Herald and Console side by side
| Feature | Herald | Hermes Console |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 once on Google Play | Free, with optional Ko-fi tips |
| Devices | Android, plus iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and CarPlay | Android 7 or later |
| Pairing | npx herald-setup (Node 20+) prints a QR code | A one-line script (curl or PowerShell) prints a code to scan |
| What it connects to | Hermes through hermes serve, with dashboard sign-in | The Hermes API server (port 8642) and the dashboard |
| Several computers | Yes: one roster across computers | Yes: save several instances and switch |
| Bots and rooms | Group chats where bots @mention each other, across computers | Bots and rooms, one identity per profile |
| Voice | On-device wake word, voice notes, hands-free, read-aloud | Voice conversation in the chat, dictation, read-aloud |
| Managing Hermes | Kanban, schedules, plugins, skills and MCP, usage charts | Models, skills, tools, MCP, memory, cron and task boards |
| Terminal and files | File attachments and previews; Bot Screen | SSH terminal, SFTP and file viewers |
| Home screen | Hermes Pet ongoing notification | Widget board and launcher widgets |
| Approvals | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese | English and Spanish |
| Where to get it | Google Play | Google Play, Obtainium or GitHub |
Choose Hermes Console if…
- You want a free, open-source Android app (GPL-3.0) with no account, ads or telemetry.
- You like one-command setup: paste one line on the Hermes machine, scan the code, and the app has the address, key and dashboard sign-in.
- You manage Hermes from your phone: models and providers, skills, MCP servers, memory, cron jobs and task boards.
- You want an SSH terminal, SFTP and file viewers in the same app.
- You’d rather install outside Google Play, through Obtainium or a GitHub APK.
- You’d like the app in Spanish.
Choose Herald if…
- You run Hermes on several computers and want every bot in one roster, including group chats that mix bots from different machines.
- You want hands-free voice: an on-device “Hey Herald” wake word, voice notes your Hermes transcribes and replies read aloud.
- You switch between Android and Apple devices, or want your bots on an Apple Watch or in CarPlay too.
- You want Hermes Pet in an ongoing notification while a bot works.
- You want to pick up conversations that started in Telegram, the terminal or the Hermes desktop app.
Setup and requirements
Console’s setup is one line on the computer where Hermes lives: a curl script on Linux and macOS, or PowerShell on Windows and WSL2. It gets Hermes ready, then shows a code; you tap Scan code in the app. The code carries the address, the key and the dashboard sign-in. Console needs version 1.2.15 or newer, and its developer says it uses Hermes’s API server (port 8642) and its API_SERVER_KEY, because the dashboard alone doesn’t expose everything it needs.
Herald’s setup is also one command, npx herald-setup, which needs Node 20 or later. It sets a dashboard username and password, starts hermes serve if nothing answers, publishes it with Tailscale Serve when Tailscale is installed and prints a QR code. Both apps work on the same Wi-Fi, over Tailscale or through HTTPS; see remote access.
Price
Console is free and has no ads; its developer accepts support on Ko-fi. Herald costs $12.99 once on Google Play, with no subscription or in-app purchases. The App Store version is a separate purchase that covers iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and CarPlay.
The short version
Console gives you more server tools, including a terminal, for nothing. Herald focuses on talking to your bots: a roster across computers, group chats that mix them, a wake word and Hermes Pet, on Android and Apple devices alike.
Questions
Is Hermes Console open source?
Yes. Console is published under GPL-3.0 on GitHub by XPeta Lab.
Is there an iPhone version of Console?
Not as of 20 October 2026. Console is Android only.
Which is easier to set up?
Both take one command and a QR code. Console’s script prepares Hermes’s API server; npx herald-setup prepares the dashboard sign-in and Tailscale. If one doesn’t suit your setup, try the other.
Can I switch from Console to Herald later?
Yes. Neither app owns your bots or history. Both talk to the Hermes on your computer, so your profiles and sessions stay where they are.
