# AES Crypt vs ShellPilot

AES Crypt and ShellPilot are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. AES Crypt sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year and ShellPilot sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AES Crypt ships an update every 9 months, ShellPilot every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AES Crypt | ShellPilot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.8 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aes-crypt/id791675640/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **28** | — |
| Positive reviews | 42.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 20 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Island Time Innovations](https://appshunter.io/developer/486122730) | [Sahana A S](https://appshunter.io/developer/1800491118) |

## What reviewers say

### AES Crypt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aes-crypt/id791675640)

Securely decrypt and encrypt files on your iPhone or iPad using the industry-standard AES encryption. Access encrypted files from cloud storage and email, and protect your sensitive documents and photos with robust, cross-platform security.

**Highlights:** Decrypt AESCrypt.com encrypted files, Encrypt files directly on device, Open files from cloud storage, Securely share encrypted files, Preview common file types, Touch ID/Face ID protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-Year Ability to Encrypt Files | $0.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Ability to Encrypt Files | $5.99 | one-time |


### ShellPilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellpilot-ssh-and-snippets/id6760654941)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShellPilot Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AES Crypt free?

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

### Is ShellPilot free?

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

### Do AES Crypt or ShellPilot have ads?

Neither AES Crypt nor ShellPilot shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AES Crypt or ShellPilot?

AES Crypt ships an update every 9 months, and ShellPilot every 6 months. Most recently, AES Crypt was updated on September 28, 2026 and ShellPilot on October 4, 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.*