# NapCat vs Control for GitLab

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | NapCat | Control for GitLab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/napcat-offline-github-client/id606238223/reviews) | **[3.9 (256 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/control-for-gitlab/id654747119/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **256** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 29.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 156 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 16.7.11 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shotdoor](https://appshunter.io/developer/530049796) | [Valerio Mazzeo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620011571) |

## What reviewers say

### NapCat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/napcat-offline-github-client/id606238223)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| NapCat Upgrade | $12.99 | one-time |


### Control for GitLab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/control-for-gitlab/id654747119)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GitLab Control Pro | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to access from mobile
- 👍 Nice and easy to use
- 👍 Great UI
- 👍 Helpful tool for quick code check

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't connect to server
- 🐛 Missing critical features
- 🔍 Lacks functionality compared to website
- 💸 Paywalled features
- 🔍 Poor performance on large codebases

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*