SimplePi for Raspberry Pi vs R2 Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
R2 Explorer
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Unlock the full potential of your Cloudflare R2 storage with R2 Explorer, the premier iOS and macOS app designed to seamlessly play media, view images, and access documents on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Dive into your digital world with a sleek, intuitive interface that brings your files to life, making content management effortless and enjoyable. Download R2 Explorer now and experience cloud storage like never before! Why R2 Explorer Stands Out - Universal Access: Effortlessly browse, view, and play files across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with a unified experience optimized for each device. - Media Mastery: Stream videos, play music, and enjoy high-resolution images directly from Cloudflare R2 with smooth, buffer-free performance. - Document Hub: Open PDFs, Word files, and more with built-in viewers, perfect for work or personal projects. - Secure & Reliable: Access your Cloudflare R2 files with top-tier encryption, ensuring your data stays private and protected. - Smart Organization: Find files fast with powerful search, custom folders, and intuitive sorting options tailored to your needs. Explore Your Content, Your Way R2 Explorer transforms your Cloudflare R2 storage into a dynamic media and document library. Whether you’re a creative professional previewing high-quality images, a student reviewing lecture notes, or a media enthusiast streaming your favorite playlists, R2 Explorer delivers a fast, fluid experience. Its cross-platform design ensures your files are always at your fingertips, whether you’re on the go with your iPhone, multitasking on your iPad, or working on your Mac. Features to Love - Instant Media Playback: Enjoy videos and music with native playback support for all major formats, no conversions needed. - Stunning Image Viewer: Zoom in on high-resolution photos with crisp detail, perfect for photographers and artists. - Document Versatility: Preview and annotate documents directly in the app, streamlining your workflow. - Offline Mode: Download files for offline access, ideal for travel or low-connectivity moments. - Share Smarter: Generate secure Cloudflare R2 links to share files or folders with friends, colleagues, or clients. Perfect for Every User From managing creative assets to organizing personal files, R2 Explorer is built for everyone. Its seamless integration with Cloudflare R2 makes it the ultimate companion for professionals, students, and anyone who values their digital content. Join thousands of users across iOS and macOS who rely on R2 Explorer to simplify and enhance their cloud storage experience. Download R2 Explorer Today! Take control of your Cloudflare R2 storage with R2 Explorer. Whether you’re streaming media, reviewing documents, or showcasing images, this app brings your files to life with unmatched ease and style. Get R2 Explorer now for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and elevate your cloud storage game! Note: Cloudflare R2 account required for full functionality. Some features may require a subscription. #CloudStorage #R2Explorer #CloudflareR2 #MediaPlayer #FileManager #iOSApp #MacOSApp #DocumentViewer #PhotoViewer #CloudFiles
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SimplePi for Raspberry Pi at Free against R2 Explorer's $8.99. R2 Explorer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
SimplePi for Raspberry Pi is free to download; R2 Explorer costs $8.99 up front. SimplePi for Raspberry Pi sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. R2 Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.
SimplePi for Raspberry Pi ships an update every 8 days, R2 Explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SimplePi for Raspberry Pi | R2 Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $8.99 |
| Rating | 3.9 (125 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 125 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Benedikt Hirmer | Jose Leal |
Bugs and 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
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- 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
R2 Explorer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SimplePi for Raspberry Pi
- Full Access (12 months)7 Days trial$4.991 Year
R2 Explorer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SimplePi for Raspberry Pi free?
Is R2 Explorer free?
Do SimplePi for Raspberry Pi or R2 Explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, SimplePi for Raspberry Pi or R2 Explorer?
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