# a vs LunoDB

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | a | LunoDB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (561 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lunodb/id6756377885/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **561** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 78.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#20** | — |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [Timothy Murphy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860352219) |

## 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


### LunoDB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lunodb/id6756377885)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*