a vs PixelsMeasure
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
a
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide full description
a-Shell mini is a complete local terminal emulator, allowing to run most Unix commands on you iOS device. You can transfer files using scp and curl, edit them with vim and ed, process them using grep, awk and sed. Work with git repositories using lg2. Most commands are compiled for iOS native Arm64 format, making them fast and well integrated with iOS underlying BSD Unix. a-Shell mini includes Python, Lua, JavaScript and webAssembly for programming and scripting. It also includes native ffmpeg and convert for fast image and video conversion. 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 mini 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 mini uses iPadOS 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. a-Shell mini is a minimalist terminal, designed to have a very small footprint (less than 250 MB). If you need more commands, please consider a-Shell, which has more Python packages, more JavaScript modules, Perl, make, a C and C++ compiler and TeX.
PixelsMeasure
This tool offers precise on-screen measurements for design and analysis. It features distance and object measurement, alignment tools, and screenshot capture for efficient workflow. A free trial is available, with options for basic free features or a lifetime purchase.
- Distance Measurement
- Object Measurement
- Cross Mode Alignment
- Tolerance Mode
- Screenshot Capture
- Pin Dimensions
- Undo/Redo Functionality
Read full descriptionHide full description
PixelsMeasure: The Ultimate On-Screen Measurement Tool Unlock unparalleled precision with PixelsMeasure, designed to measure anything on your screen. Offering unmatched speed and efficiency, PixelsMeasure equips you with advanced tools to effortlessly and accurately measure any screen element. Key Features and Functionalities: • Distance Measurement (Free): Quickly determine the distance between on-screen elements, essential for precision in design and analysis. • Object Measurement: Simply drag to automatically identify object boundaries, capturing dimensions with ease and accuracy. • Cross Mode: Instantly align all screen objects while displaying your current cursor position for enhanced precision. • Tolerance Mode: Fine-tune measurement tolerance to suit your needs, ensuring accuracy even with shadows or low-contrast elements. • Screenshot Capture: Seamlessly capture and share screenshots using system tools, simplifying teamwork and documentation. • Global Accessibility: PixelsMeasure supports multiple languages, catering to users worldwide and enhancing usability. • Pin Dimensions: Keep dimensions visible on-screen for easy reference during complex tasks. • User-Friendly Editing: Easily undo and redo measurements, maintaining flexibility and control over your projects. Special Offer: Limited-Time Free Trial and Exclusive Discounts Embark on your precision journey with a full-featured free trial of PixelsMeasure for 1 to 2 weeks. Experience the app’s powerful capabilities at no cost and witness transformative efficiency in your workflow. Upgrade Options – Unlock More Value: • Basic Measurement (Free): Start with essential measurement features and discover the comprehensive power of PixelsMeasure. • Lifetime Purchase Support: Maximize your investment with our lifetime purchase option—enjoy perpetual access to all premium features with a single payment, eliminating recurring costs. • Limited-Time 50% Discount: Act now to take advantage of an exclusive 50% discount on our lifetime purchase option. This compelling offer provides substantial savings and uninterrupted access to unmatched measurement tools. Seize this opportunity to elevate your measurement experience with PixelsMeasure! Empower your visual workspace with unparalleled precision and efficiency through these exceptional upgrade offers. Terms of Service: https://pixelsmeasure.com/#/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://pixelsmeasure.com/#/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: a at 78% against PixelsMeasure's 25%. a also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. PixelsMeasure sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. 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 120 ratings behind it against 2, 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 25% of PixelsMeasure's.
a ships an update every 2 weeks, PixelsMeasure fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | a | PixelsMeasure |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (120 ratings) — better | 1.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better | 25.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 120 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #56 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 373 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nicolas Holzschuch | 东东 张 |
Customer experience
a
PixelsMeasure
Bugs and requests
a
Reported bugs
12 issues- 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
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Command not found errors for all commands
- App crashes on launch after update
- Cannot get own absolute path
- Cannot execute own programs
- App messes up .txt file association
- Trouble selecting characters to copy and paste
- No module named requests in shortcuts
Requested features
8 requests- Option to use old keyboard buttons
- Add openssl support
- Add libx265 codec for ffmpeg
- Support telnet command
- Add possibility to compile from source
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Make Ubuntu default
- Add expansion of keys (e.g., echo {a..z})
- Adjustable font size
PixelsMeasure
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
a
No in-app purchases
PixelsMeasure
- Weekly3 Days trial$0.997 Days
- Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Yearly14 Days trial$12.991 Year
- Lifetime Membership$39.99








