TinyServer vs Simple Server
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TinyServer
Transform your mobile device into a web server to host static websites. Access files from other devices on your local network using a friendly URL. Features include directory listing, basic authentication, and seamless integration with external editors.
- Serve static files and websites over HTTP
- Directory listing for easy browsing
- Bonjour for friendly URLs
- iPad Multitasking support
- Basic authentication protection
- Access log viewing
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Use your mobile device as a web server! Access static websites from a computer or other mobile device. FEATURES • use folders stored locally on your iPhone/iPad or in iCloud • serve static files and websites over HTTP • enable Directory Listing to browse the selected folder in your browser • Bonjour: no need to type in IP addresses - TinyServer will show a friendly URL like http://myiPhone.local:8080 • iPad Multitasking: use an external editor to edit your files and preview them in Safari running alongside TinyServer • Open an in-app browser to access your served files • See the access log of the web server • Basic auth protection CHOOSING A FOLDER There are several ways to open a folder to be served by TinyServer. • In the app, tap "Choose Folder", then long-press a folder to bring up the context menu. Choose "Serve in TinyServer" • In the app, tap "Choose Folder", tap "Select" in the navigation bar, select a folder and tap "Open" in the navigation bar • on iPad, you can have the files app and TinyServer side by side in multitasking. You can drag and drop folders to the top of the TinyServer interface. Keep in mind that this way creates a copy, so if you change the files you have to drag them to the app again to see the changes. IMPORTANT: The web server cannot run in the background. Keep TinyServer in the foreground and the device unlocked. If you do change apps, the web server will restart automatically when you bring the TinyServer app back to the foreground. TinyServer only works on local WiFi. The web server is not accessible via a cellular network connection. It is meant for static files, so you can't run e.g. a PHP or Ruby on Rails backend from it.
Simple Server
Easily share files and folders from your iPhone or iPad to other devices on the same local network. Browse and manage your files through a web browser, with optional username and password protection. Access logs provide detailed request information.
- Share folders and files locally
- Browse and manage files via web browser
- Username/password protection
- Access logs
- Static HTML preview on iPad
- iCloud folder sharing
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Simple Server is a small web server in your pocket. - Share your folders/files from your iPhone/iPad to other devices in the same local network. - Browse your shared folders and files via browsers easily. - Manage your folders/files on your iPhone/iPad via browsers. - Set a username/password for sharing/managing files. - Support Access Logs displaying HTTP method, URL, remote IP address, and access time of requests and responses. - On iPad, you can preview your static HTML files in Safari with Split View while the web server runs on the same iPad. Two steps to share your folder: 1. In the app, tap "Select folder" and select a folder to be shared. You can choose a folder on your device or iCloud. 2. Tap the "Start Server" button. It's done! Then, connect to the address in a browser on any device in the same network. (e.g., A device that uses the same WiFi router.) Also, you can allow remote users can manage folders and files if you want. Caution: - Simple HTTP Server should be running in the foreground. It cannot be run in the background. If you change to another app or turn off the screen, the web server will stop. - On iPad, you can browse files/folders via Safari with running the web server on the same device, thanks to multitasking. - However, if you switch to another app on your iPhone, the web server will stop. The server status will be automatically recovered when you return to the app. On iPhone, browsing files from other devices is only meaningful. - It works only in a local WiFi network or local wired network. You cannot connect to the web server via a cellular network.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TinyServer at 4.7 against Simple Server's 4.3. TinyServer also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 56%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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
TinyServer costs $3.99 and Simple Server $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TinyServer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of TinyServer's written reviews are positive against 56% of Simple Server's.
TinyServer ships an update every 4 weeks, Simple Server monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TinyServer | Simple Server |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (28 ratings) — better | 4.3 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 55.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 28 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #84 | #49 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christian Lobach | Bitsbaker LLC. |
Customer experience
TinyServer
Simple Server
In-app purchases
TinyServer
No in-app purchases
Simple Server
No in-app purchases









