Comparison

MotionEyeOS Client vs SimplePi for Raspberry Pi

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MotionEyeOS Client

This application provides a straightforward and secure way to access your MotionEyeOS surveillance system on iOS devices. It supports HTTP Basic Authentication and RSA encryption for local storage, ensuring your video feeds are protected.

Highlights
  • MotionEyeOS client
  • HTTP Basic Authentication support
  • RSA encryption for local storage
  • Secure access on iOS
  • Supports iPhone and iPad
Features
Read full description

MotionEyeOS Client is the ultimate companion app for your MotionEyeOS security camera system. Connect to your self-hosted MotionEyeOS or MotionEye servers directly from your phone or tablet. Monitor your home, office, or property from anywhere with a secure, fast connection. Features: - Easy Setup: Just enter your server address and credentials to connect instantly. - Multiple Cameras: Monitor up to 3 cameras on the free plan, unlimited with Premium. - Secure Connections: Supports HTTPS and basic authentication for secure access. - Multi-Language Support: Available in 10 languages worldwide. - Clean Interface: Simple, intuitive design for quick camera access. Start monitoring your security cameras today with MotionEyeOS Client! Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/motioneyeosclient/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/motioneyeosclient/terms-of-use

About

SimplePi for Raspberry Pi

Manage your Raspberry Pi from your iPhone or iPad. Monitor system activity with graphs, run custom commands, and access a terminal shell. Includes widgets, file browsing, and support for multiple Pis.

Highlights
  • Monitor CPU, Memory, Temperature, Disk Usage
  • Run custom commands with one tap
  • Full terminal shell access
  • Home screen widgets for monitoring and control
  • File browser with export options
  • Manage multiple Raspberry Pi devices
  • Public key authentication
Features
Read full description

SimplePi is the Swiss army knife utility app for monitoring, controlling, and managing your Raspberry Pi using your iPhone and iPad. MONITOR ACTIVITY See what is going on with your Raspberry Pi. CPU, Memory, Temperature, Disk Usage, and Clock activity are shown in beautiful and easily understandable graphs. CONTROL Run commands on your Pi with a single tap. Want to have your own commands? No problem. SimplePi lets you add as many commands as you wish. Additionally, you can manage your commands in groups. TERMINAL SHELL Access your Pi from a shell terminal with colored output and hardware keyboard support. The on-screen keyboard comes with fast access to commonly used special keys like ctrl and arrow keys. WIDGETS Monitor your Pi and run commands right from the Home Screen with various widgets. VIEW COMMAND RESULTS View and export command results and logs automatically. The results history allows you to view the results of previous commands. DETAILED STATS Detailed Stats for CPU and Memory give you an insight on which processes are running, how much memory is active, and much more. FILE BROWSER Browse Files and Folders in a file browser-like experience. View and export files of various formats. MANAGE MULTIPLE PI SimplePi can manage multiple Raspberry Pi. Configure each Raspberry Pi and connect to them simultaneously. KEY AUTHENTICATION Public Key authentication gives you the flexibility to authenticate in your preferred way. Key files can be imported via iTunes or from other apps. ICLOUD SYNC Sync Commands, Hosts, Keys over iCloud APP LOCK Lock the app using FaceID, TouchID, or a custom passcode HOME SCREEN WIDGETS Run commands directly from your Home Screen on iOS 14 Siri Shortcuts Integrate commands into automated worflows using the Shortcuts app (requires iOS14 or later) NOTE: SSH needs to be enabled on your Raspberry Pi for SimplePi to work correctly. SimplePi has been tested with the latest releases of * Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) * Raspbmc * OpenElec * Xbian * Pidora * Arch Linux SimplePi works on all Raspberry Pi models. NOTE (only for Xbian users): Automatic start of xbian-config needs to be disabled. You can do this when connecting via SSH and selecting Config > Settings > Xbian Config > NO. There are many different configurations out there. If you encounter problems with one of the distributions above or want to have your distribution support, please contact us.

Screenshots

MotionEyeOS Client3 screens
SimplePi for Raspberry Pi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SimplePi for Raspberry Pi at 3.9 against MotionEyeOS Client's 2.1. SimplePi for Raspberry Pi also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). MotionEyeOS Client's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MotionEyeOS Client sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and SimplePi for Raspberry Pi sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SimplePi for Raspberry Pi holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimplePi for Raspberry Pi has 125 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of MotionEyeOS Client's written reviews are positive against 26% of SimplePi for Raspberry Pi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MotionEyeOS Client ships an update every 2 months, SimplePi for Raspberry Pi every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
MotionEyeOS Client versus SimplePi for Raspberry Pi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMotionEyeOS ClientSimplePi for Raspberry Pi
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (9 ratings)3.9 (125 ratings) — better
Positive reviews13.3% of reviews25.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9125 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCloudSpirit LimitedBenedikt Hirmer

Customer experience

MotionEyeOS Client

All ratings9 ratings
Positive11.1%
Neutral22.2%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive13.3%
Neutral26.7%
Negative60.0%

SimplePi for Raspberry Pi

All ratings125 ratings
Positive71.2%
Neutral2.4%
Negative26.4%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive25.7%
Neutral2.9%
Negative71.4%

Bugs and requests

MotionEyeOS Client

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SimplePi for Raspberry Pi

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • App refuses to connect after closing
  • Opening app redirects to paywall
  • Temporary fix for connection issues: remove host, force close, re-add
  • App crashes several times
  • Fails 50% of the time to display GPU, CPU, and temp settings
Show 8 more
  • Screen disappears when trying to navigate raspi-config
  • Cannot view output of continuously running commands
  • Continuously running commands abort when phone screen locks
  • App rejects credentials that other apps accept
  • Monitoring features do not work
  • App shows one-week free trial but requires subscription immediately
  • App doesn't stay connected, screens close and pop around
  • App rejects identical credentials that other PI apps accept

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow commands to keep running when phone screen locks
  • Ability to view results log for commands
  • Option to remove added commands
  • Improve navigation for raspi-config
  • Store SSH private keys securely using iOS Keychain

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MotionEyeOS Client

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Yearly$14.991 Year
1 purchases

SimplePi for Raspberry Pi

Subscriptions1
  • Full Access (12 months)7 Days trial$4.991 Year

Questions

Is MotionEyeOS Client free?
MotionEyeOS Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SimplePi for Raspberry Pi free?
SimplePi for Raspberry Pi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MotionEyeOS Client or SimplePi for Raspberry Pi?
SimplePi for Raspberry Pi is rated higher. MotionEyeOS Client averages 2.1 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while SimplePi for Raspberry Pi averages 3.9 from 125 ratings.
Do MotionEyeOS Client or SimplePi for Raspberry Pi have ads?
MotionEyeOS Client shows ads; SimplePi for Raspberry Pi does not.
Which is updated more often, MotionEyeOS Client or SimplePi for Raspberry Pi?
MotionEyeOS Client ships an update every 2 months, and SimplePi for Raspberry Pi every 8 days. Most recently, MotionEyeOS Client was updated on November 3, 2026 and SimplePi for Raspberry Pi on November 3, 2026.

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