Comparison

Blink Shell, Build & Code vs Developer Tools

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

Head to head
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.

About

Developer Tools

Read full description

Tooly is an all-in-one toolkit designed to simplify and accelerate your development workflow. Whether you’re a software engineer, a web developer, or a designer, Tooly provides a comprehensive set of tools that seamlessly integrate into your development environment. Packed with essential utilities, Tooly is designed to help you handle everyday development tasks faster and more efficiently. Available Tools: - Base64 Encoder/Decoder: Easily convert text to Base64 and back again with just a few taps. - Unix Time Converter: Convert timestamps across various formats like Unix, Hexa epoch, and CoreData epoch, or display human-readable dates. - String Case Converter: Easily convert text to different cases such as camelCase, snake_case, or uppercase. - JSON to XML: Convert JSON data to XML, perfect for API development or data interchange. - JSON to YAML: Convert JSON data to YAML format for easier configuration and readability. - JSON to Swift: Convert JSON to Swift structs or classes for use in your iOS/macOS projects. - ID Generator and Decoder: Generate and decode UUIDs, ULIDs and NanoIDs for use in your projects. - Color Converter: Convert colors between formats such as HEX, RGB, HSL, HSB, XYZ, Lab, and named colors for fast color management. - Lorem Ipsum Generator: Quickly generate placeholder text, customizable by the number of words, phrases, or paragraphs. - Hash Generator: Create hashes in formats such as MD2, MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 to ensure data consistency and integrity. - Hash Validator: Verify the integrity of text or files by comparing them with a generated hash. - QR Code Generator: Create custom QR codes instantly from any input string. - Number Base Converter: Convert numbers between different bases, including binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal. - X.509 Certificate Decoder: Decode and inspect X.509 certificates in PEM format, extracting all the vital details. - JWT Decoder: Decode JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) and inspect their contents for easier debugging and integration. - Date Formatter: Format dates quickly and easily using the Unicode Standard (e.g., yyyy, MM, dd). - URL Encoder/Decoder: Encode URLs to make them safe for use in web addresses or decode them to read their original form. Enjoy all the features of Tooly and its tools with a one-week free trial. No commitment and cancellable at any time. Additionally, the following tools: Base64 Encoder/Decoder, JSON to XML, String Case Converter, and Unix Time Converter are available for free! And more to come! We are constantly improving Tooly and adding more useful utilities to make your development process smoother and more productive. Tooly is fully built for macOS and iPadOS, ensuring perfect integration into your workflow on any device. All tools are available as Shortcut Actions on iPad and macOS, enabling you to automate routine tasks. Additionally, Tooly supports a Command-Line Interface (CLI) on macOS for developers who prefer a terminal-based workflow. Why Tooly? - Convenience: All the essential developer tools in one app. - Efficiency: Perform conversions, generate hashes, and handle data with ease. - Future-Proof: New tools are on the way, expanding the app’s utility even further. - Tailored for Developers: Tooly is crafted with developers in mind, making it the perfect addition to your toolbox. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Blink Shell, Build & Code4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: Blink Shell, Build & Code at #14 against Developer Tools's unranked. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Blink Shell, Build & Code sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Developer Tools sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.29 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 10 level
Blink Shell, Build & Code versus Developer Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlink Shell, Build & CodeDeveloper Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (421 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews36.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings421 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#14 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.617 — better
Further details — not scored
Size211 MB16 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperBlink Shell, IncBasile Cornet

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
4 purchases

Developer Tools

Subscriptions3
  • Tooly Pro Weekly7 Days trial$0.297 Days
  • Tooly Pro Monthly$1.491 Month
  • Tooly Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Tooly Pro Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Blink Shell, Build & Code free?
Blink Shell, Build & Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Developer Tools free?
Developer Tools is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Blink Shell, Build & Code or Developer Tools have ads?
Neither Blink Shell, Build & Code nor Developer Tools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blink Shell, Build & Code or Developer Tools?
Blink Shell, Build & Code ships an update every 3 weeks, and Developer Tools every 3 weeks. Most recently, Blink Shell, Build & Code was updated on October 27, 2026 and Developer Tools on September 28, 2026.

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