# ShellRef vs NetPilot

The clearest difference is price: NetPilot at Free against ShellRef's $0.99. ShellRef's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

NetPilot is free to download; ShellRef costs $0.99 up front. NetPilot sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. ShellRef asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ShellRef against 5.0 for NetPilot. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

ShellRef ships an update every 3 weeks, NetPilot fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ShellRef | NetPilot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellref/id6759814118/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netpilot-network-training/id6811386692/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 19 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Bacon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1817531814) | [Kent Hurlbert](https://appshunter.io/developer/6811386695) |

## 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


### NetPilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netpilot-network-training/id6811386692)

Master networking concepts and practice command-line skills with interactive lessons, labs, and quizzes. Prepare for certifications or interviews with a comprehensive study tool designed for mobile learning.

**Highlights:** Networking lessons and guided learning paths, Hands-on CLI labs and sandbox mode, Extensive quiz bank with study and exam modes, Progress tracking and study habit building, Built-in reference tools for interviews and subnetting, Offline access to lessons and practice content

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ShellRef free?

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

### Is NetPilot free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ShellRef or NetPilot?

ShellRef and NetPilot are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do ShellRef or NetPilot have ads?

Neither ShellRef nor NetPilot shows ads.

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

ShellRef ships an update every 3 weeks, and NetPilot fortnightly. Most recently, ShellRef was updated on October 31, 2026 and NetPilot on October 31, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*