Browser workspace or native app
Hermes WebUI is a community project by nesquena, not the dashboard that ships with Hermes. It is a lightweight web app with a three-panel layout (sessions, chat and a workspace file browser) that aims for near one-to-one parity with the Hermes command line. It runs Hermes inside its own Python server, on port 8787 by default, and works on phones through a responsive layout and as an installed web app. With about 19,000 stars on GitHub, it is one of the most popular ways to use Hermes from a browser.
Herald is a native app. It connects to Hermes’s own hermes serve, keeps one chat per bot, and adds phone features a browser tab doesn’t offer: a Lock Screen Live Activity, an on-device wake word, an Apple Watch roster and CarPlay.
Hermes WebUI and Herald side by side
| Feature | Herald | Hermes WebUI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 once | Free (MIT licence) |
| What it is | Native app | Web app in your browser, installable on a phone |
| What runs on your computer | Hermes’s own hermes serve | A separate Python server that runs Hermes in-process (port 8787) |
| Best screen | Phone, iPad, Apple Watch and car | Laptop or desktop browser; responsive on phones |
| Files and workspace | Attach and preview files; Bot Screen | Workspace file browser with inline preview |
| Sign-in | Dashboard username and password, set by npx herald-setup | Optional password (off by default) and passkeys |
| Remote access | Tailscale set up by npx herald-setup, or your Wi-Fi | SSH tunnel or Tailscale Serve |
| Voice | Wake word, voice notes, hands-free, read-aloud | Microphone button using the browser’s speech recognition |
| Phone integrations | Siri, share sheet, Live Activity, Apple Watch, CarPlay | What your browser supports |
| Several computers | One roster across computers | Open each server’s address |
| Computer it runs on | Mac, Linux, or Windows with WSL2 | Linux, macOS or WSL2 (native Windows through a community guide) |
Choose Hermes WebUI if…
- You mostly work from a laptop or desktop and want a full workspace in the browser.
- You want a file browser beside the chat, session projects and tags, and near-terminal parity.
- You want it free and open source (MIT), with nothing to buy.
- You use Hermex, the iPhone app built on Hermes WebUI.
- You’re happy using a browser on your phone when you’re away.
Choose Herald if…
- You want a native app on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, CarPlay or Android, not a browser tab.
- You want to know when a bot finishes or needs approval, with push banners and Hermes Pet on the Lock Screen.
- You want to talk hands-free with an on-device wake word, or by voice in the car.
- You run several computers and want all their bots in one roster, with group chats across them.
- You’d rather not run a second server next to Hermes.
Running both
They don’t compete for the same job. A common setup is WebUI on the desk for long sessions and file work, and Herald on the phone, watch and car. Each connects in its own way: WebUI runs Hermes in its own process, while Herald talks to hermes serve and signs in with the dashboard’s username and password (Hermes’s gated mode). Follow each project’s own guide for the computer side.
Setup and price
Hermes WebUI: clone the repository and run python3 bootstrap.py. It finds or installs Hermes, starts the server and opens a first-run wizard. For remote use, its README recommends an SSH tunnel or Tailscale Serve, and a password before you expose the port. It is free.
Herald: run npx herald-setup on the computer with Hermes and scan the QR code. It costs $12.99 once; one App Store purchase covers iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and CarPlay, and Google Play is separate. See Tailscale remote access.
Questions
Is Hermes WebUI the same as the Hermes dashboard?
No. Hermes WebUI is a community project by nesquena. The dashboard (hermes dashboard) ships with Hermes Agent from Nous Research. See Herald vs the Hermes dashboard.
Can I add Hermes WebUI to my phone’s home screen?
Yes. Its README describes a responsive layout for phones and support for installed web apps.
Does Herald need Hermes WebUI?
No. Herald connects to Hermes Agent directly.
Does Hermes WebUI have a password?
It is optional and off by default on your own machine. Set HERMES_WEBUI_PASSWORD before you expose the port beyond localhost, as its README advises.
