Comparison

ServerKeep vs Kestrel

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

Head to head
About

ServerKeep

Features
Read full description

**Your servers, in your pocket.** ServerKeep gives you real-time visibility into your Linux servers and full control over your Docker containers โ€” all from your iPhone or iPad. No daemons to install, no cloud services to sign up for, no agents running on your machines. ServerKeep connects directly over SSH using credentials stored securely in your device's Keychain. **Server Monitoring** Add your servers and instantly see what matters. ServerKeep pulls live system stats including CPU usage, memory breakdown, disk I/O, network throughput, and TCP health โ€” presented through clean, purpose-built gauges and charts. See which servers are online at a glance, drill into detailed breakdowns, and keep tabs on temperature and uptime. **Memory Insights** Go beyond simple "used vs. free" numbers. ServerKeep breaks memory down into used, page cache, and available โ€” with visual progress bars and a segmented ring chart โ€” so you can tell at a glance whether your server is actually under pressure or just caching aggressively. **Docker Container Management** View all running containers across your servers. Start, stop, and restart containers with a tap. Inspect port mappings, health status, and container images. View and save Docker Compose configurations directly from the app. **Docker Compose Support** Organise your containers into Compose pods. See pod status, manage the full lifecycle, and keep your stack definitions accessible wherever you are. **Built-in Terminal** Need to run a quick command or debug something hands-on? ServerKeep includes a fully interactive SSH terminal with PTY support. No need to switch to a separate app. **Saved Snippets** Save frequently used commands as snippets and run them on any server with a single tap. Perfect for common maintenance tasks, health checks, or deployment scripts you run regularly. **Designed for Privacy** ServerKeep never phones home. Your server credentials are stored exclusively in the iOS Keychain on your device. All connections go directly from your device to your servers. There are no analytics, no tracking, and no third-party services involved. **Built Natively for iOS** ServerKeep is built entirely with SwiftUI and takes full advantage of the platform โ€” smooth animations, native controls, and an interface that feels right at home on your device.

About

Kestrel

Features
Read full description

Take total control of your infrastructure from anywhere. Kestrel is a premium, server management client designed for developers, sysadmins, and power users who demand performance, security, and smart features on the go.. Privacy Policy: Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ServerKeep4 screens
Kestrel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Kestrel at fortnightly against ServerKeep's every 2 months. Kestrel also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. ServerKeep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Kestrel sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ServerKeep ships an update every 2 months, Kestrel fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
ServerKeep versus Kestrel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterServerKeepKestrel
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac โ€” better
Requires iOS17.617.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size8 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDesmond KramerMichael Wright

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ServerKeep

One-time1
  • Server Monitor - ServerKeep$9.99
4 purchases

Kestrel

Subscriptions3
  • Kestrel Pro$3.991 Month
  • Kestrel Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Kestrel Suite$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Kestrel Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is ServerKeep free?
ServerKeep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kestrel free?
Kestrel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ServerKeep or Kestrel have ads?
Neither ServerKeep nor Kestrel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ServerKeep or Kestrel?
ServerKeep ships an update every 2 months, and Kestrel fortnightly. Most recently, ServerKeep was updated on September 15, 2026 and Kestrel on September 19, 2026.

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