iVim vs ServerBox
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iVim
This app brings the powerful Vim text editor to iOS devices. It offers advanced features like custom font import, an extended and customizable keyboard, multistage language input, and seamless integration with other apps through sharing and document pickers. Advanced functionalities like plugin management and version control are available via in-app purchases or a subscription.
- Custom font import with ligature support
- Extended and customizable keyboard
- Multistage language input
- App sharing and document picker integration
- External hardware keyboard support
- Integrated scripting languages (Python, Lua)
- Plugin management (In-App Purchase)
- Native version control (iVim Pro subscription)
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iVim is a project that brings the vim editor to the iOS system. It is open source, please visit the App Support URL. Font management Besides some system and embedded monospace fonts, iVim allows users to import and use their own custom fonts. Moreover, iVim supports to render ligatures if your font provides beautiful ones. Extended keyboard By introducing compact buttons, iVim covers as many keys as possible in its extended keyboard, so that you can input symbols without switching among key groups. Moreover, you can customize it to meet your own special needs. Multistage language input iVim adds support to multistage input languages such as Chinese or Japanese. Sharing Through sharing, iVim makes its editing power available to more apps. Via the share extension, iVim can import text or text files from, or export to other apps. Via the document picker, you can also import or edit files or directories in iCloud Drive or documents providers, without leaving iVim. External hardware keyboard iVim supports external hardware keyboards well, just connect your favorite one to the device and start typing. With the native modifier keys mapping option from the system, you can even make the "caps lock" key act both as "ctrl" and "esc" in iOS 13.4 and above. External commands iVim includes some useful external commands that you are familiar with and integrates powerful scripting languages such as Python and Lua. With +terminal feature enabled and a simple shell named "ivish" included, you can run the commands in terminal windows like on a computer. Plugins management (In App Purchase required) iVim provides a plugins manager, "iplug", for you to install and manage plugins easily. Version control (iVim Pro required) iVim has native version control system integrated into its UI and workflow, you get better idea of what is happening to your files, make changes with more confidence, and collaborate in editing more conveniently than ever. iVim Pro iVim provides a monthly subscription (with an introductory 1 week free trial), named "iVim Pro", enabling extra great features: - native version control Subscriptions will be charged to your Apple ID account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscriptions in Account Settings on App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if any, will be forfeited when the user purchase a subscription. Terms of Use: https://github.com/terrychou/docs/blob/master/ivim-terms-of-use.md Privacy Policy: https://github.com/terrychou/docs/blob/master/ivim-privacy-policy.md Type ":help ios" in iVim for more detailed information.
ServerBox
Manage your Linux servers remotely with SSH and SFTP. Control Docker containers and utilize experimental snippet features. Ping your servers to check connectivity.
- SSH client
- SFTP client
- Docker/Podman management
- Snippet feature (experimental)
- Ping utility
- Open Source
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This project is completely OPEN SOURCE. You can click the "App Support" button near the score below to download other system versions or compile them by yourself. Support for major Linux distributions. Support SSH, SFTP, docker/podman management, snippet.(experimental feature) Support Ping.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ServerBox at none against iVim's 5. ServerBox also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). iVim's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. iVim sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ServerBox asks for nothing beyond the download.
ServerBox holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 167 and 90 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of iVim's written reviews are positive against 91% of ServerBox's.
iVim ships an update every 5 weeks, ServerBox fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iVim | ServerBox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (167 ratings) | 4.9 (90 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews | 91.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 167 — better | 90 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 127 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 文礼 周 | 吐司工作室 |
Customer experience
iVim
ServerBox
Bugs and requests
iVim
Reported bugs
15 issues- Keyboard obscures command line and content
- Keyboard cannot be hidden or dismissed properly
- Paste function unreliable with Command-V
- Plus buffer (+) paste not working
- App loses all data when iOS suspends it
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- Focus stealing in Split View mode
- netrw breaks after accessing certain folders
- relativenumber setting shows zero instead of current line number
- First character on first line hidden on iPad Pro with rounded corners
- Pinch/zoom feature too sensitive without dead zone
- Help mode space and delete keys non-functional
- Plugin loading errors (e.g., python-mode)
- Cursor position issues with certain keyboard configurations
- Key repeat not functioning for Vim movement keys
- App crashes or becomes unusable without ESC key access
Requested features
16 requests- .vimrc functionality that actually works
- Easier document/file access without multiple clicks
- Reading mode to hide keyboard while scrolling
- Better keyboard dismissal mechanism
- Function keys on the keyboard
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- Update to Vim 8 or newer version
- Core git functionality without paywall
- Better plugin installation process
- Directory creation capability
- Backtick (`) character in keyboard shortcuts
- Improved help system with working space/delete keys
- File browser integration within the app
- Donation/tip option via in-app purchase
- Online documentation outside the app
- Support for newer iPad Pro display notches
- Improved external keyboard support (especially folding keyboards)
ServerBox
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iVim
- iVim Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Small Donation$1.99
- Auto Restore$3.99
- Plugins Manager$4.99
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- Big Donation$9.99
ServerBox
No in-app purchases









