Comparison

NapCat vs Control for GitLab

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

Head to head
About

NapCat

Access and read your favorite GitHub repositories offline on any device. This app offers a powerful code editor and comfortable reading experience with syntax highlighting for over 90 languages. Enjoy your code anywhere, anytime.

Highlights
  • Offline Git client
  • Code editor
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Starred repository access
  • Supports 90+ languages
  • Customizable themes
Features
Read full description

Reading and exploring source code should be enjoyable and not limited to your desktop. NapCat is a GitHub client that lets you download your most-used or favorite projects for offline reading and coding on the go. Features: • Universal: one app for all your devices • Fully offline Git client • Powerful code editor • Private Coding Agent Built-In (*) • Comfortable offline reading with beautiful syntax highlighting • Quick access to starred repositories • Support for 90+ languages and 30 themes, so you can read comfortably in bright sunlight or late at night (**) What users say: "Oh @napcatapp, you're the best discovery I've made all month." -- @davidlesches "The best code reader ever for iOS: NapCat - A GitHub Client" -- @elia "If you're in the market for a free iPhone github code reader, I totally recommend NapCat" — @drewbiewubie "NapCat on iPad is great when you want to offline study something cool on github" — @siuying ----- • Full version: access to all themes • Full version: unlimited offline code storage • Full version: access to private repositories ----- * Agent run locally, only context is sent to LLM ** Access to all themes is available with the Full Version upgrade Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

About

Control for GitLab

Manage your GitLab projects on your iPhone or iPad from anywhere. Track projects, issues, merge requests, and code, all from your mobile device. Stay connected to your team and code even when you're on the go.

Highlights
  • Manage Projects, Issues, and Merge Requests
  • Browse Source Code and Commits
  • Full Team Management
  • View and Edit Branches and Tags
  • Markdown and Emoji Support
  • Secure with Passcode
Read full description

Control for GitLab is the best way to manage your GitLab projects on any iPhone and iPad device, anywhere at any time! Control for GitLab helps you to easily keep track of your GitLab projects while you are sitting on the train on your way back home, or when you are trapped inside a meeting with no chances of getting out! Features: - View and add Projects - View, add, edit and share Issues - Issue, Milestone and Merge Requests Transition Workflow - Search Issues by ID, title or labels - View and add Comments - Style any comment or description with markdown, HTML and emoji smileys - Calendar and Address Book Integration - Browse your Source Code - Full Team Management (add and remove team members) - View your Commits - View your Commit Diffs - View, protect and unprotect your Branches - View your Tags - View and add Labels - View, add, edit and share Milestones - View, add, edit and share Merge Requests - View, add, edit and share Code Snippets - View and use Favourite Filters - View and add Groups - View, add, edit, share SSH Keys - View, add, edit, share Hooks - Explore, fork and favourite public projects - Full Core Spotlight support - Full access the projects' Wiki - Protect your data with a personal Passcode - Connect to HTTP or HTTPS server GitLab is a growing community and as their API expands so will this app! We work extensively with the GitLab team to refine and expand the API in order to provide you the best GitLab mobile user experience ever. You will have everything under control! Follow the project on twitter: @gitlabcontrol For info on new releases, to suggest new features and to report bugs send an email to support@gitlabcontrol.com. Restrictions: Control for GitLab currently supports GitLab server version 9.x and higher. Disclaimer: Control for GitLab is not affiliated, endorsed, sponsored, or approved with or by GitLab Inc.

Screenshots

NapCat4 screens
Control for GitLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

NapCat and Control for GitLab both sit at 3.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of NapCat's written reviews are positive against 30% of Control for GitLab's. NapCat also leads on ads (none vs shown). Control for GitLab's advantage is ratings volume (256 vs 7) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. NapCat sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Control for GitLab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Control for GitLab holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Control for GitLab has 256 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of NapCat's written reviews are positive against 30% of Control for GitLab's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NapCat ships an update every 4 months, Control for GitLab every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
NapCat versus Control for GitLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNapCatControl for GitLab
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (7 ratings)3.9 (256 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better29.5% of reviews
Number of ratings7256 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.5 — better16.7.11
Further details — not scored
Size156 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShotdoorValerio Mazzeo

Customer experience

NapCat

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative24.2%

Control for GitLab

All ratings256 ratings
Positive73.0%
Neutral5.5%
Negative21.5%
Written reviews105 reviews
Positive29.5%
Neutral10.5%
Negative60.0%

Bugs and requests

NapCat

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Control for GitLab

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues with two-factor authentication
  • Inconsistent project and issue listing
  • Crashes and connection errors
  • Incorrect charging and purchase issues

Requested features

7 requests
  • Support for multiple GitLab instances
  • Ability to approve merge requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Better code viewing and editing capabilities
  • Support for GitLab CI/CD features
Show 2 more
  • Improved markdown rendering
  • Milestone management

In-app purchases

3 purchases

NapCat

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Month Pro$1.991 Month
  • 1 Year Pro$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • NapCat Upgrade$12.99
1 purchases

Control for GitLab

One-time1
  • GitLab Control Pro$7.99

Questions

Is NapCat free?
NapCat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Control for GitLab free?
Control for GitLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NapCat or Control for GitLab?
Control for GitLab is rated higher. NapCat averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Control for GitLab averages 3.9 from 256 ratings.
Do NapCat or Control for GitLab have ads?
Control for GitLab shows ads; NapCat does not.
Which is updated more often, NapCat or Control for GitLab?
NapCat ships an update every 4 months, and Control for GitLab every 6 weeks. Most recently, NapCat was updated on October 5, 2026 and Control for GitLab on October 7, 2026.

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