API Vault vs Shellton
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
API Vault
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Initial Launch (v1.0.0): Welcome to the API Vault. • The Neural Console: Stress-test prompts in real-time with our signature Liquid Glass interface. • Global Multi-Node Access: Seamlessly route requests to Node O and Node D • Asset Vending: Instantly mint production-ready Vault Keys directly to your device via Apple Pay. • Universal Ledger: Track your Compute Unit balances in real-time with zero latency. Welcome to the future of AI Compute management. API Vault is the world’s most advanced mobile gateway for developers and engineers who demand high-speed, secure, and portable access to the world’s leading neural networks. Stop managing multiple billing accounts and start managing your Neural Assets. THE NEURAL CONSOLE Experience our signature Liquid Glass terminal. A high-performance interface designed for the year 2030, allowing you to stress-test prompts against top-tier LLM nodes in real-time. Whether you’re debugging code or architecting complex workflows, the Console provides instant, low-latency feedback. UNIVERSAL VAULT KEYS Purchase Compute Units once and deploy them anywhere. API Vault generates unique, secure Vault Keys that you can copy and integrate into your own apps, websites, or Python scripts. • Multi-Node Access: Power your projects with leading models using a single unified balance. • Zero Subscription Friction: No monthly fees. Buy what you need, use it when you want. ENTERPRISE FEATURES • Universal Ledger: Track your "Global Multi-Node" assets with a high-precision live balance tracker. • One-Tap Integration: Copy your production-ready keys directly to your clipboard for immediate deployment. • Atomic Security: Your keys are secured via hardware-level encryption and synced with our high-speed proxy. HOW TO USE: Acquire Compute: Select your credit pack in the Market tab. Generate Asset: Your unique Vault Key is instantly minted in your Secure Vault. Deploy: Copy the key and plug it into your project’s API header to start hitting nodes immediately. LEGAL NOTICE & DISCLAIMER API Vault provides a technical proxy interface for third-party AI models. API Vault is an independent developer utility and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with OpenAI, DeepSeek-AI, or ElevenLabs. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Use of these names in this application is for identification purposes only. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1shg5wz2N9E4xoMuAxI0RZvvdLvNVRFA_VUpNVSXbCXY/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QuxiMv8ArpZamdfZPzn-9rGy0plC-un8cB583HdNXGQ/edit?usp=sharing
Shellton
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Shellton is a native ACP cockpit and persistent SSH/Mosh terminal for developers who want to run coding agents from iPhone without moving their work into a proprietary cloud relay. RUN CLAUDE AND CODEX ON YOUR HOSTS. Connect to a saved SSH or Mosh host, choose Claude or Codex, and start or resume an agent session in the directory where your code already lives. Shellton launches the official Agent Client Protocol adapter on demand and carries the session over your existing encrypted connection—no Shellton account, relay server, or host daemon. AN AGENT INTERFACE BUILT FOR MOBILE. Follow live transcripts, reasoning, tool activity, and plans without squeezing a desktop terminal onto your phone. Approve or deny tool requests, send the next instruction by keyboard or voice, switch between conversations, and hand control back to tmux when you return to a computer. EVERY DROPPED SESSION IS A BUG. Shellton tries Mosh first on every connection. Mosh survives Wi-Fi handoffs, dead zones, and locked-screen suspends. If the server does not have mosh-server installed, Shellton transparently falls back to SSH. VOICE INPUT, ON-DEVICE. Tap the mic and dictate agent prompts or terminal commands. Supported speech engines run on your device; your audio is never sent to Shellton. KEYBOARD THAT WORKS FOR DEVELOPERS. Use a configurable accessory bar with modifier keys, arrows, and custom escape sequences. Build bars in the app or author them in YAML and import them from Files. Hyper, Meh, Kitty keyboard protocol, and tmux prefix shortcuts are supported. FULL-SCREEN TERMINAL. Use a true-color SwiftTerm terminal with Nerd Font glyphs, themes, snippets, per-host history, SSH key management, host-key verification, Live Activities, and tmux-aware navigation. YOUR DATA STAYS YOUR OWN. Shellton uses privacy-preserving product analytics for feature adoption and connection reliability. Analytics never include hostnames, addresses, usernames, commands, terminal text, credentials, voice audio, transcripts, or raw errors, and can be disabled in Settings. There is no advertising or cross-app tracking. SSH keys live in the iOS Keychain, app data remains local, and accessory-bar configuration can sync through your private iCloud container. KEY FEATURES • Native ACP conversations with Claude and Codex • Live transcripts, plans, tool activity, and permission approvals • Direct operation over your SSH or Mosh hosts; no proprietary relay • Auto Mosh-to-SSH fallback per host • On-device voice input • Customizable accessory bar with YAML import/export • Live Activities for active sessions • Ed25519 and ECDSA SSH key generation and import • Optional Face ID protection for stored credentials • Trust-On-First-Use host-key verification • Anonymous, opt-out product analytics; no tracking or ads CONVERSATION REQUIREMENTS • A saved SSH-accessible host with Node.js 22 or later and npm • Authentication with the selected agent provider when prompted • Shellton resolves the official ACP adapter through npx on demand; users do not install a separate Shellton daemon or generic ACP service TERMINAL REQUIREMENTS • iOS 17.0 or later • An SSH server you can connect to • mosh-server on the remote host for persistent Mosh sessions (optional) SHELLTON PRO An optional auto-renewable subscription unlocks voice input, agent conversations, custom accessory bars, and session-continuity tools. Payment is charged to your Apple ID; the subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://datons.github.io/shellton-site/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shellton at none against API Vault's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. API Vault sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Shellton asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | API Vault | Shellton |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | NICHOLAS ERWIN HEITKAMP | Jesus Lopez |
In-app purchases
API Vault
- Node O Compute Pack$4.99
- Node D Compute Pack$4.99
- Neural Voice Compute Pack$9.99
Shellton
No in-app purchases









