Comparison

MCP Replay vs ControlForge

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

Head to head
About

MCP Replay

Features
Read full description

MCP Replay is a trace viewer for the Model Context Protocol, the open standard AI agents use to call tools. Record a session with the free mcp-tape command line tool, then open it on your phone: every request, response, error, and latency, organized and searchable. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Open .jsonl traces from Files, AirDrop, or any share sheet - Follow a replay link someone sent you, or paste a bare share ID - Watch a live session streaming from mcp-tape on your own network - See paired tool calls with latencies, and per-tool stats (count, errors, avg, p95) - Filter the timeline by tool or method - Share a trace as a link that expires after 30 days, with a delete token so you stay in control BUILT FOR PRIVACY Traces stay on your phone. Nothing is uploaded unless you explicitly share a trace, and there are no accounts, no analytics, and no tracking. Live mode connects directly to your own computer; the stream never touches a server. FOR ANYONE BUILDING WITH AGENTS If you use Claude, ChatGPT, or any MCP-compatible agent framework and have ever asked "what did it actually do?", this is the answer. Record with one command: npx mcp-tape -- your-mcp-server-command Then open the trace here or at mcpreplay.dev. MCP Replay is open source and independent. It works with any tool that emits the open mcp-tape trace format.

About

ControlForge

Features
Read full description

ControlForge is a professional field toolkit created for automation technicians, controls engineers, instrumentation specialists, and commissioning teams. Perform essential calculations, organize instrument information, complete loop checks, and troubleshoot industrial automation systems directly from your iPhone. FIELD CALCULATORS • Convert 4–20 mA signals to engineering units • Calculate PLC raw counts and scaled values • Estimate flow from differential pressure • Calculate hydrostatic liquid level • Convert VFD frequency to motor speed • Convert decimal, hexadecimal, and binary values • Detect signals outside the normal NAMUR NE43 range INSTRUMENT MANAGEMENT Create and save instruments with their tag, service, type, engineering range, unit, and technical notes. Select a saved instrument to automatically provide its configuration to the troubleshooting assistant. LOOP CHECKS Perform configurable five-point loop checks at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Compare expected and measured current values and immediately identify passing or failing test points. AI TROUBLESHOOTING ASSISTANT Ask questions about: • PLCs and industrial control systems • SCADA and HMI applications • 4–20 mA and voltage signals • Industrial communication networks • VFDs, motors, pumps, and valves • Instrumentation and commissioning • Common automation faults ControlForge uses Apple’s on-device foundation model. Supported requests are processed privately on your device without requiring an external AI account or API API key. The assistant can answer general industrial-automation questions without selecting an instrument. When a saved instrument is selected, its range, signal, service, and notes provide additional context for troubleshooting. BUILT FOR THE FIELD ControlForge combines frequently used engineering tools in one focused application, reducing the need to switch between spreadsheets, calculators, manuals, and notes while working in the field. Important: ControlForge provides engineering reference information and troubleshooting guidance. Always verify equipment specifications using the manufacturer’s official documentation and follow your facility’s safety, electrical, and lockout/tagout procedures.

Screenshots

MCP Replay4 screens
ControlForge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: MCP Replay at 17.0 against ControlForge's 26.0. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 4 level
MCP Replay versus ControlForge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMCP ReplayControlForge
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB3 MB
Age rating4+12+
Developercraig merryCarlos Armstrong

In-app purchases

None

MCP Replay

No in-app purchases

None

ControlForge

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MCP Replay free?
MCP Replay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ControlForge free?
ControlForge is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MCP Replay or ControlForge have ads?
Neither MCP Replay nor ControlForge shows ads.

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