Comparison

Pi vs NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale

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

Head to head
About

Pi

Effortlessly manage multiple Pi-hole instances for DNS ad control. This app allows you to enable/disable blocking, view query logs, and manage domains and lists directly from your iOS device.

Highlights
  • Control Center Widget
  • Manage up to 10 Pi-holes
  • Live DNS Query Logs
  • Domain and Gravity List Management
  • Time-Based Blocking Control
  • Real-Time Status Updates
Features
Read full description

Pi-hole Switch - Effortless DNS Ad Control for Your Pi-hole Networks Version 2.0 is now here with live query logs and domain management! Compatible with the newest version 6.0 of Pi-hole and up only. Your feedback is wanted! Kudos and compliments? Need a feature added? Contact us! - refer to About Page in app. Take full control of your Pi-hole instances with Pi-hole Switch, the most convenient way to manage DNS blocking on your network! Whether you’re an advanced user or just want a simple way to manage your privacy settings, Pi-hole Switch makes it easier than ever to enable/disable DNS blocking across multiple Pi-hole instances right from your iOS device. Key Features: • NEW - Control Center Widget. Fully customizable with Pi-hole selection and disable time. Full syncronization of blocking status with main app using server push notifications. • Manage up 10 Pi-holes - no additional fees or subscriptions. Life time updates. • Live Activities with server based push updates. • DNS Query Logs - Retrieve 100, 200 or 500 of the most recent queries. Or switch to Live logging - fully integrated for a seamless viewing experience. • Domain Management - Add/Delete, Enable/Disable, View and edit Groups. • View, enable/disable, delete and add Gravity Block/Allow lists. One click update/refresh of all Pi-hole Gravity lists directly in the navigation bar. • Combined view lists for all Pi-holes in both blocked/allowed domain lists and Gravity Ad Lists. Easily find and manage common items between Pi-holes. • Manage Groups across Pi-holes. Unique combined view allows you to easily add, find and edit across your Pi-holes. • Enabled/Disabled Indicators for individual Domains and Gravity Ad Lists. Easily find and enabled/disable. • Bottom Summary Bar for Queries, Domain and Gravity List views. Quickly see total number of blocked, allowed, disabled items and other metrics. • Create your own custom disable times. • Widgets to quickly disable Pi-hole blocking. • Activate/Deactivate Pi-holes without having to delete them from the app. • Seamless Pi-hole Management: Instantly connect and manage multiple Pi-hole instances with just a few taps. • Time-Based Blocking Control: Schedule and enable DNS blocking or temporarily disable it for a set amount of time, directly from the app. • View important metrics such as top permitted and blocked domains. • User-Friendly Interface: Enjoy a sleek, simple design that’s easy to navigate, even for new users. • Real-Time Status Updates: Get live feedback and updates on the status of each Pi-hole instance, with clear indicators of whether your instance has blocking enabled, disabled or is offline. • Powerful Integration: Effortlessly retrieve and manage API sessions for all your Pi-hole instances. • Sleek, Minimalist Design: Clean and modern UI with intuitive controls. Note: To use this app, one to ten instances of Pi-hole Version 6.0 or up are needed. Pi-hole Switch is a third party application which uses the Pi-hole API and is in no way affiliated with Pi-hole. Find out more about Pi-hole at https://pi-hole.net/. Please refer to support page for FAQs for detailed directions on adding a Pi-hole to the app.

About

NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale

This app provides a secure and powerful SSH terminal, file management, and a MagicDNS-aware browser for your Tailscale network. It streamlines server management without needing to switch VPN apps, offering features like real-time monitoring and an integrated editor.

Highlights
  • Secure SSH terminal for Tailscale
  • SFTP file management with built-in editor
  • MagicDNS-aware browser for internal dashboards
  • Real-time Linux server monitoring
  • Multi-tab sessions and customizable themes
  • Resume SSH sessions after app suspension
Features
Read full description

