# WebSSH vs a

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a at none against WebSSH's 3. a also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). WebSSH's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 553). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WebSSH sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. a asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for WebSSH against 4.6 for a. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.5K and 553 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of WebSSH's written reviews are positive against 79% of a's.

WebSSH ships an update every 2 weeks, a monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WebSSH | a |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/webssh-sysadmin-toolbox/id497714887/reviews)** | [4.6 (553 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 553 |
| Positive reviews | **86.1% of reviews** | 78.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #26 | **#19** |
| Size | 254 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MENGUS ARNAUD](https://appshunter.io/developer/461353964) | [Nicolas Holzschuch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450994948) |

## What reviewers say

### WebSSH

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/webssh-sysadmin-toolbox/id497714887)

**Currently charting:** #26 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #105 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing remote servers. It offers secure SSH, SFTP, Telnet, and Port Forwarding capabilities, along with file management and built-in diagnostic utilities. Customize your workflow with extensive profile options for a seamless server management experience.

**Highlights:** SSH, SFTP, Telnet, Port Forwarding client, Secure authentication methods, Integrated SFTP file management, Customizable terminal profiles, Built-in sysadmin diagnostic tools, Local mashREPL shell

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WebSSH Developer Tip | $1.99 | per month |
| WebSSH Developer Tip | $9.99 | per year |
| WebSSH PRO | $15.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient and fast
- 🔒 Secure SSH/SFTP connections
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💡 Useful additional tools (ping, traceroute, etc.)
- 👍 Seamless iCloud sync across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or connection issues
- 🐛 Copy/paste functionality can be buggy
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices/iOS versions
- 🐛 Slow input response in some cases
- 🐛 SFTP limitations (no folder uploads, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Connections failing randomly
- Session saving not working reliably
- Clipboard issues (pasting previous content)
- Drag and drop file uploads not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add support for function keys
- Improve SFTP functionality (folder uploads, file details, etc.)
- Implement background session support
- Add option to save SSH key passphrases
- Provide a way to mass import/export SSH connections


### a

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-shell/id1473805438)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Run a full Unix-like terminal environment on your iOS device. Execute a wide range of commands, edit files, and even program using included interpreters and compilers. Supports multitasking and integration with Shortcuts.

**Highlights:** Local Unix terminal emulator, SSH client, File transfer (scp, curl), Text editing (vim, ed), Scripting languages (Python, Lua, Perl, JS), C/C++ compiler, TeX distribution

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful terminal with Linux commands
- 👍 Useful for programming and development
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 💡 Impressive capabilities for an iOS app
- 👍 Helpful documentation and developer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🔍 Missing some basic terminal features
- 🔍 Compatibility issues with certain packages

**Reported bugs**

- Toolbar buttons not accessible in portrait mode on some devices
- Pasting from clipboard can insert unexpected characters
- Sourcing certain script files causes crashes

**Requested features**

- Add support for package managers like Homebrew or APT
- Implement more advanced shell features like job control and better tab completion
- Integrate Git for version control
- Allow installing additional packages and libraries
- Improve clipboard and file management integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WebSSH free?

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

### Is a free?

a is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, WebSSH or a?

WebSSH is rated higher. WebSSH averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while a averages 4.6 from 553 ratings.

### Do WebSSH or a have ads?

Neither WebSSH nor a shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, WebSSH or a?

WebSSH ships an update every 2 weeks, and a monthly. Most recently, WebSSH was updated on October 1, 2026 and a on October 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, WebSSH or a?

WebSSH currently peaks at #26 in the App Store charts, and a at #19. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*