Comparison

NovaScale, Built for Tailscale vs Docker Guard

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

Head to head
About

NovaScale, Built for 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, and Remote Codex from one app—without the overhead of repeatedly turning a separate Tailscale VPN connection on and off. Built-in Tailscale keeps your tailnet available inside NovaScale, while traditional SSH hosts and custom control servers such as Headscale remain fully supported. Core SSH, monitoring, web, and Remote Codex workflows are available free with practical limits. NovaScale Pro expands capacity and adds SFTP, flexible iCloud sync, remote push, container deployment, and advanced customization. ACCESS AND HOSTS - Discover tailnet machines automatically with live updates - Work with Tailscale SSH hosts and traditional SSH servers in one app - Organize machines with local aliases, custom icons, groups, favorites, and pins SSH TERMINAL - Recover sessions across Wi-Fi, cellular, VPN, and foreground/background changes - Pin important terminal and tmux sessions for faster return - Navigate tmux copy mode with Page Up and Page Down and choose a familiar prefix such as Ctrl-A - Use touch gestures with tmux, OpenCode, Herdr, and other mouse-aware TUI apps for scrolling, clicking, selection, and context menus - Use Apple’s offline on-device dictation in Terminal and Codex on supported iOS 26 devices/languages; raw audio isn’t uploaded REMOTE CODEX - Connect to your own Codex CLI/app-server on Mac or Linux over Tailscale - Resume, fork, pin, and rename threads without disrupting desktop work - Dictate prompts offline, follow goals and subagents, review Markdown and changes, and handle approvals remotely - Share files to Codex threads over the direct authenticated app-server WebSocket connection - Free use supports one Codex host, in-app banners, and best-effort local notifications - Link an SSH host with NovaScale Pro for faster SFTP file transfers with byte progress - NovaScale Pro adds optional remote push when host-backed work needs you, even while NovaScale is disconnected - Uses the official Codex app-server; authentication, chats, code, and workspace data remain on your host MONITOR AND ACT - View resource trends for CPU, memory, network, disk, and disk I/O - Inspect process details and end stalled processes remotely - Monitor and manage Docker containers - Detect and manage Apple containers on supported macOS hosts - Deploy new Docker and Apple containers with NovaScale Pro - Designed for Linux servers, Macs, cloud instances, and homelab systems WEB AND FILE WORKFLOWS - Open dashboards and self-hosted services by URL, MagicDNS name, or Tailscale IP - Route browser traffic through a SOCKS5 or HTTP CONNECT proxy on another tailnet host - Optionally access sites using self-signed certificates - Keep audio playing in the background from services such as Jellyfin - With NovaScale Pro, browse, upload, download, preview, and edit remote files over SFTP - Share files from iOS into SFTP folders, active terminal sessions, and Remote Codex threads COMPATIBILITY - iOS 15+ for SSH, monitoring, Remote Codex, and file management - In-app web access requires iOS 17+ - Remote Codex requires your own Codex CLI/app-server - Apple Container features require a supported macOS host TRANSPARENCY - NovaScale is not affiliated with Tailscale Inc. or OpenAI - Optional Remote Push uses an open-source host-side companion agent included in the Codex bootstrap repository. It can be disabled at any time. - Remote Push sends only 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/

About

Docker Guard

Features
Read full description

Docker Guard is the fastest way to keep an eye on your Docker hosts from your iPhone or iPad. Docker Guard is a native iPhone and iPad monitoring client for your self-hosted Docker environment. It requires the free, open-source Docker Guard Agent running on your Docker host. Connect to any server running the open-source Docker Guard Agent and get a live, industrial-style dashboard of everything that matters — CPU load, memory usage, and the state of every container, image, volume and network. When something needs a nudge, start, stop or restart containers with a single tap. LIVE DASHBOARD - Circular gauges for aggregated CPU and memory usage across all running containers - Sparkline history so you can spot trends at a glance - Engine version, architecture and host name at the top - Counts for containers, images, volumes and networks, always up to date CONTAINER CONTROL - Full container list with status, image and ports - One-tap start, stop and restart - Filter running vs. stopped - Detail view with environment and mount information IMAGES, VOLUMES, NETWORKS - Browse every image on the host with size and tags - Inspect volumes and their drivers - See each Docker network and its driver PRIVACY AND SECURITY FIRST - Your data never touches our servers. The app talks directly to your own Docker Guard Agent over HTTPS. - TLS certificates are pinned on first use (TOFU). Any change is flagged with a clear warning — you decide whether to trust the new fingerprint. - API key authentication for every request. - All credentials and certificate fingerprints live in the iOS Keychain. - Optional Face ID / Touch ID app lock keeps the app protected even if your device is unlocked. BUILT FOR iOS 26 - Native SwiftUI with the Liquid Glass look and feel - Swift 6 strict concurrency, main-actor by default - iPhone and iPad layouts, portrait and landscape - Light and dark mode - English and German SELF-HOSTED BY DESIGN The Docker Guard Agent is a small, open-source Rust service you run on your own machine as a Docker container. It mounts only the Docker socket, exposes a minimal HTTPS API, and generates its own self-signed certificate on first boot. No cloud relay, no telemetry, no third parties. Full setup instructions and the agent source are available on the Docker Guard website. Docker Guard is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Docker Inc.

Screenshots

NovaScale, Built for Tailscale4 screens
Docker Guard2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Docker Guard at daily against NovaScale, Built for Tailscale's every 2 months. NovaScale, Built for Tailscale's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. NovaScale, Built for Tailscale sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Docker Guard sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NovaScale, Built for Tailscale ships an update every 2 months, Docker Guard daily. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
NovaScale, Built for Tailscale versus Docker Guard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNovaScale, Built for TailscaleDocker Guard
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size82 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGalaxNet Ltd.Hans Renz

In-app purchases

3 purchases

NovaScale, Built for Tailscale

Subscriptions2
  • NovaScale Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • NovaScale Pro Annual14 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • NovaScale Pro Lifetime$29.99
1 purchases

Docker Guard

One-time1
  • Control Pack$3.99

Questions

Is NovaScale, Built for Tailscale free?
NovaScale, Built for Tailscale is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Docker Guard free?
Docker Guard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do NovaScale, Built for Tailscale or Docker Guard have ads?
Neither NovaScale, Built for Tailscale nor Docker Guard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NovaScale, Built for Tailscale or Docker Guard?
NovaScale, Built for Tailscale ships an update every 2 months, and Docker Guard daily. Most recently, NovaScale, Built for Tailscale was updated on September 20, 2026 and Docker Guard on September 10, 2026.

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