Comparison

a vs Modbus Poll Mobile

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

Head to head
About

a

This app provides a local Unix terminal emulator for iOS devices, enabling users to run various Unix commands, edit files, and process data. It includes support for multiple programming languages and network utilities, with integration for iOS Shortcuts and multi-window functionality.

Highlights
  • Local Unix terminal emulator
  • Run Unix commands
  • File transfer (scp, curl)
  • Text editing (vim, ed)
  • Programming languages (Python, Lua, C)
  • Network utilities (ping, nslookup)
  • iOS Shortcuts integration
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

Modbus Poll Mobile

Features
Read full description

Modbus Poll is a mobile Modbus TCP master and diagnostic tool for engineers, technicians, and integrators who need to check on PLCs, sensors, and industrial devices without carrying a laptop. CONNECT & POLL • Modbus TCP client — connect to any device on your network by IP and port • Read Coils, Discrete Inputs, Holding Registers, and Input Registers (FC01–FC04) • Write single or multiple coils and registers (FC05, FC06, FC15, FC16) • Configurable slave ID, start address, quantity, and poll interval • Live TX/RX/error counters so you can see connection health at a glance MAKE SENSE OF THE DATA • 24 display formats: signed/unsigned, hex, binary, 32-bit long, float, and 64-bit integer/double — in all four standard byte orders • Per-register aliases so "400012" becomes "Tank Level" • Custom scaling formulas (e.g. x/10) to convert raw register values into real-world units • Live sparkline charts per register, with min/max and history FIND DEVICES FASTER • Network scan across a subnet to discover responding Modbus TCP devices • LAN port scan for general network diagnostics LOG & SHARE • Log live polling data straight to CSV • Share the log file instantly via the system share sheet — AirDrop, email, cloud storage, wherever you need it BUILT FOR THE FIELD • Clean, fast interface with light and dark themes • Works over Wi-Fi or cellular — anywhere your device reaches the target network Whether you're commissioning a new panel, chasing down a communication fault, or just need to peek at a register value between meetings, Modbus Poll puts a full Modbus master in your pocket.

Screenshots

a4 screens
Modbus Poll Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: a at Free against Modbus Poll Mobile's $1.99. a also leads on chart position (#21 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

a is free to download; Modbus Poll Mobile costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
a versus Modbus Poll Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteraModbus Poll Mobile
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.6 (568 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews78.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings568 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#21 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size2.1 GB29 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNicolas HolzschuchMuh Syafiudin

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

Modbus Poll Mobile

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

a

No in-app purchases

None

Modbus Poll Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is a free?
a is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Modbus Poll Mobile free?
Modbus Poll Mobile costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do a or Modbus Poll Mobile have ads?
Neither a nor Modbus Poll Mobile shows ads.

Other comparisons