Comparison

Caret vs cmd+cmd

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

Head to head
About

Caret

A native server console for developers and sysadmins to connect to Linux boxes via SSH. Manage AI coding agents, monitor server performance, and interact with Docker containers. Features include a full terminal, SFTP file manager, and an optional AI assistant.

Highlights
  • Full SSH terminal with VT/xterm engine
  • Live server monitoring dashboard (CPU, memory, disk)
  • Docker container management and deployment
  • SFTP file manager with text file editing
  • AI coding agent management
  • Snippets and quick command execution
  • Secure credential management with Keychain/Keystore
Features
Read full description

Caret is a fast, native server console for developers and sysadmins. Connect to any Linux box over SSH from your iPhone, iPad or Mac — no agent on the server, no cloud middleman, no account required. — HERD YOUR AI CODING AGENTS — Run Claude or Codex agents on your own servers and manage them all from one inbox, grouped by status — working, waiting on you, or done. Read an agent's latest output, reply, review its exact code changes as a git diff, then drop into its terminal. Agents keep running even when the app is closed. — FULL SSH TERMINAL — A real interactive terminal powered by a complete VT/xterm engine. Run vim, htop, tail, or any program. Multiple tabs per server, automatic reconnection, and a mobile shortcut bar for Ctrl, Esc, arrows and pipes. Attach to tmux or zellij, forward local and remote ports, and pick from 17 themes. — LIVE MONITORING DASHBOARD — Watch CPU, memory, swap, disk, network and load average update in real time, with smooth on-device history. The Status screen aggregates every server into one board; tap through for per-core breakdowns, top processes and host details. Pull real server-side history from the host's own sar/sysstat records — even for time while the app was closed. Metrics come from reading /proc over SSH — nothing to install. Linux and macOS hosts. — DOCKER, EVERYWHERE — List containers across all your hosts at once, with live CPU, memory and network usage. Start, stop, restart, inspect and follow logs in real time. Build reusable Pod templates — a graphical docker run, or a Compose stack — and deploy them to any set of servers in one tap. — SFTP FILE MANAGER — Browse the remote filesystem, upload and download with live progress, and create, rename, move, compress or delete files and folders. Preview and edit text files right on the server. On Mac, drag files between servers or straight to and from Finder. — SNIPPETS & QUICK RUN — Keep go-to commands one tap away, and fire one command across many servers at once — with saved history of every run. — ASK AI, BRING YOUR OWN KEY — An optional AI assistant, one tap from any screen, that already knows what you're looking at — your metrics, containers, files or terminal. Ask what a process does, why load is spiking, or how to fix an error. Bring your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini key; it stays in the Keychain and talks to the provider directly, with no Caret server in between. — KEYS, JUMP HOSTS & SECURITY — Passwords, keys and passphrases live in the system Keychain / Keystore, never in the app database. Manage SSH keys in-app, authenticate with passwords or keys, and reach private servers through a jump host (bastion), including multi-hop chains. Add an optional Face ID / Touch ID app lock. Turn on sync and your data — including credentials — travels only through your own private iCloud or Google Drive (end-to-end encrypted on Drive). — APPLE WATCH & WIDGETS — Keep an eye on your servers without opening the app. Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets show live CPU, memory and load; on Mac the same metrics sit in the menu bar. The Apple Watch app puts a read-only status board on your wrist — refreshed even while your iPhone is in your pocket. — BUILT FOR EVERY SCREEN — One native app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. On Mac it's a true desktop app — sidebar navigation, native density, multi-window and split-pane workspaces. Light and dark themes, and 14 languages. Caret is free, with server management, monitoring and Docker built in. A Premium upgrade unlocks the SSH terminal, SFTP editing, AI coding agents, the Ask AI assistant, server-side history, jump hosts, port forwarding and cloud sync — monthly, yearly or a one-time lifetime purchase. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://zobubo.com/docs/caret/Privacy-Policy/

About

cmd+cmd

Features
Read full description

cmd+cmd sends screenshots from iPhone to Codex Desktop. Pair with the Mac relay, choose a screenshot, and send. Share Sheet, Shortcuts, and Back Tap are supported. OCR text can be included. cmd+cmd is free and open source. It does not include paid content, subscriptions, in-app purchases, accounts, or external purchase flows.

Screenshots

Caret4 screens
cmd+cmd2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: cmd+cmd at none against Caret's 3. Caret's advantage is device support (5 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price and ads 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. Caret sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. cmd+cmd asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Caret versus cmd+cmd: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCaretcmd+cmd
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer成杰 于AVMIL LABS LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Caret

Subscriptions2
  • Premium (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • Premium (Yearly)$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium (Lifetime)$14.99
None

cmd+cmd

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Caret free?
Caret is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is cmd+cmd free?
cmd+cmd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Caret or cmd+cmd have ads?
Neither Caret nor cmd+cmd shows ads.

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