# CmdRef vs tldr

The clearest difference is rating: tldr at 4.8 against CmdRef's 4.3. tldr also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). CmdRef's advantage is device support (6 vs 3). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CmdRef sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. tldr asks for nothing beyond the download.

tldr holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 33 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of CmdRef's written reviews are positive against 75% of tldr's.

CmdRef ships an update every 2 months, tldr every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CmdRef | tldr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cmdref/id956853496/reviews) | **[4.8 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tldr-pages/id1071725095/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **43** | 33 |
| Positive reviews | 67.4% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Moballo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/547759592) | [Matthew Flint](https://appshunter.io/developer/675292607) |

## What reviewers say

### CmdRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cmdref/id956853496)

This app serves as an offline, searchable dictionary for Windows Command Prompt (CMD) commands. It's designed as a learning tool for beginners and a quick reference for experts, helping users find commands quickly without needing internet access.

**Highlights:** Offline searchable CMD dictionary, Learning tool for beginners, Quick reference for experts, Clean, modern design, Easy to use and reliable

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CmdRef Pro | $0.99 | one-time |


### tldr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tldr-pages/id1071725095)

This app provides a crowd-sourced collection of simplified command-line manual pages. It offers concise explanations for Unix commands, making them easier to understand than traditional man pages.

**Highlights:** Concise command explanations, Crowd-sourced content, Simplified man pages, Easy-to-understand examples, Offline access to pages

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CmdRef free?

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

### Is tldr free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CmdRef or tldr?

tldr is rated higher. CmdRef averages 4.3 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while tldr averages 4.8 from 33 ratings.

### Do CmdRef or tldr have ads?

CmdRef shows ads; tldr does not.

### Which is updated more often, CmdRef or tldr?

CmdRef ships an update every 2 months, and tldr every 3 months. Most recently, CmdRef was updated on September 28, 2026 and tldr on September 28, 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.*