Comparison

a vs LunoDB

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read 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.

About

LunoDB

Access and manage your databases from your mobile device. Execute SQL queries, browse data, visualize results with charts, and leverage an AI assistant for query generation. Securely connect to various database types on the go.

Highlights
  • Connect to multiple database types
  • Execute SQL queries with syntax highlighting
  • Browse and edit data inline
  • Visualize data with charts and graphs
  • AI-powered SQL query generation
  • Secure access with Face ID/passcode
Features
Read full description

LunoDB brings professional database management to your iPhone and iPad. Connect to your servers securely, run queries, and visualize your data — all from your pocket. Supported Databases MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis, and Turso (LibSQL) Dashboard • See all your connections at a glance, and which ones are live • Track query activity across the last seven days • Jump straight to your most-used connections and saved charts Query & Browse • Execute SQL with syntax highlighting and autocomplete • Browse tables, view schemas, and edit data inline • Search and filter across tables instantly • View query history and save favorites • Export results as CSV, JSON, or SQL Visualize • Build charts and graphs from query results • Keep a chart on your Home Screen with the LunoDB widget • View schema diagrams to understand table relationships AI Assistant • Generate SQL queries from natural language • Get help understanding complex queries • Works with OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, or Google Gemini Secure & Private • Connect through SSH tunnels using a password or private key • Face ID and passcode protection • Your credentials stay on your device • Import connections from LunoDB Desktop, or back them up to a file Made for iPad • Full hardware keyboard shortcuts and a command palette • Master–detail layouts built for the larger screen Perfect for developers, DBAs, and data analysts who need database access on the go.

Screenshots

a4 screens
LunoDB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: LunoDB at free against a's paid. LunoDB also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). a's advantage is ratings volume (561 vs 1) and chart position (#20 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LunoDB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: a has 561 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

a ships an update monthly, LunoDB every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
a versus LunoDB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteraLunoDB
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (561 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings561 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#20 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size1.9 GB49 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNicolas HolzschuchTimothy Murphy

Customer experience

a

All ratings553 ratings
Positive88.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews387 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral9.6%
Negative12.1%

LunoDB

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

LunoDB

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

a

No in-app purchases

None

LunoDB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is a free?
a is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LunoDB free?
LunoDB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, a or LunoDB?
LunoDB is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 561 ratings, while LunoDB averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do a or LunoDB have ads?
Neither a nor LunoDB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, a or LunoDB?
a ships an update monthly, and LunoDB every 6 days. Most recently, a was updated on October 22, 2026 and LunoDB on October 13, 2026.

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