Comparison

OpenLens vs Lotse

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

Head to head
About

OpenLens

This application allows you to remotely control and monitor AI coding sessions from your iPhone. Continue your work seamlessly from your mobile device, manage sessions, and receive real-time updates.

Highlights
  • Remote AI coding session control
  • Real-time chat with streaming responses
  • Session management (create, delete)
  • Switch AI providers and models
  • Live progress on Lock Screen/Dynamic Island
  • Bonjour/mDNS server discovery
  • Save multiple server connections
Features
Read full description

OpenLens is a fast, focused iPhone client for OpenCode. Run OpenCode on your computer, then continue the same AI coding session from your phone. Use OpenLens to monitor progress, reply quickly, and stay in control when you are away from your desk. What you can do with OpenLens: - Connect instantly to nearby OpenCode servers with Bonjour/mDNS discovery - Save multiple server connections and reconnect automatically - Chat in real time with streaming responses - View and manage sessions, including creating and deleting sessions - Switch AI providers and models directly from the app - Review agent activity steps while work is in progress - Respond to permission prompts and interactive questions from the server - See live progress on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island with Live Activities Built for real workflows: - One session across terminal, web, and iPhone - Reliable reconnect behavior when network conditions change - Optional password-protected server access

About

Lotse

Features
Read full description

Lotse is a coding agent for your GitHub repositories. Describe a change on your phone, and Lotse works on it in the cloud, runs your tests and opens a pull request for you to review, even when the app is closed. You get a push when it's ready. HOW IT WORKS 1. Sign in and connect GitHub. The GitHub App "Lotse Agent" can only see the repositories you select. 2. Pick a repo and describe the change: a bug fix, a missing test, a small feature. 3. Close the app if you like. The task runs in the cloud; small changes usually take a few minutes. 4. Review the pull request on GitHub. It shows the test result honestly, also when tests fail. Merge it or send it back. WHAT YOU GET - Pull requests on your own repos. Nothing is merged without you. - Tests run for JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, Java/Kotlin and Flutter/Dart, including monorepos. - A live log of what the agent is doing. - A push notification when a task is finished. - You decide which repositories Lotse can access, and you can remove access on GitHub at any time. Lotse works best on small, well-defined changes: fixes, tests, small features. Repositories that need a database or a browser to test, and Android, Ruby, PHP or .NET projects, are limited. Lotse says so in the pull request. FREE AND PRO Try it free while capacity lasts. Lotse Pro raises the limits, removes ads and gives you more AI prompt improvements. Task limits are per day and reset every day. AI AND YOUR DATA Before your first task the app asks for your consent: your task description and the repository code are sent to AI model providers via OpenRouter to do the work. AI output can be wrong, so always review a pull request before you merge it. You can delete your account in the app. Privacy policy: [PRIVACY URL] SUBSCRIPTION Lotse Pro is an auto-renewing subscription (monthly or yearly), billed through Google Play or your Apple ID. It renews unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the period ends. Cancel any time in your store's subscription settings. Terms of use: [TERMS URL] Formerly Jules Console. Google ends Jules on December 31, 2026; if you used Jules in this app, your sessions stay viewable until then.

Screenshots

OpenLens4 screens
Lotse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenLens at none against Lotse's 2. OpenLens also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Lotse's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price 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. Lotse sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. OpenLens asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenLens ships an update every 5 days, Lotse every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
OpenLens versus Lotse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenLensLotse
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews81.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB71 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMartyn PekalaMhbob Alhoussen

In-app purchases

None

OpenLens

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Lotse

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$44.991 Year

Questions

Is OpenLens free?
OpenLens is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lotse free?
Lotse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OpenLens or Lotse have ads?
Lotse shows ads; OpenLens does not.
Which is updated more often, OpenLens or Lotse?
OpenLens ships an update every 5 days, and Lotse every 3 weeks. Most recently, OpenLens was updated on November 5, 2026 and Lotse on November 5, 2026.

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