A Raspberry Pi sitting in a closet running Snapcast, Pi-hole, and Home Assistant turns into a black box the moment you walk away from a keyboard. The Android phone is the right replacement for the missing monitor, and the apps below cover every angle of Pi management. SSH for shell work, VNC for the desktop, Home Assistant for smart home automation, OctoPrint for 3D printing, MQTT dashboards for sensor data. Seven apps cover the typical homelab.
What to look for in a Raspberry Pi controller app on Android
Phones make a great Pi remote, but not every app is set up for that workflow. A few traits matter.
- Persistent connections. SSH and VNC sessions get clipped when Android backgrounds an app to save battery. The right app handles reconnects gracefully.
- Key management. Storing SSH keys properly (encrypted, biometric-gated) is the difference between a secure setup and a public liability.
- Local network awareness. Apps that auto-detect Pi instances on the local network (mDNS, Bonjour, Avahi) cut setup friction.
- Multiple endpoints. Most Pi enthusiasts run more than one. The right controllers let you save and switch profiles instantly.
- Offline mode. Some apps store the last state and let you act on it; others fail entirely when the Pi is offline.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Protocol | Free plan | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Assistant | Smart home automation on Pi | HTTP REST + WebSocket | Free | Yes |
| Termius | Polished SSH and SFTP with sync | SSH/SFTP | Free with limits, paid sync | No |
| JuiceSSH | Deeply customisable SSH | SSH | Free, paid Pro | No |
| Termux | Running terminal commands on the phone | Local Linux | Free | Yes |
| RealVNC Viewer | Graphical desktop access to Pi | VNC (RFB) | Free | No |
| Printoid for OctoPrint | OctoPrint 3D print server control | OctoPrint API | Free (Lite), paid Premium | No |
| MQTT Dash | IoT sensor and switch dashboards | MQTT | Free | No |
The 7 best Raspberry Pi controller apps for Android in 2026
1. Home Assistant, the smart home automation companion
Home Assistant is the open-source home automation platform, with the official companion app for Android serving as the mobile front end to a Pi-hosted instance. The app handles dashboards, scenes, automations, notifications, and sensor surfacing from a Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant OS or Home Assistant Container.
The Android-specific features run deeper than just a remote dashboard. Geofencing pushes presence to the Pi, the app reads phone sensors (battery, Wi-Fi SSID, charging state) and exposes them as Home Assistant entities, and notifications support actionable buttons that trigger automations.
Where it falls short: Requires a running Home Assistant instance somewhere accessible, which means either a public IP, a VPN like Tailscale, or a Nabu Casa Cloud subscription. Initial setup is a learning curve.
Pricing:
- Free.
- Optional Nabu Casa Cloud subscription for remote access and Alexa or Google integration.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Bottom line: Required if Home Assistant is on the Pi. The phone becomes the remote, the sensor source, and the notification target.
2. Termius, the polished SSH and SFTP client
Termius is the most polished mobile SSH client on Android, with a clean interface, biometric unlock, encrypted credential vault, and cross-device sync between the Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Linux clients. For a Pi user, the appeal is the saved-host workflow: tag each Pi by role (media-pi, ha-pi, octo-pi), drop into a session in two taps, and run terminal commands without retyping credentials.
The paid Pro tier adds the sync layer, port forwarding, SFTP, snippets, and SSH agent forwarding. For someone managing more than one Pi, the sync alone is worth the subscription.
Where it falls short: Best features sit behind the paid tier. The free version is functional but limits saved hosts and disables sync.
Pricing:
- Free with limits.
- Pro subscription unlocks sync, SFTP, port forwarding, and snippets.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, web.
Bottom line: The polished pick if a phone is the primary remote for multiple Pi devices. Pro tier pays back fast.
3. JuiceSSH, the customisable SSH client
JuiceSSH is the long-standing Android SSH client built specifically for the phone form factor, with a colour scheme editor, plugin support, and a function-key bar that puts Ctrl, Tab, Esc, and arrow keys above the on-screen keyboard. The free tier covers most everyday SSH workflows; the Pro upgrade adds external keyboard hotkey customisation, automation hooks, and team sync.
What sets JuiceSSH apart is the depth of customisation per connection. Each saved host can carry its own colour palette, font size, keyboard layout, and post-connect snippet, which is the right granularity for working across multiple Pi nodes with different roles.
Where it falls short: UI design feels older than Termius. Plugin ecosystem is small.
Pricing:
- Free with full SSH features.
- Pro one-time upgrade adds automation, team sync, and more.
Platforms: Android.
Bottom line: The customiser’s pick for SSH. Free version is the value play; Pro is a small one-time payment.
4. Termux, the on-device terminal
Termux is a fully featured Linux terminal that runs on Android with no root required, including package management through pkg, hundreds of Linux tools, SSH client and server, and the ability to run scripts directly on the phone. For Pi users, Termux is the Swiss Army knife: SSH out to the Pi, sync files with rsync, run a quick Python script, or even host a small service from the phone itself.
The Termux ecosystem includes Termux:API (access phone sensors and notifications), Termux:Boot (auto-run scripts at boot), and Termux:Widget (one-tap script launchers from the home screen). Together they make the phone act like a tiny secondary Linux machine alongside the Pi.
