# a vs Dev Keyboard

The clearest difference is rating: a at 4.6 against Dev Keyboard's 1.0. a also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (553 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dev Keyboard sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

a holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: a has 553 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of a's written reviews are positive against 67% of Dev Keyboard's.

a ships an update monthly, Dev Keyboard every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | Dev Keyboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dev-keyboard-code-and-symbols/id6777195040/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **553** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **78.3% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | — |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [Anshika Maurya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787701644) |

## 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


### Dev Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dev-keyboard-code-and-symbols/id6777195040)

A terminal-styled keyboard designed for programmers, offering quick access to essential symbols and a PC-style layout. It supports multiple programming languages and prioritizes user privacy by not requiring full access.

**Highlights:** PC-style modifier row, One-tap developer symbols, Long-press for extra symbols, Multiple language packs, Terminal aesthetic, Privacy-first design

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is Dev Keyboard free?

Dev Keyboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, a or Dev Keyboard?

a is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 553 ratings, while Dev Keyboard averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do a or Dev Keyboard have ads?

Neither a nor Dev Keyboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, a or Dev Keyboard?

a ships an update monthly, and Dev Keyboard every 5 weeks. Most recently, a was updated on October 12, 2026 and Dev Keyboard on October 8, 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.*