# Surge 5 vs Codex Relay

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Codex Relay at none against Surge 5's 2. Codex Relay also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 51%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). Surge 5's advantage is ratings volume (994 vs 54) and chart position (#6 vs #92). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surge 5 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Codex Relay asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Surge 5 against 4.2 for Codex Relay. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surge 5 has 994 ratings behind it against 54, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of Surge 5's written reviews are positive against 71% of Codex Relay's.

Surge 5 ships an update every 5 weeks, Codex Relay fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surge 5 | Codex Relay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (994 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-5/id1442620678/reviews) | **[4.2 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codex-relay-remote-codex-app/id6764463488/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **994** | 54 |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | **70.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | #92 |
| Size | 81 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Surge Networks Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1442620677) | [Kang Sungyu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895791948) |

## What reviewers say

### Surge 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-5/id1442620678)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #24 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This advanced network utility allows developers to intercept, process, and forward network traffic. It offers deep control over connections, including URL redirection, local file mapping, and HTTPS decryption. Ideal for debugging and network analysis.

**Highlights:** Network connection takeover, Modify network requests/responses, Forward traffic to other proxies, Intercept and save network data, Decrypt HTTPS traffic, Rule-based forwarding, Ad blocking by domain

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Surge Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


### Codex Relay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codex-relay-remote-codex-app/id6764463488)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Manage your Codex workflow remotely from your phone. Track active threads, send prompts, review output, and respond to requests. Designed for developers to stay connected to their work without being at their desk.

**Highlights:** Follow Codex conversations remotely, Send prompts and follow-up instructions, Respond to approval and input requests, Attach images for context, Review workspace and thread activity, Manage relay server state, Check usage statistics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surge 5 free?

Surge 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Codex Relay free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surge 5 or Codex Relay?

Codex Relay is rated higher. Surge 5 averages 4.1 out of 5 from 994 ratings, while Codex Relay averages 4.2 from 54 ratings.

### Do Surge 5 or Codex Relay have ads?

Neither Surge 5 nor Codex Relay shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Surge 5 or Codex Relay?

Surge 5 ships an update every 5 weeks, and Codex Relay fortnightly. Most recently, Surge 5 was updated on September 28, 2026 and Codex Relay on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Surge 5 or Codex Relay?

Surge 5 currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and Codex Relay at #92. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*