart position (#20 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Developer Tools sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.29 per 7 days. a asks for nothing beyond the download.
a ships an update monthly, Developer Tools every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | a | Developer Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (564 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 78.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 564 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #20 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2.1 GB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | +17 | 4+ |
| Developer | Nicolas Holzschuch | Basile Cornet |
Bugs and requests
a
Reported bugs
3 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
Developer Tools
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
a
No in-app purchases
Developer Tools
- Tooly Pro Weekly7 Days trial$0.297 Days
- Tooly Pro Monthly$1.491 Month
- Tooly Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Tooly Pro Lifetime$24.99









