# Serial Control vs Screens 5

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Screens 5 at 49% against Serial Control's 0%. Screens 5 also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). Serial Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Serial Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

Serial Control ships an update every 5 weeks, Screens 5 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Serial Control | Screens 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (597 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **597** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **49.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [StarTech.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/983360067) | [Edovia Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284606519) |

## What reviewers say

### Serial Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/serial-control/id1126359830)

Create custom interfaces for serial devices from your smartphone or tablet. Design control pages with buttons and sliders, build command libraries, and automate actions based on device responses. Seamlessly integrate with StarTech.com serial products.

**Highlights:** Customizable control interfaces, Command library builder, Event-based action automation, Automatic device detection, Integrated account control, HEX and ASCII command editor

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Screens 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912)

Access your Mac, Windows, Linux, or Raspberry Pi computers remotely from your Apple devices. Offers fast, secure, and reliable desktop access for work, travel, or helping others. Integrates with modern workflows and system features for seamless control.

**Highlights:** Remote access to Mac, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Fast and secure VNC connections, Curtain Mode for private sessions, SSH connections and key support, Clipboard and file transfer, Multi-display support, Siri and Shortcuts integration

**Features:** Family Sharing, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.49 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Family Upgrade | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent remote access
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure SSH-based remote control
- 👍 Native to Apple ecosystem
- 🚀 High-quality remote desktop rendering

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable connection and frequent disconnections
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Requires complex networking setup (port forwarding, Tailscale)
- 🐛 Issues with full-screen mode and window management
- 🐛 Telemetry and analytics cannot be disabled

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to delete auto-saved nearby devices
- Inconsistent behavior when editing device configurations
- Screens Connect failing to work reliably

**Requested features**

- Ability to block remote input while keeping remote desktop visible
- File transfer between Mac and iOS/iPadOS
- Upgrade pricing for existing users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Serial Control free?

Serial Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Screens 5 free?

Screens 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Serial Control or Screens 5 have ads?

Neither Serial Control nor Screens 5 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Serial Control or Screens 5?

Serial Control ships an update every 5 weeks, and Screens 5 fortnightly. Most recently, Serial Control was updated on November 2, 2026 and Screens 5 on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*