The Shells Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Shells in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Shells
The Insider’s Guide
A personal cloud computer you open from any device
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Shells’s own pages.
Made by E Shells Inc. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Shells’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Shells’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 13 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
Shells rents out a virtual desktop that runs in the cloud and can be opened from a browser, a phone, a tablet or a TV. Plans are sized by processors, memory and storage, with Linux desktops and Windows listed on its site. It is aimed at students, developers and small teams who want a computer that is not tied to one device.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Shells, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You sign up and open the desktop in a browser with nothing to install.
- 1
Best for a cloud desktop you reach from any device
Shells gives you a Linux or Windows desktop in the cloud that you open from a browser or phone.
- 2
Paid plans start at $14.95 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $14.95 per month, billed monthly.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 4
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.
- 5
Linux and Windows desktops
Solution pages cover a Linux cloud desktop, a browser in the cloud, cloud virtual machines and a cloud IDE.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 13 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Shells you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Shells at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $14.95 per month, billed monthly
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- E Shells Inc.
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a cloud desktop you reach from any device
Shells gives you a Linux or Windows desktop in the cloud that you open from a browser or phone. The cheapest plan is $14.95 a month with 2 GB of memory and one processor, and there is no free plan or trial.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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 | F | No free plan or free trial is listed on the pricing page. |
| Features | C | A 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 | B | No store rating on record. You sign up and open the desktop in a browser with nothing to install. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, iPhone and Android are listed, so phones and a browser but no desktop app. No integrations are listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Shells is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Students and coders who want a Linux desktop on a tablet or Chromebook
- People who want one desktop reachable from several devices
- Small teams without in-house IT
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$14.95
A month to start
Shells is a paid product, starting at $14.95 per month, billed monthly.
No free plan or free trial is listed on the pricing page.
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.
Read from shells.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on shells.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
A personal cloud computer you open from any device. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: file sync, remote desktop.
A desktop on any device, Linux and Windows options, automatic backup, plan upgrades and team infrastructure.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Shells is made by E Shells Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Shells's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 13 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 59 of 85) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $14.95 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 32 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Shells’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 7 of 85
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 85
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 85
- BEase of useAbove 59 of 85
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 85
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 59 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Shells is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Shells you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 65 of the 85 other remote desktop apps grade higher. It costs $179.40 a year.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Shells’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Paperspace, Vagon, Shadow PC, Cameyo and Apporto
The 5 tools Shells is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Paperspace
From $22/mo
Cloud desktops and GPU machines you rent by the hour or month.
- Only Shells lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Paperspace lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Shells also covers file sync.
- 2.2GPA
Vagon
Free trial · from $7.99/mo
Cloud workstations with GPUs, billed by the minute.
- Only Shells lists iOS and Android apps.
- Shells also covers file sync.
- Vagon also covers AI agents and file sharing.
- 1.8GPA
Shadow PC
From $29.99/mo
A full Windows PC in the cloud for gaming and creative work.
- Only Shadow PC lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Shells also covers file sync.
- Shadow PC also covers AI agents.
- 1.6GPA
Cameyo
Paid
Virtual app delivery that serves Windows apps as web apps.
- Only Shells lists iOS and Android apps.
- Shells also covers file sync.
- Cameyo also covers file sharing.
- 1.6GPA
Apporto
Paid
Browser-based virtual desktops and computer labs for work and schools.
- Only Shells lists iOS and Android apps.
- Shells also covers file sync.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Shells free?
No. Shells is a paid product, starting at $14.95 per month, billed monthly.
How much does Shells cost?
Shells lists 3 plans. Shells Basic: $14.95 per month, billed monthly.
What platforms does Shells work on?
Shells is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does Shells offer any discounts?
Shells publicly lists the following: Yearly billing saves 23% to 33%.
Does Shells have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Shells is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Shells have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Shells is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Shells open source?
Shells is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Shells?
Shells is made by E Shells Inc.
What are the alternatives to Shells?
The closest alternatives to Shells in our directory are Paperspace, Vagon, Shadow PC, Cameyo and Apporto.
How does Shells compare with other remote desktop apps?
Shells's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 13 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 7.
Is Shells good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Shells C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $14.95 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 32 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Shells?
To replace Shells you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Shells’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Shells's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by E Shells Inc. Prices change, so check shells.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Shells, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/shells
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Shells: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/shells
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/shells/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Shells, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 86 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- DWService Insider's GuideFree browser-based remote access to computers via an agent3.2 GPA
- HopToDesk Insider's GuideFree open-source remote desktop with a paid device dashboard3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Shells’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Shells is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by E Shells Inc. Prices and plans change: check shells.com before you buy.