a vs SFTP Access
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
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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.
SFTP Access
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Manage your remote servers, websites, and infrastructure right from your pocket with SFTP Access, the lightning-fast, premium SSH and SFTP client designed for security and ease of use. Whether you are a system administrator, web developer, or IT professional, SFTP Access provides a beautiful, intuitive interface to monitor system resources, execute terminal commands, and manage your files—all secured by industry-standard encryption. Powerful Server Management System Dashboard: Instantly view real-time server health, including OS details, uptime, CPU load, RAM usage, and root disk space. Full SSH Terminal: Execute commands flawlessly with a built-in, responsive terminal emulator. Advanced File Browser: Navigate your remote directories, manage configurations, and oversee your file system with ease. Quick Connect: Paste your standard SSH connection strings to instantly parse host, port, and user details. Multi-Server Profiles: Save and organize multiple connection profiles for one-tap access to your entire infrastructure. Uncompromising Security Private Key Authentication: Connect securely using passwords or your own private keys (.pem, id_rsa), including passphrase support. 100% Local Storage: Your credentials, passphrases, and server IP addresses are heavily encrypted and stored safely on your local device. We never transmit or store your server data externally. Biometric App Lock: Secure the app itself with Fingerprint or Face ID authentication, ensuring no one can access your servers even if your phone is unlocked. One-Tap Disconnect: Terminate your active SSH sessions cleanly and instantly. Premium User Experience Dark & Light Modes: Seamlessly switch between a sleek dark theme and a clean light theme to match your environment. Dynamic UI: Enjoy a modern, responsive interface with smooth animations and intuitive navigation. Customizable Settings: Tailor your notifications, appearance, and security preferences directly within the app. Take control of your infrastructure with absolute confidence. Download SFTP Access today and put the power of the command line in the palm of your hand.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: a at none against SFTP Access's shown. a also leads on chart position (#53 vs unranked). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | a | SFTP Access |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (120 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 120 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #53 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 373 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Nicolas Holzschuch | Alka Rose Benny |
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
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- 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
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- Make Ubuntu default
- Add expansion of keys (e.g., echo {a..z})
- Adjustable font size
SFTP Access
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
a
No in-app purchases
SFTP Access
No in-app purchases