Where it falls short: Termux is a power-user tool. Anyone expecting a polished GUI will bounce; the appeal is the command line. Recent Google Play policies have complicated updates, so Aptoide and F-Droid are often the cleaner install path.
Pricing:
- Free, open-source.
Platforms: Android.
Bottom line: The on-device Linux that lets your phone keep up with the Pi as a peer machine.
5. RealVNC Viewer, the graphical Pi desktop
RealVNC Viewer is the official client for the RealVNC Connect server that ships with Raspberry Pi OS. Enable VNC on the Pi from raspi-config, install RealVNC Viewer on the phone, and the Pi’s desktop renders inside the app with full mouse, keyboard, and gesture support. This is the path when a GUI tool on the Pi (a one-off script editor, a media application’s settings panel, a browser) needs interaction.
The mobile client handles biometric unlock, saved connections, and the option to route through RealVNC’s cloud relay if you do not want to manage port forwarding or a VPN.
Where it falls short: Performance over the cloud relay is fine for occasional desktop work but laggy for video or animation. Direct LAN performance is far better.
Pricing:
- Free for personal use up to five devices.
- Paid plans for teams.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Bottom line: The graphical pick for Pi desktops when SSH is not enough.
6. Printoid for OctoPrint, the 3D print server controller
Printoid for OctoPrint is the Android client for OctoPrint instances running on a Raspberry Pi controlling a 3D printer. The app handles live print monitoring, webcam streaming, slicing controls, filament management, and direct G-code sending to the print head. For the rapidly growing community of Pi-hosted 3D print farms, this is the standard Android client.
The free Lite version covers single-printer monitoring; the Premium tier unlocks multi-printer support, time-lapse capture, automation rules, and plugin integration. The deep OctoPrint plugin compatibility is the real differentiator.
Where it falls short: Only useful if you actually run OctoPrint. Print monitoring on a phone screen is small even at the largest layout.
Pricing:
- Free Lite version.
- Premium one-time upgrade unlocks multi-printer and advanced features.
Platforms: Android.
Bottom line: Required for Pi-hosted OctoPrint setups. Lite is enough for a single printer; Premium pays off across multiple machines.
7. MQTT Dash, the IoT sensor and switch dashboard
MQTT Dash turns the phone into a dashboard for MQTT brokers, which is the most common protocol for IoT sensors and switches in homelab setups. A Pi running Mosquitto (the open-source MQTT broker) becomes the hub for temperature sensors, motion detectors, smart switches, and any DIY ESP8266 device. MQTT Dash subscribes to topics and surfaces the data as widgets on a customisable dashboard.
For a homelab built on the Pi-plus-microcontroller pattern, MQTT Dash gives a phone-native control surface without needing the heavier Home Assistant layer. Widgets cover toggles, sliders, gauges, history charts, and text values.
Where it falls short: Setup requires understanding MQTT topics and JSON payload structures. Steeper learning curve than a Home Assistant dashboard.
Pricing:
- Free.
Platforms: Android.
Bottom line: The lean alternative to Home Assistant for Pi-hosted IoT setups. Pair it with a Mosquitto broker on the Pi.
How to pick the right one
Pick the app by the Pi’s role.
- If the Pi runs Home Assistant, the official companion app is the first install.
- For terminal work and SSH across multiple Pi devices, Termius is the polished pick; JuiceSSH is the free customisable choice.
- For running Linux tooling directly on the phone alongside the Pi, Termux is the unique answer.
- For graphical desktop control of the Pi, RealVNC Viewer is the official path.
- For an OctoPrint-hosted 3D printer, Printoid is the canonical client.
- For IoT sensor and switch control over MQTT, MQTT Dash is the lean dashboard.
- For a full homelab setup, stack Home Assistant for automations, Termius for shell work, and RealVNC Viewer for the rare GUI tasks.
FAQ
What is the best free SSH app for Raspberry Pi on Android?
JuiceSSH is the best free SSH client because the free tier covers nearly all everyday Pi use cases including saved hosts, function-key bar, and colour customisation. Termux is free and includes its own SSH client alongside a complete Linux environment, which is useful for power users.
How do I access my Raspberry Pi from outside my home network?
The safest options are a self-hosted VPN like WireGuard or Tailscale, or the Nabu Casa Cloud subscription if Home Assistant is the gateway. Avoid opening SSH ports directly on a public IP without strong key authentication and a firewall.
Can I run Home Assistant entirely from a Raspberry Pi?
Yes, Home Assistant OS runs cleanly on a Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 with 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended for larger installations). The official documentation provides a balenaEtcher image flow that takes about ten minutes from microSD to running.
What is the easiest way to install OctoPrint on a Raspberry Pi?
OctoPi (the OctoPrint distribution for Raspberry Pi) is the easiest path. Flash the OctoPi image to a microSD card with Raspberry Pi Imager, configure Wi-Fi, boot the Pi, and connect from a browser or Printoid for OctoPrint on the phone.
Is VNC or SSH better for controlling a Raspberry Pi?
SSH is faster and more secure for command-line work; VNC is necessary when a graphical interface is required. Most Pi users keep SSH as the daily driver and only enable VNC when a GUI tool needs interaction.