NovaScale is a remote-work and server-operations workspace built for Tailscale. Use SSH, monitoring, private web tools, SFTP, Herdr, Remote Git, and Remote Codex from one app—without switching VPN apps. Built-in Tailscale connects your tailnet inside NovaScale. Traditional SSH hosts and Headscale are also supported. HOSTS - Auto-discover tailnet hosts; organize with aliases, icons, groups and pins. SSH TERMINAL - Maintained native Swift terminal with customizable themes, external keyboards, combo keys, Simple Commands, OSC52 and Neovim support. - Pin terminal/tmux sessions; use copy mode with Page Up/Down and choose prefixes such as Ctrl-A. Touch-scroll, click, select and open menus in mouse-aware apps. - Command/argument suggestions with optional Bash/Zsh integration. Built-in Tailscale handles network changes; recovery depends on network, host and iOS conditions. REMOTE CODEX - Install and configure Codex on your host. Threads are managed there; NovaScale is a remote client and may cache content locally for display. - Connect to your Mac/Linux Codex CLI/app-server via Tailscale. Resume, fork, pin and rename threads; search across projects and sync pins with compatible desktop hosts. - Send prompts/files, review Markdown, LaTeX and changes, handle approvals, and follow goals, subagents and activity. Adjust text size/spacing; open images full screen. - Share files directly over authenticated app-server WebSocket; Pro adds linked-host SFTP transfers with byte progress. Diagnose host setup and compatibility in-app. - Free includes one Codex host, in-app banners and best-effort local notifications. REMOTE HERDR - Connect compatible Herdr on Mac/Linux via Tailscale or traditional SSH. Native protocol and controls for workspaces, tabs, agents and status, with a full terminal experience. - Pin and detach without stopping remote agents; paste images. Free: three daily visits and one pin. Pro: unlimited visits/pins and file/photo uploads. ON-DEVICE DICTATION - Dictate in Terminal, Codex and Herdr on supported iOS 26 devices/languages. Works offline after language assets are installed; raw audio is not saved or uploaded. CODEX & HERDR PUSH - Optional alerts when remote work needs you, even with NovaScale closed. Choose work opened in NovaScale or selected hosts. Requires host-side setup; plan limits apply. Disable at any time. REMOTE GIT - Browse repositories, branches, commits and diffs over SSH. Stage, unstage and commit on the remote host. MONITORING & CONTAINERS - CPU, memory, network, disk and I/O trends; inspect and end processes. Monitor, start, stop and restart Docker and supported macOS Apple containers. Pro adds container deployment. WEB & SFTP - Open services via URL, MagicDNS or Tailscale IP. Optional remote SOCKS5/HTTP CONNECT browser proxy and self-signed certificates; background audio from services such as Jellyfin. - Pro: browse, transfer, preview and edit SFTP files. Share files from iOS to SFTP, Terminal and Codex. LOCAL PROXY - Optional passwordless loopback SOCKS5/HTTP CONNECT access to active-tailnet peers for compatible apps on this device. No location permission needed; background access depends on iOS. PLANS & COMPATIBILITY - Core workflows are free with limits. Pro expands capacity and adds SFTP, flexible iCloud sync, container deployment and advanced customization. iOS 15+; in-app web requires iOS 17+. - Codex and Herdr require compatible host installations. TRANSPARENCY - Not affiliated with Tailscale Inc. Remote Push sends opaque IDs and signed lifecycle events, not prompts, code, commands, patches, responses, transcript paths or working directories. - Codex bootstrap wrapper and companion agent: https://github.com/GalaxNet-Ltd/nova-codex-bootstrap - Built on a maintained libtailscale fork: https://github.com/GalaxNet-Ltd/libtailscale - Support: nova-support@galaxnet.cc - Terms: https://galaxnet.dev/nova/legal/tos/ - Privacy: https://galaxnet.dev/nova/legal/privacy/

Screenshots

Pi4 screens
NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale at Free against Pi's $5.99. NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and review sentiment (85% vs 50%). Pi's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks). On ads 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

NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale is free to download; Pi costs $5.99 up front. NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Pi asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Pi's written reviews are positive against 85% of NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pi ships an update every 2 days, NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Pi versus NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPiNovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews84.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings210 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB118 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSoomaa Strategies Ltd.GalaxNet Ltd.

Customer experience

Pi

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative7.7%

In-app purchases

None

Pi

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale

Subscriptions2
  • NovaScale Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • NovaScale Pro Annual14 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • NovaScale Pro Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Pi free?
Pi costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale free?
NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pi or NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale?
NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale is rated higher. Pi averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale averages 5.0 from 10 ratings.
Do Pi or NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale have ads?
Neither Pi nor NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pi or NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale?
Pi ships an update every 2 days, and NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pi was updated on November 4, 2026 and NovaScale, SSH/Herdr+Tailscale on November 8, 2026.

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