Apporto vs Shells (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Shells grades higher than Apporto: 2.0 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Shells grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apporto
Browser-based virtual desktops and computer labs for work and schools
Which one is for you
Pick Apporto if
- Fits if you run a university lab and want desktops students open from any device
- Works for a company wanting a browser desktop without running VDI itself
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you are an individual buyer, as the pages target organizations
- Skip it if you want a price list, because none is published
- Too light for self-serve trials: only demos and pilots arranged through sales
- Watch out: AI grading, tutoring and integrity tools are separate from the virtual desktops
Pick Shells if
- Fits if you want a spare Windows or Linux desktop you can open from a phone or browser
- Works for light daily use like documents and browsing
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to try before paying, as no free plan or trial is listed
- Too light for heavy applications on Basic, with 2 GB of memory and 1 processor
- Watch out: the home page says plans start at $5 a month, but the pricing page lists $14.95 as the lowest
- Pricey if you pay monthly, since Plus is $22.95 and Pro is $39.95
How we grade them
| 1.6GPAApportoWeak | 2.0GPAShellsFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published; the site offers demos, a contact form and pilot programs, so cost can't be set against the category. | C$14.95 a month for Basic, within the category's range but above its $8.33 middle, and the entry plan is 2 GB and one processor. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial on record. A pilot program is arranged through sales. | FNo free plan or free trial is listed on the pricing page. |
| Features | CVirtual desktops, computer labs and cybersecurity labs with exam tools. The AI grading and tutoring parts are separate products, so the desktop job stands on its own. | CA desktop on any device, Linux and Windows options, automatic backup, plan upgrades and team infrastructure. The entry plan is light for heavy applications. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. An organization has to set up labs and users before anyone starts. | BNo store rating on record. You sign up and open the desktop in a browser with nothing to install. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only: users open it in a browser, and the listing names no desktop or phone app. | BWeb, iPhone and Android are listed, so phones and a browser but no desktop app. No integrations are listed. |
| Best for | browser-based virtual labs for schools | a cloud desktop you reach from any device |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Apporto and Shells. How we grade
Where they differ
- Shells also covers file sync.
At a glance
| Apporto | Shells | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | $14.95 per month, billed monthly |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Apporto | E Shells Inc. |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | shells.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Apporto
- No prices are published; the site offers demos, a contact form and pilot programs.
- The AI grading, tutoring and integrity tools are separate products from the virtual desktops.
- The pages read target organizations, so there is no plan for individual buyers.
Shells
- No free plan or free trial is listed on the pricing page.
- The entry plan has 2 GB of memory and 1 processor, which is light for heavy applications.
- Yearly prices were not readable in the page text; only the percentage saving is shown.
- The homepage says plans start at $5 a month, but the pricing page lists $14.95 as the lowest plan.
Key features
Apporto
- Digital workspaces
- Browser-based desktops for remote and hybrid staff, which the vendor positions as an alternative to VDI that avoids locking down every device.
- Virtual computer labs
- Lab desktops that students and faculty reach from anywhere, aimed at cutting support tickets for campus IT.
- Cybersecurity labs
- A hands-on sandbox with pre-built courses and 24/7 remote access for security training.
- Exam and integrity tools
- ExamSpace is a browser-based exam workspace and TrustEd is an analytics product that looks for anomalies in student work.
- AI grading and tutoring
- AI PowerGrader gives feedback against rubrics, and CoTutor offers in-context AI guidance for students.
Shells
- Desktop on any device
- The site lists Android TV, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, PlayStation, Xbox, Oculus and Tesla browsers as ways to open a Shells desktop.
- Linux and Windows desktops
- Solution pages cover a Linux cloud desktop, a browser in the cloud, cloud virtual machines and a cloud IDE.
- Automatic backup
- The vendor says each Shell is backed up automatically in the cloud and that its firewalls and end-to-end encryption keep data private.
- Plan upgrades
- Moving to more processors, memory or storage is described as a one-click change, and a build-your-own option sits below the three plans.
- Team infrastructure
- A business section describes remote infrastructure deployment and a bring-your-own-device workforce setup for small teams.
Plans
Apporto
Pricing could not be confirmed. See apporto.com.
Shells
Shells Basic$14.95
per month, billed monthly
1 processor, 2 GB memory and 40 GB storage with unlimited use. The page shows a 25% saving on yearly billing.
Shells Plus$22.95
per month, billed monthly
2 processors, 4 GB memory and 80 GB storage with unlimited use. The page shows a 23% saving on yearly billing.
Shells Pro$39.95
per month, billed monthly
4 processors, 8 GB memory and 160 GB storage with unlimited use. The page shows a 33% saving on yearly billing.
Ways to pay less
Apporto
No public discounts listed.
Shells
- Annual discount
Yearly billing saves 23% to 33%
The pricing page shows Save 25% on Basic, 23% on Plus and 33% on Pro when billed yearly. The yearly prices themselves were not read.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Apporto or Shells?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Apporto has no price we could confirm, and Shells starts at $14.95 per month, billed monthly.
Which has a free plan, Apporto or Shells?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Apporto nor Shells has a free plan.
Which platforms do Apporto and Shells run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Shells lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.