Shelly vs InsForge
Side-by-side comparison of features, pros & cons, pricing, and community votes (2026).
🏆 InsForge leads with 645 upvotes
Run OpenAI Codex CLI natively on Android
Shelly is an innovative open-source tool that enables users to run the OpenAI Codex CLI natively on Android devices without the need for a PC, Termux, or proot environments. Its seamless integration pairs a real native terminal with an Agent Chat interface that reads Codex output in real-time, allowing users to execute fixes with a single tap. Additionally, Shelly features a home-screen Scouter widget that displays quota, cost, and rate limits, and provides quick access to prompt firing directly from the home screen. Supporting local Large Language Models like Qwen3.5 and llama.cpp, it offers flexibility for offline and on-device AI processing. Built entirely through AI agents, Shelly emphasizes automation and ease of use, making AI-powered coding and prompt management accessible on Android devices. Its open-source GPLv3 license fosters transparency and community-driven improvements, making it a compelling choice for developers and AI enthusiasts seeking a portable, powerful, and customizable solution.
Pros
- Runs OpenAI Codex CLI natively on Android without external dependencies
- Supports local LLMs like Qwen3.5 and llama.cpp for offline use
- Intuitive Agent Chat interface with live Codex output reading and fix execution
- Home screen widget for quick prompt access, quota, and cost monitoring
- Open source GPLv3 license encourages community collaboration and customization
Cons
- Limited to users comfortable with command-line and AI agent configurations
- Potential learning curve for those unfamiliar with terminal or LLMs
- Features and stability may vary as an open-source project still evolving
Best for
- • Running and testing OpenAI Codex CLI commands directly on Android devices
- • Automating code fixes and prompt execution via the Agent Chat interface
- • Monitoring API quotas, costs, and rate limits from the home screen widget
- • Using local LLMs for offline or privacy-sensitive AI coding tasks
Pricing: Open source and free to use under GPLv3 license; no paid plans are specified, though community contributions may enhance features.
Give agents everything they need to ship fullstack apps
InsForge is an innovative open-source backend platform designed specifically for agentic development, enabling AI agents to build, deploy, and scale fullstack applications with ease. Its comprehensive suite includes databases, authentication, storage, model gateways, and edge functions, all accessible through a semantic layer that makes complex backend operations understandable and operable by AI agents. Whether deploying on InsForge Cloud or your own domain, developers can rapidly create robust, scalable apps with minimal friction. What sets InsForge apart is its focus on empowering AI-driven development workflows, making it ideal for teams leveraging AI agents to automate app creation, testing, and deployment. Its open-source nature, combined with a growing community (2.3K GitHub stars), ensures flexibility and continuous improvement, making it a compelling choice for innovative developers and organizations exploring agent-based app development.
Pros
- Open source backend with active community support
- Semantic layer simplifies backend operations for AI agents
- Comprehensive features including databases, auth, storage, and edge functions
- Flexible deployment options to InsForge Cloud or own domain
- Designed specifically for agentic development workflows
Cons
- Relatively new with a smaller user base compared to mainstream platforms
- May require technical expertise to set up and optimize
- Limited out-of-the-box integrations with third-party tools
Best for
- • Building fullstack applications driven by AI agents
- • Automating app deployment and scaling processes
- • Rapid prototyping of agent-controlled apps
- • Creating scalable backend services for AI-powered platforms
Pricing: Likely free and open source, with optional paid hosting on InsForge Cloud or custom deployment options; specific pricing details are not publicly specified.