# Control for GitLab vs Science Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Science Explorer at none against Control for GitLab's 1. Science Explorer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Control for GitLab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Science Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Control for GitLab ships an update every 6 weeks, Science Explorer every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Control for GitLab | Science Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (256 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/control-for-gitlab/id654747119/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **256** | — |
| Positive reviews | 29.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.7.11 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Valerio Mazzeo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620011571) | [Dung Ba Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886372549) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Science Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/science-explorer/id6772375997)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Control for GitLab free?

Control for GitLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Science Explorer free?

Science Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Control for GitLab or Science Explorer have ads?

Control for GitLab shows ads; Science Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Control for GitLab or Science Explorer?

Control for GitLab ships an update every 6 weeks, and Science Explorer every 8 days. Most recently, Control for GitLab was updated on September 6, 2026 and Science Explorer on September 14, 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.*