VpsPilot

VpsPilot is an Android app for administering Linux virtual private servers over direct SSH. It combines a mobile-friendly terminal with guided workflows for jobs such as initial setup, system updates, backups, service management, Docker operations, deployments, and security checks. The idea is to make short server interventions practical from a phone without hiding what happens on the machine. It is built for people who run their own websites, APIs, containers, or databases and occasionally need to respond while they are away from a laptop. Server transfer and migration workflows are also included for moving a workload rather than only maintaining it in place.

The terminal is designed around the awkward parts of using SSH on a phone. A key row adds Esc, Ctrl, Alt, Tab, arrow keys, Home, and End, so familiar actions such as stopping a process or searching shell history don't depend on a mobile keyboard layout. Multiple servers can remain open at once. When a task is better expressed as a repeatable procedure, guided workflows cover updates, firewall configuration, SSH hardening, and other setup work. VpsPilot shows every command before it runs, keeping the user involved rather than turning server changes into an opaque button press. This review step is especially useful on a small screen, where a mistyped command is harder to spot.

For files and recovery, the app includes SFTP browsing and an editor that retains the previous version when a change is saved. It can back up files and databases, retain a chosen number of copies, and restore data onto a fresh server. Scheduled jobs run on the server itself, so they continue when the phone is off, and failures can reach the phone as notifications. Snippets turn frequently used commands into one-tap actions with values filled in at run time. A history records runs, while snapshots taken before supported changes provide an Undo path if a configuration edit causes trouble. Backup scheduling happens on the server, which means protection doesn't depend on the Android app staying open or the handset remaining connected.

VpsPilot also covers common application operations. It can start and stop Docker containers, read container logs, and work with systemd services. Git deployment support connects an account, lets the user choose a repository, then pulls, builds, and restarts the application. Port forwarding is available for reaching services through SSH. A security check reviews open ports, SSH settings, updates, and failed logins, with guided fixes for detected issues. Long-running actions can continue after the user leaves the screen, and the app asks for confirmation before risky steps. A Running now view tracks active work so leaving a screen doesn't make an operation disappear from view.

The security model keeps the management connection between the phone and the server. Private SSH keys remain on the device and are protected by Android Keystore, with the app designed so those keys can't be exported. Saved tokens and other secrets are encrypted locally and sent to the server without placing them in the command line or shell history. The product says it has no account, advertising, or tracking, and it collects no data. An encrypted export can move servers, snippets, and recipes to a new phone without relying on a hosted VpsPilot account. That export and import path also lets a user preserve app configuration when changing Android devices.

The app supports Debian, Ubuntu, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux servers that can be reached over SSH. That makes it a practical fit for solo developers, self-hosters, and small operators with a handful of conventional Linux VPS instances. It can help restart a failed container, inspect logs, apply a vetted update, restore a backup, or deploy a small project while away from a desk. It isn't positioned as a fleet control plane for a large operations team. Its strength is turning the repeated work of personal server administration into readable mobile steps while keeping a real terminal nearby.

What separates VpsPilot from a generic Android SSH client is the combination of reviewable workflows and recovery features. A plain terminal provides full control but doesn't automatically preserve a configuration before an edit or remind the user to validate a service. VpsPilot builds those safer habits into supported jobs and still exposes the commands for inspection. Access begins with a 14-day free trial, after which the published price is $2.99 per month or $19.99 per year. There is no ongoing free plan listed, and the product is Android only, so people who need iPhone access or centralized team management will need a different option.