EmpiricCommander File Manager vs DBKit
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EmpiricCommander File Manager
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A real file manager for iPad - and for Mac and iPhone. Two panes side by side, drag between them, and move files where they belong without exporting or round-tripping through the Files app. PHOTOS OFF YOUR PHONE The Files app cannot see your photo library. EmpiricCommander can: browse your albums like folders and copy them to a USB-C drive, your NAS, SFTP, S3 - any destination, no account required. Originals are copied byte for byte with EXIF and location intact, a second run copies only what is new, and Free Up Space deletes a photo only after the copy has been read back and verified. THE WHOLE LOOP, NO MAC NEEDED Clone a repository over HTTPS or SSH, open a file in the built-in editor with syntax highlighting, stage your changes, commit, and push - on iPad and iPhone, without a separate terminal app. A commit log with a rendered branch and merge graph shows what happened, per-file diffs show exactly what changed, and merge conflicts are resolved in-app, per file. A REAL SSH TERMINAL An interactive shell to your server, from inside the file manager, on Mac, iPad and iPhone. iOS ships no ssh binary, so this is a full client implementation rather than a wrapper around a system tool. CONNECT TO WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE SMB network shares (your NAS, Mac, or Windows PC), SFTP with key authentication, S3 and S3-compatible storage, FTP, WebDAV, Azure Blob, Dropbox, and more - browsed, copied, and moved like local folders. Your connection list syncs across your devices through iCloud; passwords stay in the Keychain and are never uploaded. BUILT FOR REAL FILE WORK - Dual-pane on Mac and iPad, with a tab bar on iPhone. - Streaming transfers, including remote to remote, with progress that survives leaving the app. - Folder Sync in four modes, and Compare Folders with SHA-256 verification so you can prove a copy is byte-for-byte identical. - Batch rename with regex, numbering and dates, previewed before it runs. - Browse inside ZIP archives like folders; create ZIP and TAR/GZ; read password-protected archives. - Duplicate finder, disk-usage treemap, checksums, permissions editor. - Quick Look plus rich preview for CSV, JSON, Markdown, YAML, TOML and source code. - Full hardware-keyboard support on iPad: arrows, shift-selection, Tab, Esc, Return, Space. ON-DEVICE AI Describe a batch rename in plain words, or summarize a document, using Apple Intelligence. It runs entirely on your device: no account, no API key, no per-use cost, and your filenames and file contents never leave the device. ONE PURCHASE, THREE PLATFORMS Buy once and use EmpiricCommander on your Mac, iPad and iPhone - one device of each type. Not a subscription. This major version and all of its updates are included. PRIVACY No tracking. Diagnostics are strictly opt-in.
DBKit
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DBKit is a professional SQL database client for iPhone and iPad, built for developers, DBAs, DevOps engineers, backend engineers, data analysts, QA engineers, IT professionals, and SQL learners. Connect directly to SQLite, MySQL, and PostgreSQL databases from your mobile device. Run SQL queries, browse schemas, inspect tables, analyze data, and export results securely wherever you are. Whether you are troubleshooting production issues, checking application data, validating SQL statements, reviewing database structures, or learning SQL, DBKit provides a fast and efficient database experience optimized for iPhone and iPad. ## Supported Databases • SQLite • MySQL • PostgreSQL ## Direct Database Connections Connect directly from your iPhone or iPad to your own database servers. • No cloud relay services • No proxy servers required • No additional infrastructure needed • Supports local and remote connections • Credentials remain under your control DBKit is designed for secure direct database access without relying on intermediary services. ## SQL Editor Write, edit, and run SQL queries from a mobile-optimized editor. • SQL syntax highlighting • Intelligent auto-completion • Query history • Multi-statement execution • Fast query execution • Easy editing and copying DBKit helps you work efficiently whether you are writing simple queries or complex SQL statements. ## Database Explorer Browse and inspect database structures. View: • Tables • Columns • Indexes • Foreign keys • Constraints • Triggers • Schemas Understand your database structure without needing a desktop database tool. ## Data Viewer & Export Inspect query results directly on your device. • Browse records • View large result sets • Explore table contents • Analyze query results • Identify data issues quickly Export results in multiple formats: • CSV • TSV • JSON • SQL • Markdown Useful for data backup, migration, documentation, reporting, collaboration, and analysis. ## PostgreSQL Features DBKit supports advanced PostgreSQL workflows: • Transaction management • Parameterized queries • Schema introspection • Constraint inspection • Trigger inspection • SSL connections Designed for development, testing, administration, and operational workflows. ## Security & Privacy • Credentials are stored securely using Apple Keychain • No plaintext password storage • No third-party relay servers • Direct device-to-database communication • SSL encrypted connections where supported Your database connection information remains stored locally on your device. DBKit does not provide database hosting or act as an intermediary between you and your databases. ## Built for Professionals DBKit is suitable for: • Software developers • Database administrators • DevOps engineers • Backend engineers • Data analysts • QA engineers • Operations engineers • IT professionals • SQL learners Whether you are at the office, working remotely, traveling, on site, or responding to a production incident, DBKit helps you stay productive wherever your work takes you. ## In-App Purchases DBKit offers monthly, yearly, and lifetime purchase options. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before renewal. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://leotan1990.github.io/databases/AppStore/privacy_en.html ## Disclaimer DBKit is an independent third-party database client and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis, or their respective owners. MySQL®, PostgreSQL®, SQLite®, MongoDB®, and Redis® are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. DBKit does not provide database hosting services. Users are responsible for configuring, maintaining, and securing their own database servers, credentials, network access, and database environments.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: EmpiricCommander File Manager at every 2 days against DBKit's fortnightly. 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
Both are free to download. EmpiricCommander File Manager sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and DBKit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
EmpiricCommander File Manager ships an update every 2 days, DBKit fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EmpiricCommander File Manager | DBKit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Burlac Mihail | 姣萍 黄 |
In-app purchases
EmpiricCommander File Manager
- EmpiricCommander Pro$29.99
DBKit
- Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$7.991 Year
- Lifetime Purchase$19.99
Questions
Is EmpiricCommander File Manager free?
Is DBKit free?
Do EmpiricCommander File Manager or DBKit have ads?
Which is updated more often, EmpiricCommander File Manager or DBKit?
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