Comparison

MermaidEditor vs Blink Shell, Build & Code

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

Head to head
About

MermaidEditor

Create and edit diagrams and charts using mermaid-js syntax with real-time preview. Export your creations as PNG or SVG files and share them across all your Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Mermaid-js syntax highlighting
  • Code completion
  • Instant preview
  • Export to PNG/SVG
  • Cross-device editing
  • QuickLook preview extension
Features
Read full description

MermaidEditor is a diagram and chart editor, powered by mermaid-js. And MermaidEditor supports iPhone, iPad and Mac, with one app you can edit diagram everywhere on any device. MermaidEditor supports mermaid-js syntax highlighting and code completion, so it can help writing diagram and chart clearly, easily and quickly. You can also easily export charts as PNG images or SVG files from the editor, or share image to other people with system actions. √ All Platforms - Both Mobile and Desktop platforms supported, you can edit diagram documents on iPhone, iPad or Mac - Document browser based app, easily edit files on device and sync document between devices - Multiple windows ready, it makes the editor more powerful on iPadOS - Keyboard shortcuts ready on iPadOS with keyboard connected √ Powerful Editor - Syntax Highlighting for mermaid-js grammar - Auto Completion in editor helps typing keywords quickly - Code Snippets likes parallel block in sequence diagram makes life easier - Instant Parsing Error indicator for locating syntax error √ Instant Preview - Auto Generated Preview when typing in editor - Zoom and Pan to move preview for checking diagram's detail - With Scroll wheel it can be easily zoom diagram on macOS √ Integrated Extensions - Thumbnail support, every .mmd file will has its own thumbnail when saving file - QuickLook Preview extension helps you preview mermaid document in Files app on iPhone or iPad and Finder on macOS √ Sharing - Save diagram document as its source with .mmd extension - Export diagram to PNG image or SVG file with one click For mermaid-js grammar, please visit https://mermaid-js.github.io/mermaid/ for documentation.

About

Blink Shell, Build & Code

Transform your iOS device into a powerful terminal for coding and development. Leverage Mosh and SSH for stable, fast connections. Integrate with VS Code and manage your entire development workflow from your pocket.

Highlights
  • Mosh and SSH connections
  • VS Code integration (Blink Code)
  • Remote runtime creation (Blink Build)
  • Full SSH toolset
  • Hardware keyboard support
  • External display support
  • SFTP transfers
Features
Read full description

Do Blink! Transform your iOS device into a pro-grade terminal. Blink is the first professional, desktop-grade terminal for iOS that leverages the support of Mosh and SSH. Thus, we can guarantee stable connections, crazy-fast speeds, and full configurations. It can and should be your all-day-long tool.  **Start your 14-day free trial now!** But, Blink is much more. Now with Blink Code and Blink Build**, your entire development workflow fits in your pocket. What the Blink community is saying: “In some ways, I prefer my iPad / Blink / Digital Ocean setup to coding on my Mac“ - TheVerge "I have tried a number of terminals on iOS and this is really The One." - Twit.tv “Connections still come up when I get back to a client project after a weekend off.“ - The Sweet Setup “The way to use VS Code on the iPad” - programminglife.io What our users love the most from Blink Shell: - Mosh connections that even survive a device reboot. - Most complete SSH implementation on iOS. - Code command for VS Code integration. - Blazingly fast terminal and SFTP transfers. - Includes Pragmata Pro with ligatures. Blink Shell has a fully loaded SSH toolset: - SSH with PKI support: DSA, RSA, ECDSA & ED25519 keys. - Support for Secure Enclave Keys and Certificates. - Port forwarding with local, remote & dynamic tunnel support. - SOCKS5 proxy for a private VPN. - Agent Forwarding. - Complete SSH Config file support. - ControlMaster and pooled connections. - Files.app integration for SFTP remote hosts. - SFTP with copy-on-change. Blink has been the leading developer tool in the AppStore for +5 years, so there is a lot more: - External Display support. - Legendary Hardware Keyboard support, even remap shortcuts and keyboard codes. - Local & iCloud Blink Shell folders for Files.app access across devices. - Host sync over iCloud. - Link-files from other applications and work with them in Blink. - Cool themes and fonts, and install your own! - Smart Keys on SW Keyboard to navigate with touch. - FaceCam command to create tutorials and streams. - Bell notifications. - Supports multiple windows and multiple tabs. - Network & UNIX CLI tools, check our docs for more information. Blink Code integrates with VS Code: - Code on local projects, or seamlessly on remote machines. - Fully-loaded code editor. - A coding experience fitted to your device, that connects to VS Code for web, GitHub Codespaces, GitPod or your own VS Code server. Blink Build (Requires a $7.99/month subscription) Creates remote runtimes that can be accessed on all your devices. You can use Build in your day-to-day workflows whether you need to do development, DevOps or just play around with new tooling. Participate in our community, and don’t forget to leave us your feedback and your feature(s) requests. Enjoy! http://blink.sh http://twitter.com/blinkshell http://GitHub.com/blinksh Terms of Use: https://blink.sh/blink-gpl Privacy Policy: https://blink.sh/pp * Blink Code is not affiliated nor endorsed by Microsoft. ** Blink Build requires a separate subscription to make use of our Virtual Machines.

Screenshots

MermaidEditor3 screens
Blink Shell, Build & Code4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Blink Shell, Build & Code at Free against MermaidEditor's $3.99. Blink Shell, Build & Code also leads on rating (3.1 vs 2.3) and review sentiment (37% vs 14%). MermaidEditor's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and device support (4 vs 2). On update cadence and ads 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

Blink Shell, Build & Code is free to download; MermaidEditor costs $3.99 up front. Blink Shell, Build & Code sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. MermaidEditor asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blink Shell, Build & Code holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blink Shell, Build & Code has 418 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of MermaidEditor's written reviews are positive against 37% of Blink Shell, Build & Code's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
MermaidEditor versus Blink Shell, Build & Code: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMermaidEditorBlink Shell, Build & Code
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating2.3 (10 ratings)3.1 (418 ratings) — better
Positive reviews13.8% of reviews36.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10418 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#115#14 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB211 MB
Age rating4+17+
Developer基伟 徐Blink Shell, Inc

Customer experience

MermaidEditor

All ratings10 ratings
Positive30.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative70.0%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive13.8%
Neutral13.8%
Negative72.4%

Blink Shell, Build & Code

All ratings418 ratings
Positive51.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative45.7%
Written reviews344 reviews
Positive36.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative60.8%

In-app purchases

None

MermaidEditor

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Blink Shell, Build & Code

Subscriptions4
  • Build Basic - 50 credits/month1 Month trial$7.991 Month
  • Blink+Build Basic7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Blink Plus$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Blink+14 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Blink Shell ClassicFree

Questions

Is MermaidEditor free?
MermaidEditor costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blink Shell, Build & Code free?
Blink Shell, Build & Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MermaidEditor or Blink Shell, Build & Code?
Blink Shell, Build & Code is rated higher. MermaidEditor averages 2.3 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Blink Shell, Build & Code averages 3.1 from 418 ratings.
Do MermaidEditor or Blink Shell, Build & Code have ads?
Neither MermaidEditor nor Blink Shell, Build & Code shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MermaidEditor or Blink Shell, Build & Code?
MermaidEditor ships an update every 3 weeks, and Blink Shell, Build & Code every 3 weeks. Most recently, MermaidEditor was updated on September 21, 2026 and Blink Shell, Build & Code on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, MermaidEditor or Blink Shell, Build & Code?
MermaidEditor currently peaks at #115 in the App Store charts, and Blink Shell, Build & Code at #14. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons