Comparison

DevBox vs MCP Explorer Mobile

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

Head to head
About

DevBox

Features
Read full description

Run a React or Svelte dev server on your iPhone. Write Node, Python and PHP, and run it on the device. npm install and npm run dev work. React, Angular, Svelte and Vue build and run. Editor with syntax highlighting for JavaScript, TypeScript, Python and PHP, find and replace, and a key row for brackets and quotes. Terminal with command history and scrollback. Node, Python and PHP dev servers on a local port, with stdout and request logs. WebKit preview pointed at localhost. MariaDB on device, MySQL-compatible, phpMyAdmin included. npm, pip and composer. Git over HTTPS or SSH. GitHub, GitLab, self-hosted. Files app, iCloud Drive, FTP and SSH providers. Optional AI assistant. Works offline. Package installs, git remotes and the AI assistant need a connection. Runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple silicon Macs. Free to download. --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://devbox.porizm.com/privacy?lang=en

About

MCP Explorer Mobile

Features
Read full description

Explore remote Model Context Protocol servers natively on iPhone and iPad. MCP Explorer connects directly to compatible Streamable HTTP endpoints and gives you a clear, mobile workspace for understanding and inspecting their capabilities: • Discover tools, resources, prompts, and server instructions • Sign in securely with OAuth 2.1 and PKCE • Run real tool calls with forms generated from JSON Schema • Inspect structured results and raw JSON-RPC traffic • Review request history and save useful calls in collections • Keep server configurations and activity separated on your device Security is built in. OAuth tokens and API credentials are stored in iOS Keychain, authorization headers are excluded from traffic logs, and remote connections require HTTPS. MCP Explorer is a native SwiftUI app, not a web wrapper. Requirements: • A compatible remote MCP server using Streamable HTTP • Valid credentials when required by that server Local stdio servers cannot run as child processes on iOS. Expose them through a secure remote endpoint before connecting.

Screenshots

DevBox4 screens
MCP Explorer Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DevBox at Free against MCP Explorer Mobile's $0.99. DevBox also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). MCP Explorer Mobile's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

DevBox is free to download; MCP Explorer Mobile costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DevBox ships an update every 5 days, MCP Explorer Mobile every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
DevBox versus MCP Explorer Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDevBoxMCP Explorer Mobile
PriceFree — better$0.99
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size413 MB4 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperFiras MoussaGabriel Schreiber

In-app purchases

None

DevBox

No in-app purchases

None

MCP Explorer Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DevBox free?
DevBox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MCP Explorer Mobile free?
MCP Explorer Mobile costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do DevBox or MCP Explorer Mobile have ads?
Neither DevBox nor MCP Explorer Mobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DevBox or MCP Explorer Mobile?
DevBox ships an update every 5 days, and MCP Explorer Mobile every 2 days. Most recently, DevBox was updated on October 3, 2026 and MCP Explorer Mobile on October 3, 2026.

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