# Orca IDE vs Tailscode

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Orca IDE at none against Tailscode's 4. Orca IDE also leads on ratings volume (32 vs 1) and chart position (#21 vs unranked). Tailscode's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tailscode sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Orca IDE asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tailscode holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orca IDE has 32 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Orca IDE ships an update every 3 days, Tailscode every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Orca IDE | Tailscode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orca-ide/id6766130217/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tailscode-coding-agent-remote/id6791660932/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 87.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 41 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lovecast LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1498017204) | [Midgar Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484270247) |

## What reviewers say

### Orca IDE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orca-ide/id6766130217)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app mirrors your desktop terminal sessions, including AI agent interactions, directly to your iPhone. It provides full keyboard input and multi-terminal support for seamless remote coding management. All processing remains on your desktop, ensuring your data stays secure.

**Highlights:** Live desktop terminal mirror, AI agent session management, Full keyboard input, Multi-worktree, multi-terminal support, Phone-fit zoom and smart keyboard, Background command execution, End-to-end encrypted pairing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Tailscode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tailscode-coding-agent-remote/id6791660932)

Interact with AI agents like Claude Code and Oh My Pi from your phone. Monitor and approve commands, view code changes, and manage conversations live on your lock screen. All data is transmitted point-to-point over your private network.

**Highlights:** Live Lock Screen Activities for conversations, Approve commands and answer agent questions, View code diffs and output inline, Manage multiple servers and conversations, Track conversation costs and model usage, End-to-end encrypted communication

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tailscode Pro | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lavish Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Orca IDE free?

Orca IDE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Tailscode free?

Tailscode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Orca IDE or Tailscode?

Tailscode is rated higher. Orca IDE averages 4.6 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Tailscode averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Orca IDE or Tailscode have ads?

Neither Orca IDE nor Tailscode shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Orca IDE or Tailscode?

Orca IDE ships an update every 3 days, and Tailscode every 2 days. Most recently, Orca IDE was updated on October 2, 2026 and Tailscode on October 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*