Comparison

a vs API Key Manager

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read 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.

About

API Key Manager

Features
Read full description

API Key Manager is a private vault for the credentials developers use every day — on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. PROTECT EVERY SECRET • API key values are stored in the Keychain, never in the app database • Optional Face ID protects reveal and copy actions • Copied keys stay on this device and never leave through Universal Clipboard • No account, ads, analytics, tracking, or credential server ORGANIZE YOUR WAY • Only a name and secret are required — everything else is optional • Presets for OpenAI, Stripe, Anthropic, GitHub, and AWS, or enter any provider • Choose an icon independently from the provider • Label development, staging, and production credentials • Search names, providers, environments, and notes FREE AND PRO The Free plan stores up to 3 credentials with every security feature included. Pro unlocks unlimited credentials and end-to-end encrypted sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through your iCloud Keychain. Monthly and annual plans are processed by Apple, can be restored, and may be cancelled in App Store subscription settings. Privacy Policy: https://api-key-manager-ios.kai-54321.chatgpt.site/privacy Terms of Use: https://api-key-manager-ios.kai-54321.chatgpt.site/terms

Screenshots

a4 screens
API Key Manager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against API Key Manager's 2. a also leads on chart position (#53 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. API Key Manager sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

a ships an update every 2 weeks, API Key Manager every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 9, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
a versus API Key Manager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteraAPI Key Manager
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (120 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings120 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#53 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Mac
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size373 MB2 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNicolas HolzschuchKai Natori

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 more
  • 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 more
  • Make Ubuntu default
  • Add expansion of keys (e.g., echo {a..z})
  • Adjustable font size

API Key Manager

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

a

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

API Key Manager

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Pro$1.991 Month
  • Annual Pro$19.991 Year

Questions

Is a free?
a is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is API Key Manager free?
API Key Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do a or API Key Manager have ads?
Neither a nor API Key Manager shows ads.
Which is updated more often, a or API Key Manager?
a ships an update every 2 weeks, and API Key Manager every 5 weeks. Most recently, a was updated on October 9, 2026 and API Key Manager on October 9, 2026.

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