Comparison

CLI Files vs BotBus

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

Head to head
About

CLI Files

Features
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CLI Files puts remote file management and a full SSH terminal in one focused workspace. Connect to your servers over SSH/SFTP, browse folders, upload and download files, preview common file types, and jump straight into a terminal when you need to get work done. It is designed for developers, operators, and AI-agent workflows. FEATURES • SSH and SFTP connections with password or private-key authentication • Browse, search, sort, upload, download, rename, and delete remote files • Save favorite folders and open each directly in the file browser or terminal • One retained terminal tab per server; switch sessions without disconnecting • Reorderable command-key bar and custom text shortcuts • Record custom Ctrl, Alt, Shift, special keys, and multi-step key sequences using the phone keyboard • Terminal font-size control, app language selection, and multiple interface themes • Secure credential storage in the iOS Keychain • Offline Demo Mode for exploring the terminal, files, and Markdown preview before connecting a server CLI Files is free to download and includes banner advertising. An optional one-time Remove Ads purchase removes advertising; previous Remove Ads purchases remain valid and can be restored. Paid users may voluntarily enable banners in Settings and turn them off at any time without losing their purchase. Server profiles are stored on your device. Passwords, private keys, and trusted host keys are protected by the iOS Keychain.

About

BotBus

Control and monitor AI coding agents remotely from your mobile devices. Approve requests, chat with agents, and even take direct control of your computer's terminal or screen. Supports various AI models and multiple computers.

Highlights
  • Approve AI agent requests
  • Chat with coding agents
  • Access computer terminal
  • Remote screen control
  • View agent-created files and screenshots
  • Support for multiple AI models
  • Apple Watch integration
Features
Read full description

Your AI coding agents keep working after you leave your desk. With BotBus, so can you: approve requests, answer questions, send the next instruction, or take over the computer itself, from iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. BotBus connects Claude Code, Codex and other coding agents on your Mac, Linux or Windows computer to your phone and watch. No SSH, no VPN, no port forwarding, no account. Install BotBus on the computer, scan one QR code, and you're set. Tasks and computer controls are end-to-end encrypted. Made for long refactors, test runs and vibe coding sessions that need a quick yes every few minutes. WORKS WITH THE AGENTS YOU ALREADY USE • Built in: Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Hermes, Pi, OpenClaw and DeepSeek Harness • Gemini CLI, Qwen Code, Kimi CLI, goose and other ACP (Agent Client Protocol) agents • Sessions you started at your desk show up too, sorted by computer, agent and project • Agents keep their own logins, subscriptions and API keys NEVER LEAVE AN AGENT WAITING • Get notified when an agent needs approval, waits for your reply, finishes or fails; on iPhone you see the actual command • Approve or deny in one tap and answer multiple-choice questions • Auto-approve projects you trust (Claude Code and Codex); questions still come to you • When a task fails, BotBus tells you why and what to do next RUN THE WORK FROM ANYWHERE • Start a chat: pick a computer, agent and project, then type or just speak • Follow up, interrupt, or start, stop and restart an agent • Choose the model and reasoning effort for Claude Code and Codex • Run a task in its own git worktree, then merge it back in one tap • Attach photos; location data is stripped before sending • Read the conversation with formatting, code and images SEE WHAT YOUR AGENTS BUILT • Screenshots, files, videos and links come straight to your phone • Open the dev server your agent just started and try the page on your phone (Mac) • Review uncommitted changes as a line-by-line diff before you merge CONTROL YOUR COMPUTER • Files: browse projects, view and edit text files, upload photos, share files to your phone, rename, or move to Trash (never permanently deleted) • Terminal: a real shell on your computer, with tabs, extra keys (esc, ctrl, tab, arrows) and sessions that survive dropped connections • Screen: see your Mac live; tap, drag, zoom, right-click and type, with a secure field for passwords • Changes stay locked until you unlock them and re-lock after 10 idle minutes • Files and terminal on Mac, Linux and Windows; screen control on Mac BUILT FOR APPLE WATCH • After syncing from iPhone, the watch connects on its own • Approve, answer, dictate a reply, interrupt or start a task from your wrist • See every computer's pending count at a glance MANY COMPUTERS, MANY DEVICES • Pair up to 10 computers with up to 10 phones and iPads; mix Mac, Linux and Windows • Two-column layout on iPad • Remove any device at any time PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Tasks, chats, commands, files, terminal and screen are encrypted with AES-256-GCM on your devices • The key travels only in the pairing QR code and stays in your Keychain; compare the 8-digit fingerprint to verify • Our relay sees only ciphertext; pairings idle for 30 days are erased • Dev previews pass through our relay and are not end-to-end encrypted GET STARTED IN A MINUTE 1. Install BotBus on your computer from botbus.io: a menu bar app on Mac, a one-line install on Linux and Windows (no sudo or admin rights) 2. Scan the pairing QR code with this app 3. Walk away. Your agents will find you. No computer at hand? Try demo mode first. Requires iOS or iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later; macOS 26, Linux (x86_64, aarch64) or Windows 10/11 on the computer. Actions need the computer online with BotBus running; available controls depend on the agent. Claude Code, Codex and other agent names are trademarks of their respective owners. BotBus is independent and not affiliated with them.

Screenshots

CLI Files4 screens
BotBus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BotBus at none against CLI Files's 1. BotBus also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days). CLI Files's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price 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. CLI Files sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BotBus asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CLI Files ships an update every 11 days, BotBus every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CLI Files versus BotBus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCLI FilesBotBus
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB25 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperOpenBiggerChengdu Tuyang Tusen Technology Co., Ltd

In-app purchases

1 purchases

CLI Files

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99
None

BotBus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CLI Files free?
CLI Files is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BotBus free?
BotBus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CLI Files or BotBus have ads?
CLI Files shows ads; BotBus does not.
Which is updated more often, CLI Files or BotBus?
CLI Files ships an update every 11 days, and BotBus every 3 days. Most recently, CLI Files was updated on October 31, 2026 and BotBus on November 6, 2026.

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