Local Unix terminal for iOS. Run C, C++, Python, JS, sh & all Unix commands locally on your phone, no network connection required.
Powerful when combined with Shortcuts.
a-Shell is a complete local terminal emulator, allowing to run most Unix commands on your iOS device. You can transfer files using scp and curl, edit them with vim and ed, process them using grep, awk and sed. You can work with git repositories using lg2.
Most commands are compiled for iOS native Arm64 format, making them fast and well integrated with the BSD Unix that powers iOS/iPadOS.
a-Shell includes Python, Lua, Perl, JavaScript, C, C++ for programming and TeX (texlive 2025, with Tikz and LuaTeX) for text processing.
There are also multiple network utilities: nslookup, ping, whois, ifconfig... Type help for help, help -l to get the full list of commands.
a-Shell can be controlled from Shortcuts: run commands in order, process files in a-Shell, get the results as text or files, transfer files to other apps...
a-shell uses iOS 13+ “multiple windows” ability, so you can run multiple shells at the same time, with different commands, in different directories. You can edit a file in one window with vim and process it in the other with python.
Compile your C or C++ programs to webAssembly using clang or clang++, and execute the resulting binary. A complete webAssembly SDK is included (WASI-libc).
a-Shell is the complete version. If you need a smaller app, and you don't need a C compiler, a TeX engine, or numpy and matplotlib, there is a-Shell mini.
From the shell I cannot access the existing files. How to go to the existing local ipad directories. Please.
Developer Response
To access local iPad directories, use the command "pickFolder". If you have further questions, I recommend the "help" command, or support through e-mail (another_shell@icloud.com), Twitter (@a_Shell_ios), Discord (https://discord.gg/cvYnZm69Gy) or github (https://github.com/holzschu/a-shell/issues). All of these will provide faster response than App Review.
Amazing App and Lots of love to Nicolas Holzschuch
Roy_Ravi
I am a Linux user on my PC and laptops and I very much craved a terminal app on my iPad. This shell is the best I could find which doesn’t hinder my workflow when I switch from my laptop to iPad. A lot of thanks to the developer who is providing an app worth every penny without any extra cost. A true pioneer of open source. This was just my appreciation review(comment) for the developer for all his works (I use Carnets as well). Thanks a lot Nicolas. Lots of love.
Very useful
Itouchlover<3
Thanks to the developer for making this mind blowing app. A Linux system in your phone 🤩🤩🤩. With this app, together with the shortcuts app, I can do things that are unimaginable. I have installed yt-dlp in a-shell and have made a shortcut in the shortcuts app, using which I can download videos in a single click. I cannot thank the developer enough. Few people like him are the last defence against the techno feudal lords.
Worked perfectly for my SSH use case
RaveeshAgarwal
I tried a lot of shells to ssh into my home raspberry pie. All came with a gui that could not even connect properly. Using this was as user friendly as using the mac terminal and that is saying something.Thank you, devs for this brilliant piece of software
Fixes multiple issues with libgit2. This should fix the case where lg2 crashes randomly.
Version 1.17.5
The developer, Nicolas Holzschuch, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary based, for example, on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Provider
Nicolas Holzschuch
Size
2 GB
Category
Developer Tools
Compatibility
Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 14.0 or later.
iPod touch Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 12.0.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
