# S3 Client vs Rclone GUI

The clearest difference is monetization model: S3 Client at free with in-app purchases against Rclone GUI's subscription. S3 Client also leads on ratings volume (56 vs 2) and iOS requirement (18.2 vs 26.4). Rclone GUI's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. S3 Client sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Rclone GUI sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Rclone GUI holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: S3 Client has 56 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of S3 Client's written reviews are positive against 100% of Rclone GUI's.

S3 Client ships an update every 9 days, Rclone GUI every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | S3 Client | Rclone GUI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (56 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s3-client-files-location/id6447647340/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rclone-gui/id6770088773/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **56** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 79.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 63 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.2** | 26.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anders Borum ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1629010537) | [Vitalys ROUGETET--DE TROYANE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1826388664) |

## What reviewers say

### S3 Client

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s3-client-files-location/id6447647340)

Access and manage your S3-compatible cloud storage directly from your device's file system. Files are downloaded on demand and synchronized automatically, with support for various S3 services and encryption methods.

**Highlights:** Direct S3 storage access, On-demand file downloading, Automatic synchronization, Support for multiple S3 services, System share sheet uploads, Pre-signed sharing link generation, Shortcuts automation support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| S3 Files Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Lifetime S3 Pro | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime S3 Pro | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive UI/UX
- 🔄 Universal setup across devices
- 🚀 Smooth and fast performance
- 💡 Excellent integration with Files app
- 🛠️ Handles edge cases and retries well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Not intuitive for some
- 💰 Limited free features
- 🐛 Clunky to use
- 🐛 App constantly pauses
- 🐛 No obvious way to unpause

**Reported bugs**

- Files renamed randomly
- High CPU usage
- Stopped working in iOS 26
- Can't set permissions
- Fails to load S3 buckets properly

**Requested features**

- Support for WebDAV servers
- Support for Google OAuth for GCS
- Synchronous feature to backup photos automatically
- Configurable AWS endpoint for non-.com endpoints
- Allow import/export of configuration


### Rclone GUI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rclone-gui/id6770088773)

Manage your personal cloud storage with this open-source iOS client for rclone. Connect to over 70 services, including encrypted file transfers, direct streaming, and seamless integration with Apple's Files app. A premium subscription is required for full functionality.

**Highlights:** Connects to 70+ cloud services, Encrypted file transfers, Direct video and audio streaming, iOS Files app integration, Smart photo syncing, Guided remote setup wizard

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $11.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is S3 Client free?

S3 Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Rclone GUI free?

Rclone GUI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, S3 Client or Rclone GUI?

Rclone GUI is rated higher. S3 Client averages 4.8 out of 5 from 56 ratings, while Rclone GUI averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do S3 Client or Rclone GUI have ads?

Neither S3 Client nor Rclone GUI shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, S3 Client or Rclone GUI?

S3 Client ships an update every 9 days, and Rclone GUI every 4 days. Most recently, S3 Client was updated on October 14, 2026 and Rclone GUI 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.*
