Blink Shell, Build & Code vs DualMac
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blink Shell, Build & Code
Transform your iOS device into a professional-grade terminal with robust SSH and Mosh support for stable, high-speed connections. Extend your development workflow with integrated code editing and remote runtime creation.
- Pro-grade terminal for iOS
- Mosh and SSH support
- VS Code integration (Blink Code)
- Remote runtime creation (Blink Build)
- SFTP transfers
- Hardware keyboard support
- External display support
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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.
DualMac
Access and control your Mac remotely from your iPad or iPhone. Connects directly to macOS Screen Sharing without needing extra software on your Mac. Offers features like clipboard sharing, hardware keyboard support, and multi-display switching.
- Direct VNC connection to macOS Screen Sharing
- No Mac companion app required for basic VNC
- Local network, Tailscale, or SSH tunnel connectivity
- Save and manage multiple Macs
- Full touch, pointer, keyboard, and Apple Pencil support
- Clipboard sharing and file transfer (with companion app)
- Multi-display switching and adaptive quality
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DualMac is a VNC remote desktop for iPad and iPhone that shows and controls the Mac you own. No account needed. Nothing to install on the Mac • Connects straight to macOS Screen Sharing, the remote desktop built into every Mac. Standard VNC (RFB) with Mac authentication. No Companion needed for VNC. • Works on your local network, through your own Tailscale network when away, or over an SSH tunnel with keys. DualMac never exposes VNC to the public Internet and never routes your screen through a relay. • Ideal for a headless Mac mini, a studio Mac or a build machine you check from the couch. All your Macs, one library • Save every Mac you own and open any of them in one tap. • Touch and hold the app icon for your recent Macs, or open any Mac by name with Siri or Spotlight. • Observe or control, per session. Built for iPad • Direct touch, pointer, hardware keyboard, trackpad and Apple Pencil. • Mac shortcuts and Mission Control in one tap, configurable toolbar. • Multi-display switching, adaptive quality, on-device dictation. • Clipboard sharing, Face ID lock, hidden previews in the App Switcher. • Shortcuts, URL schemes, Stage Manager windows, optional iCloud sync of your library (off by default). On iPhone Duo • Open iPhone Duo and DualMac switches to its iPad layout, with your Mac on the inner display. • With iPhone Duo closed, DualMac keeps the iPhone layout on the outer display. Companion for more Install DualMac Companion on the Mac, available from dualmac.app, to add: • Enhanced H.264 streaming • File transfer with pause and resume, rich clipboard • Wake the Mac through your other Mac, privacy curtain, lock and sleep • Remote display selection Enhanced requires DualMac Companion plus Tailscale on both devices. Privacy DualMac has no account and no advertising, and the only service the developer runs is in-app support. Your Macs' names and addresses, screens, files and clipboard never reach the developer. Credentials stay in Keychain. Screen, clipboard and file traffic goes directly between your devices, never through a developer server. DualMac is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple or Tailscale. Requirements • iPad with iPadOS 17.6 or later, or iPhone with iOS 17.6 or later, including iPhone Duo • A Mac you own or are authorized to control, with Screen Sharing enabled • For Enhanced: DualMac Companion, Tailscale on both devices, and the required macOS privacy permissions Enjoy every feature and unlimited use with DualMac Pro: a yearly subscription with a 7-day free trial, or a one-time purchase. Family Sharing included. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: DualMac at 100% against Blink Shell, Build & Code's 37%. DualMac also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.1) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). Blink Shell, Build & Code's advantage is ratings volume (426 vs 15) and chart position (#12 vs #77). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Blink Shell, Build & Code sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and DualMac sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
DualMac holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blink Shell, Build & Code has 426 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Blink Shell, Build & Code's written reviews are positive against 100% of DualMac's.
Blink Shell, Build & Code ships an update every 3 weeks, DualMac every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blink Shell, Build & Code | DualMac |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (426 ratings) | 5.0 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 36.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 426 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #12 — better | #77 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 211 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Blink Shell, Inc | MARIUS LABS |
Customer experience
Blink Shell, Build & Code
DualMac
In-app purchases
Blink Shell, Build & Code
- Build Basic - 50 credits/month1 Month trial$7.991 Month
- Blink+Build Basic7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Blink Plus$19.991 Year
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- Blink+14 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Blink Shell ClassicFree
DualMac
- DualMac Pro7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- DualMac Pro Lifetime$24.99
Questions
Is Blink Shell, Build & Code free?
Is DualMac free?
Which has better reviews, Blink Shell, Build & Code or DualMac?
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