Comparison

Cannoli Shell vs PocketAdmin

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

Head to head
About

Cannoli Shell

This app provides IT professionals with a quick command reference and workflow companion. It features extensive libraries for various operating systems and cloud platforms, allowing users to search, save favorites, and export custom cheat sheets for efficient task management.

Highlights
  • IT command libraries
  • Cisco IOS, XE, NX-OS references
  • Linux, Windows, PowerShell, cloud, container references
  • Save favorite commands
  • PDF export for cheat sheets
  • CIDR/subnet quick tables
  • Global variable sync
Read full description

Cannoli Shell: IT Pro Tools is a fast command reference and workflow companion for IT professionals, network admins, sysadmins, and homelab builders. Browse practical command libraries for Cisco, Linux, Windows, PowerShell, AWS CLI, Docker, Kubernetes, and more. Search commands quickly, copy what you need, save favorites, and build a personal cheat sheet for repeat tasks. Core features: • IT command libraries for common admin workflows • Cisco command references including IOS, IOS-XE, NX-OS, and SMB • Linux, Windows, PowerShell, cloud, container, and security references • Favorites for saving frequently used commands • PDF export for custom cheat sheets • Common ports reference • CIDR/subnet quick tables • Global variable sync for IPs, VLANs, and masks • Optional Cannoli Pro upgrade for premium libraries and advanced tools Cannoli Shell is designed for quick lookup during real work: troubleshooting, configuration, documentation, learning, and daily administration.

About

PocketAdmin

This comprehensive toolkit provides IT professionals with essential network and system administration tools. It offers features for network visualization, server management, remote access, monitoring, diagnostics, and password management, all accessible from a mobile device.

Highlights
  • Network topology mapping
  • Server power and snapshot management
  • SSH terminal with SFTP
  • Real-time monitoring and alerts
  • Network diagnostic tools
  • Password management with Face ID
  • Team collaboration and sharing
Read full description

The source of truth for every network you run, at work or in your homelab. Save a switch, server or NAS once, with its logins and a photo of the rack, and every tool picks it up: SSH, Pinpoint, Topology, Uptime Watch, Backup Jobs. No more retyping IPs across five apps. Every tool is free, with no account, no ads and no analytics. You pay only to share your sites with a team. Built by a working sysadmin. SEE YOUR NETWORK • Topology: a live map of how your switches connect, drawn from LLDP and CDP • Pinpoint: which switch port an IP, MAC or device is on, even by scanning its label with the camera • Port Map, SNMP and a port sheet that can shut a port, cycle PoE or set a label • LAN Scanner, IP Manager and Subnet Calculator • Syslog & Traps: receive device events live SERVERS & BACKUPS • Hypervisor: Proxmox, vSphere and Nutanix guests: power, snapshots, migrate and clone • Out-of-Band: iDRAC, iLO and other controllers over Redfish or IPMI: power, boot, sensors, event log and fault alerts • Backup Jobs: did last night's backups run? Veeam, Veeam 365, Proxmox, Nutanix, TrueNAS, Synology, Rubrik, Cohesity, Commvault, Unitrends, Acronis and Duplicati • Vulnerabilities: known CVEs for the firmware your gear actually runs • Configs, Hardware Inventory and Bulk Run: one command across every device REMOTE ACCESS • SSH: a real terminal that runs vim, top, htop and tmux, with SFTP, port forwards and a special-keys bar • RDP, VNC, Telnet and a REST client MONITORING • Uptime Watch: HTTP, TCP, ping, DNS and any SNMP value, with alerts, Site Mode and a Live Activity • Expiry Watch: certificates and domains before they lapse • Domain Health: SPF, DKIM, DMARC and DNSSEC DIAGNOSTICS • Ping, Traceroute, Test-NetConnection, nslookup, Port Scanner, Wake-on-LAN • HTTP / TLS Checker, Whois, MAC vendor lookup, SMTP test, Bonjour • DHCP Probe for rogue servers, Path MTU, NTP, and Packet Capture reader • iperf3 and Internet Speed Test WI-FI & FIELD TOOLS • Network Info, Latency and Traffic Monitors, Link Metrics, Bluetooth Scanner, Roaming Forensics • Coverage Map: walk a room and map Wi-Fi with LiDAR • AR Measure for cable runs, QR generator, NFC reader and sound level meter PASSWORDS & FILES • Passwords: logins with one-time codes, Wi-Fi you can join, SSH keys and API tokens, behind Face ID. Imports from Bitwarden • Files: manuals, contracts, photos and clips, filed under the site or device they belong to • Active Directory: search users, unlock accounts and reset passwords, through the open-source PocketAdmin directory backend (or try the built-in demo) TEAMS Share sites, devices, logins, files and monitors with your team. Everything syncs through iCloud, with passwords encrypted end to end. Roles, a shared activity history, and a notification when a teammate changes something. Your personal logins never leave your phone. Creating a team needs the Team subscription, monthly or yearly, and the first month is free. Joining a team someone else made is free. Payment is charged to your Apple ID and renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. BUILT FOR THE JOB • Favorites, recent tasks, and hide the tools you don't use • App Lock with Face ID • Shortcuts action to check your monitors • Credentials kept in the iOS Keychain, never in plain text From ping to packets, SSH to subnets, PocketAdmin is your whole IT toolbox in one pocket. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://gdwentertainment.com/pocketadmin/privacy.html

Screenshots

Cannoli Shell4 screens
PocketAdmin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PocketAdmin at every 5 days against Cannoli Shell's every 6 months. PocketAdmin also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

Both are free to download. Cannoli Shell sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PocketAdmin sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cannoli Shell ships an update every 6 months, PocketAdmin every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Cannoli Shell versus PocketAdmin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCannoli ShellPocketAdmin
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnthony RubinoGDW Entertainment, LLC

Customer experience

Cannoli Shell

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PocketAdmin

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cannoli Shell

One-time1
  • Cannoli Pro Lifetime$4.99
8 purchases

PocketAdmin

Subscriptions8
  • Team 5 Monthly1 Month trial$19.991 Month
  • Team 15 Monthly1 Month trial$39.991 Month
  • Team 50 Monthly1 Month trial$99.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Team 5 Yearly1 Month trial$159.991 Year
  • Team 100 Monthly1 Month trial$179.991 Month
  • Team 15 Yearly1 Month trial$319.991 Year
  • Team 50 Yearly1 Month trial$799.991 Year
  • Team 100 Yearly1 Month trial$999.991 Year

Questions

Is Cannoli Shell free?
Cannoli Shell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PocketAdmin free?
PocketAdmin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cannoli Shell or PocketAdmin?
Cannoli Shell and PocketAdmin are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Cannoli Shell or PocketAdmin have ads?
Neither Cannoli Shell nor PocketAdmin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cannoli Shell or PocketAdmin?
Cannoli Shell ships an update every 6 months, and PocketAdmin every 5 days. Most recently, Cannoli Shell was updated on November 5, 2026 and PocketAdmin on October 31, 2026.

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