# Gopher Client

> Utilities

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1235310088](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1235310088)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1235310088`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Charles Childers
- **Category:** Utilities
- **Rating:** 4.40 / 5 (27 ratings)
- **Version:** 2018.8
- **Last updated:** 2018-08-22
- **First published:** 2017-06-07
- **Size:** 1.57 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-24
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gopher-client/id1235310088)

## Description

"gopher n. 1. Any of various short tailed, burrowing mammals of the family Geomyidae, of North America. 2. (Amer. colloq.) Native or inhabitant of Minnesota: the Gopher State. 3. (Amer. colloq.) One who runs errands, does odd-jobs, fetches or delivers documents for office staff. 4. (computer tech.) software following a simple protocol for burrowing through a TCP/IP internet."

- From RFC 1436 describing Gopher

Way back in the early 1990's, Gopher was a major part of the internet. Over the years it has waned, but there are still quite a few Gopher servers running.

This is is a modern Gopher browser for iOS. Built from the ground up, it lets you access the wealth of data available via Gopher from your favorite devices. 

What this offers:

- Clean, browser style user interface
- Access to Gopher servers
- Supports text files, images, directories
- Opens WWW links in Safari
- Supports Veronica-2, Contrition, and other search systems for searching the Gopherspace
- Bookmarks
- Adjustable text size & optional "reflow" of text documents for improved readability

Limitations:

- This does not support binary files other than images
- This does not support the non-standard Gopher+ extensions, or CSO selectors

## Rankings

- #225,251 — Overall

## Review summary

Gopher Client for iOS is praised as fast, lightweight, and easy to use, offering a rare mobile gateway to Gopherspace with a clean UI and bookmark support. Reviewers note its small footprint, free status, and usefulness for daily Gopher access, including image display. However, stability and navigation issues surface: pages sometimes fail to load or crash, back navigation reloads content, and there are UI limitations like notch interference, lack of landscape mode and gestures, and limited file handling. Overall, it is a strong, minimal Gopher client with some rough edges.

### Pros

- Fast and lightweight (under 2 MB) using minimal resources.
- Free and actively maintained by the developer.
- Intuitive, simple UI that makes it easy to dip into Gopherspace.
- Excellent for mobile Gopher access; one of the few reliable iOS Gopher clients.
- Supports image display and includes bookmarks for quick access.

### Cons

- Stability and loading issues: pages often fail to load, freeze, or crash.
- Back navigation reloads previously viewed posts and there is no stop feature.
- Not optimized for newer iPhone screens with notches and lacks landscape mode and gesture navigation.
- Limited file handling: can display images but cannot download other file types.
- Overall navigation can feel cumbersome and lacks advanced UX improvements such as swiping.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Gopher+](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6760845455)
- [iGopherBrowser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6474638845) — 4.70 / 5
- [Lagrange Smallnet Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1554714615) — 4.20 / 5
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- [Narrow32](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6755984760)
- [GG - Gesture Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6785942392) — 5.00 / 5
- [Goguma IRC](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6470394620) — 3.60 / 5
- [Link Gopher - extract URL](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6752015089) — 5.00 / 5
- [Agena](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6770191033)
- [deedum](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1546810946) — 4.70 / 5
- [SurlfBird](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6587562760) — 5.00 / 5
- [Git client - Working Copy](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id896694807) — 4.80 / 5

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1235310088)