# ShellRef vs Melo

The clearest difference is price: Melo at Free against ShellRef's $0.99. Melo also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Melo is free to download; ShellRef costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ShellRef ships an update every 3 weeks, Melo every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ShellRef | Melo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellref/id6759814118/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Bacon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1817531814) | [Zui Chen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884859534) |

## What reviewers say

### ShellRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellref/id6759814118)

This app provides an offline reference for Bash, Zsh, and terminal editors, mimicking a retro technical manual. It's ideal for quickly looking up commands, syntax, and scripting practices without needing an internet connection. Features include search, bookmarks, and customizable display themes.

**Highlights:** Offline Bash and Zsh reference, Terminal editor guides (Nano, Vim, Emacs), Quick command lookup, Searchable content, Customizable themes, Adjustable text size, Bookmarks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Melo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melo-words-from-ai-chats/id6760539346)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ShellRef free?

ShellRef costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Melo free?

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

### Do ShellRef or Melo have ads?

Neither ShellRef nor Melo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ShellRef or Melo?

ShellRef ships an update every 3 weeks, and Melo every 5 days. Most recently, ShellRef was updated on October 31, 2026 and Melo on October 31, 2026.

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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.*