# Node.js Lab vs shellin

The clearest difference is rating: shellin at 5.0 against Node.js Lab's 3.9. shellin also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). Node.js Lab's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (24 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Node.js Lab sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and shellin sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

shellin holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Node.js Lab has 24 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Node.js Lab ships an update every 5 weeks, shellin every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Node.js Lab | shellin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nodejs-lab/id1550710789/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellin/id6760250186/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#184** | — |
| Size | 154 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Firas Moussa](https://appshunter.io/developer/547104847) | [Joonhyung Cho](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883466334) |

## What reviewers say

### Node.js Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nodejs-lab/id1550710789)

**Currently charting:** #184 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Develop and run Node.js web applications directly on your iOS device, even offline. This app includes a full Node.js environment with NPM, a script editor, and debugging tools. It also functions as a standalone web application and offers extensive file management capabilities.

**Highlights:** Offline Node.js environment, Integrated Git client, Multi-tabbed script editor, NPM support, Standalone web app functionality, Remote file management, Offline documentation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $4.99 | one-time |
| Standalone Web Application | $9.99 | one-time |


### shellin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellin/id6760250186)

Access and control your Mac terminal from your iPhone or iPad. Monitor AI coding agents, run commands, and stay connected to your workflow remotely via an encrypted peer-to-peer connection.

**Highlights:** View Mac terminal live on iPhone/iPad, Monitor AI coding agents remotely, Real-time interaction with keyboard input, Connect without SSH setup, End-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer session

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shellin Lite | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Shellin Pro | $8.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Node.js Lab free?

Node.js Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is shellin free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Node.js Lab or shellin?

shellin is rated higher. Node.js Lab averages 3.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while shellin averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Node.js Lab or shellin have ads?

Node.js Lab shows ads; shellin does not.

### Which is updated more often, Node.js Lab or shellin?

Node.js Lab ships an update every 5 weeks, and shellin every 10 days. Most recently, Node.js Lab was updated on September 25, 2026 and shellin on September 21, 2026.

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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.*