# a vs Desktop Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against Desktop Browser's 3. a also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 65%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). Desktop Browser's advantage is ratings volume (3.3K vs 120). On price, rating, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Desktop Browser sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for a against 4.5 for Desktop Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Desktop Browser has 3.3K ratings behind it against 120, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of a's written reviews are positive against 65% of Desktop Browser's.

a ships an update every 2 weeks, Desktop Browser every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | a | Desktop Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell-mini/id1543537943/reviews)** | [4.5 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser-zoomable/id1568442831/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 120 | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.8% of reviews** | 64.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #43 | **#24** |
| Size | 373 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) | [Actowise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563247119) |

## What reviewers say

### a

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell-mini/id1543537943)

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Run Unix commands locally on your iOS device with a powerful terminal emulator. Supports file transfer, editing, scripting with Python and Lua, and network utilities. Integrates with Shortcuts and supports multiple windows for multitasking.

**Highlights:** Local Unix terminal emulator, SSH client, File transfer (scp, curl), Text editing (vim, ed), Scripting (Python, Lua, JavaScript), Network utilities (nslookup, ping), Shortcuts integration, Multi-window support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for shortcuts
- 🚀 Efficient and functional
- 💡 Useful for IT tasks
- ✨ Free and awesome
- 💻 Good for remote server connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Font size not adjustable
- 🐛 Keyboard icons too large
- 🐛 App deletes itself
- 🐛 Rotating screen scrambles display
- 🐛 Pasting text shows strange characters

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard icons comically large
- App deletes itself
- Rotating iPhone/iPad scrambles display
- Pasting text results in strange characters
- App only uses half of the screen when editing files

**Requested features**

- Option to use old keyboard buttons
- Add openssl support
- Add libx265 codec for ffmpeg
- Support telnet command
- Add possibility to compile from source


### Desktop Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser-zoomable/id1568442831)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Free · Developer Tools, #106 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Experience a full desktop web on your mobile device. This browser simulates a large, resizable screen to display desktop versions of websites, avoiding mobile-optimized layouts. Enjoy features like zoom control, full-screen mode, and privacy-focused data collection.

**Highlights:** Desktop website rendering, Zoomable screen (1x-3x), Full screen mode, Portrait/landscape transitions, Favorites management, UI customization, Multiple tabs (Pro), Theme customization (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2 Extra Tabs | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Intuitive user interface
- 🔍 Effective desktop mode
- 💡 Useful zoom feature
- 🔒 Secure browsing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and reloads
- 🔍 Inconsistent desktop mode performance
- 📱 Incompatible with some mobile apps
- 💸 Paid version required for full functionality
- 🔌 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Issues connecting to local IP addresses
- Inability to use Google account login
- Blank pages when resizing or zooming
- Redirects to search engine instead of desired site

**Requested features**

- Add ad-blocking capabilities
- Implement local network access
- Allow setting as default browser
- Introduce a virtual trackpad mode
- Improve bookmark management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is a free?

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

### Is Desktop Browser free?

Desktop Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, a or Desktop Browser?

a is rated higher. a averages 4.6 out of 5 from 120 ratings, while Desktop Browser averages 4.5 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do a or Desktop Browser have ads?

Neither a nor Desktop Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, a or Desktop Browser?

a ships an update every 2 weeks, and Desktop Browser every 5 weeks. Most recently, a was updated on October 14, 2026 and Desktop Browser on October 12, 2026.

### Which is more popular, a or Desktop Browser?

a currently peaks at #43 in the App Store charts, and Desktop Browser at #24. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*