Comparison

OpenLens vs Hermes Conduit

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

Hermes Conduit

This mobile client allows you to connect to a Hermes agent gateway from your iPhone. It provides a touch-first interface for conversations, monitoring, and controlling agent workflows away from your desktop. Supports rich text, file attachments, and detailed session management.

Highlights
  • Continue desktop sessions
  • Stream responses in real-time
  • Rich text and code rendering
  • File and image attachments
  • Session control and monitoring
  • Profile and skill management
  • Gateway log monitoring
Features
Read full description

Hermes Conduit is an independent mobile client for connecting to a Hermes agent gateway from iPhone. It brings the core Hermes workflow into a touch-first interface designed for conversations, monitoring, and quick control away from your desktop. CHAT WITHOUT LOSING CONTEXT • Continue sessions created on desktop or through configured connectors • Watch responses stream in as they are generated • Read Markdown, syntax-highlighted code, math, task lists, and Mermaid diagrams • Inspect tool calls, thinking, and delegated-agent progress when you want the details • Attach images, PDFs, and text files—or paste an image directly into the composer CONTROL EACH SESSION • Choose a provider and model without leaving the conversation • Set a compatible reasoning effort for the active model • Monitor context usage with token counts and a visual progress ring • Browse workspace files and use slash commands • Steer or interrupt an active turn • Branch, pin, archive, refresh, or delete sessions MORE THAN CHAT • Switch between Hermes profiles and their profile-specific settings • Review and trigger scheduled jobs • Enable or disable skills, tools, and MCP servers • Monitor configured connectors and recent gateway logs • Receive optional notifications for approvals, input requests, completed responses, failed turns, and background tasks BUILT FOR SELF-HOSTED HERMES Conduit connects to the Hermes dashboard and gateway that you configure. It does not include a hosted agent service. A working Hermes installation is required. Hermes Conduit is an independent client and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nous Research.

Screenshots

OpenLens4 screens
Hermes Conduit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Hermes Conduit at 17.0 against OpenLens's 26.0. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for OpenLens against 5.0 for Hermes Conduit. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 83% and 83% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 10 level
OpenLens versus Hermes Conduit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenLensHermes Conduit
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews83.3% of reviews
Number of ratings47 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#203#75 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB11 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMartyn PekalaLong Cheung Ho

Customer experience

OpenLens

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

Hermes Conduit

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

In-app purchases

None

OpenLens

No in-app purchases

None

Hermes Conduit

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OpenLens free?
OpenLens is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hermes Conduit free?
Hermes Conduit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, OpenLens or Hermes Conduit?
OpenLens and Hermes Conduit are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 7 ratings respectively.
Do OpenLens or Hermes Conduit have ads?
Neither OpenLens nor Hermes Conduit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenLens or Hermes Conduit?
OpenLens ships an update every 5 days, and Hermes Conduit every 5 days. Most recently, OpenLens was updated on September 24, 2026 and Hermes Conduit on September 20, 2026.
Which is more popular, OpenLens or Hermes Conduit?
OpenLens currently peaks at #203 in the App Store charts, and Hermes Conduit at #75. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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