Comparison

TypeShelf vs Pi

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

Head to head
About

TypeShelf

Create custom shortcuts for frequently used text and images to insert them instantly with a dedicated keyboard. Automate dates, times, and clipboard content for dynamic messages. Save time and reduce repetitive typing.

Highlights
  • Custom text and image shortcuts
  • Magic Variables for dates, times, clipboard
  • Custom keyboard access
  • Share reply collections
  • Typing speed test and time saved statistics
  • Group assignment and quick filters
Read full description

Keep your customer replies ready. Save the answers you send again and again — shipping questions, opening hours, quotes, booking links, follow-ups — then switch to the TypeShelf keyboard and tap a reply to insert it, in any app where you type. TYPE ONCE, REUSE ANYWHERE • Tap a saved reply from the keyboard to insert it • Pin favorites and jump back to your recent replies • Create text and image snippets • Organize replies with custom tags and quick filters • Search, reorder, import, export, and share your collection PERSONALIZE EVERY MESSAGE • Fill-in fields ask for a name, option, date, or time before the reply goes in • My details: save your business name, booking link, or signature once and reuse it in any reply • Magic Variables add live dates, times, clipboard content, cursor placement, or a random option START IN MINUTES Choose a ready-made reply pack or write your own. Your first replies are on the keyboard in a few taps. SEE THE TIME YOU SAVE Review usage statistics, find your most-used replies, and run the typing test for a more personal time-saved estimate. QUICK SETUP 1. Create or choose your replies. 2. Add TypeShelf in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. 3. Switch to the TypeShelf keyboard in any app and tap a reply to insert it. iOS requires Allow Full Access so the keyboard can read the reply library shared by the main app. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pi

Effortlessly manage multiple Pi-hole instances for DNS ad control. This app allows you to enable/disable blocking, view query logs, and manage domains and lists directly from your iOS device.

Highlights
  • Control Center Widget
  • Manage up to 10 Pi-holes
  • Live DNS Query Logs
  • Domain and Gravity List Management
  • Time-Based Blocking Control
  • Real-Time Status Updates
Features
Read full description

Pi-hole Switch - Effortless DNS Ad Control for Your Pi-hole Networks Version 2.0 is now here with live query logs and domain management! Compatible with the newest version 6.0 of Pi-hole and up only. Your feedback is wanted! Kudos and compliments? Need a feature added? Contact us! - refer to About Page in app. Take full control of your Pi-hole instances with Pi-hole Switch, the most convenient way to manage DNS blocking on your network! Whether you’re an advanced user or just want a simple way to manage your privacy settings, Pi-hole Switch makes it easier than ever to enable/disable DNS blocking across multiple Pi-hole instances right from your iOS device. Key Features: • NEW - Control Center Widget. Fully customizable with Pi-hole selection and disable time. Full syncronization of blocking status with main app using server push notifications. • Manage up 10 Pi-holes - no additional fees or subscriptions. Life time updates. • Live Activities with server based push updates. • DNS Query Logs - Retrieve 100, 200 or 500 of the most recent queries. Or switch to Live logging - fully integrated for a seamless viewing experience. • Domain Management - Add/Delete, Enable/Disable, View and edit Groups. • View, enable/disable, delete and add Gravity Block/Allow lists. One click update/refresh of all Pi-hole Gravity lists directly in the navigation bar. • Combined view lists for all Pi-holes in both blocked/allowed domain lists and Gravity Ad Lists. Easily find and manage common items between Pi-holes. • Manage Groups across Pi-holes. Unique combined view allows you to easily add, find and edit across your Pi-holes. • Enabled/Disabled Indicators for individual Domains and Gravity Ad Lists. Easily find and enabled/disable. • Bottom Summary Bar for Queries, Domain and Gravity List views. Quickly see total number of blocked, allowed, disabled items and other metrics. • Create your own custom disable times. • Widgets to quickly disable Pi-hole blocking. • Activate/Deactivate Pi-holes without having to delete them from the app. • Seamless Pi-hole Management: Instantly connect and manage multiple Pi-hole instances with just a few taps. • Time-Based Blocking Control: Schedule and enable DNS blocking or temporarily disable it for a set amount of time, directly from the app. • View important metrics such as top permitted and blocked domains. • User-Friendly Interface: Enjoy a sleek, simple design that’s easy to navigate, even for new users. • Real-Time Status Updates: Get live feedback and updates on the status of each Pi-hole instance, with clear indicators of whether your instance has blocking enabled, disabled or is offline. • Powerful Integration: Effortlessly retrieve and manage API sessions for all your Pi-hole instances. • Sleek, Minimalist Design: Clean and modern UI with intuitive controls. Note: To use this app, one to ten instances of Pi-hole Version 6.0 or up are needed. Pi-hole Switch is a third party application which uses the Pi-hole API and is in no way affiliated with Pi-hole. Find out more about Pi-hole at https://pi-hole.net/. Please refer to support page for FAQs for detailed directions on adding a Pi-hole to the app.

Screenshots

TypeShelf3 screens
Pi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TypeShelf at Free against Pi's $5.99. TypeShelf also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.0) and review sentiment (89% vs 50%). Pi's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). On ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

TypeShelf is free to download; Pi costs $5.99 up front. TypeShelf sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Pi asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TypeShelf holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TypeShelf has 26 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of TypeShelf's written reviews are positive against 50% of Pi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TypeShelf ships an update fortnightly, Pi every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
TypeShelf versus Pi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTypeShelfPi
PriceFree — better$5.99
Rating4.2 (26 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings26 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNikolai RodionovSoomaa Strategies Ltd.

Customer experience

TypeShelf

All ratings25 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

Pi

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

TypeShelf

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Premium$3.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$29.99
None

Pi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TypeShelf free?
TypeShelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pi free?
Pi costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TypeShelf or Pi?
TypeShelf is rated higher. TypeShelf averages 4.2 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Pi averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do TypeShelf or Pi have ads?
Neither TypeShelf nor Pi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TypeShelf or Pi?
TypeShelf ships an update fortnightly, and Pi every 2 days. Most recently, TypeShelf was updated on November 8, 2026 and Pi on November 4, 2026.

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