Smart vs RustDesk Remote Desktop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Smart
Manage your devices and track their location history. Set up custom alerts and control device performance. Stay connected with loved ones by making calls directly from the app.
- Device management
- Location history tracking
- Performance settings
- Geo Fences setup
- Multi-device management
- Direct calling to device holder
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Smart-Locator app allows all Smart-Locator users to use this app to manage their devices for free. How to use this app With Smart-Locator app, your device is always in control. You could easily use Smart-Locator account to login and check the routing history. And set the suitable performance like data upload time interval, Geo Fences. Also, the app allows you to manage many devices under the same page. Through the app, you can stay in safe feeling on your loved ones. Not only to know where the device is, but also you can make a call to the device holder from this app to send your concern.
RustDesk Remote Desktop
This open-source application provides remote desktop access and control. It functions as an alternative to commercial remote access software, allowing users to manage their computers from a distance. Note that it only supports controlling other devices, not screen sharing or being controlled itself.
- Open-source remote desktop
- Remote access and control
- TeamViewer alternative
- Self-hosting capability
- Cross-platform support
- Low input lag
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An open-source remote desktop application. The open source TeamViewer alternative. Source code: https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk Doc: https://rustdesk.com/docs Please be reminded that this app only has the ability to control, and it does not have the functionality of being controlled or screen sharing. WARNING: YOU MAY BE BEING SCAMMED! If you are on the phone with someone you DON'T know AND TRUST who has asked you to install RustDesk, do not install and hang up immediately. They are likely a scammer trying to steal your money or other private information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: RustDesk Remote Desktop at 59% against Smart's 0%. RustDesk Remote Desktop also leads on rating (3.9 vs 2.7) and ratings volume (102 vs 3). Smart's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
RustDesk Remote Desktop holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RustDesk Remote Desktop has 102 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Smart's written reviews are positive against 59% of RustDesk Remote Desktop's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Smart | RustDesk Remote Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (3 ratings) | 3.9 (102 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 58.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 102 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 84 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Shenzhen Eview GPS Technology Co., Ltd. | Purslane Limited |
Customer experience
Smart
RustDesk Remote Desktop
Bugs and requests
Smart
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
RustDesk Remote Desktop
Reported bugs
38 issues- Recent update broke iPad mouse alignment
- No image displayed from PC (black screen)
- Remember Password function doesn't work
- Black screen when remoting into Raspberry Pi Linux server (Wayland)
- Keyboard issues when remoting from iPhone to PC
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- Cannot control Mac
- iPad app fails to connect or shows key mismatch error
- App crashes or becomes unresponsive
- Connection issues over mobile data network
- Session closes after a short period
- Key presses duplicated or not registered with external keyboard
- Settings/Preferences not preserved
- iOS language icon covers toolbar collapse icon
- Previous direct IP sessions not saved
- Enter key does not work in address bar
- Copy/Paste broken
- Latest update deleted saved connections
- App not responding after update
- Connection Error, Operation not permitted (error 1) on iOS
- Mouse overflows monitor content, preventing clicks on edges
- Double-clicking behavior in touch mouse/pad options
- App launches but window vanishes on old iPads
- Crash on app startup (v1.2.7, iOS 12.2)
- Cannot paste remote ID by holding text input
- iOS client attempting to control Android results in frozen interface
- Cannot control Windows PC typing from iPhone
- Version 1.2.7 has issues on iPad (cannot launch)
- Address book empty on Pro version
- Arrow keys do not function like a desktop keyboard
- Phone heats up during use
- Mouse pointer on desktop and iPad not lined up
- Flakey behavior with keyboard and trackpad on iPad
- Scaling displays issues on iPad
- Key mismatch error with iPad app
- Virtual machine control issues (keyboard repeats or fails to register)
- Mobile network connection issues
- Cannot connect over mobile data network
- UI icon not centered
Requested features
13 requests- Add option to view and modify USB drives in file transfer mode
- Improve mouse and keyboard control configurability
- Allow Apple Pencil to function as a mouse
- Support iPhone remote control of each other
- Add option to automatically switch display/monitor to follow remote window focus
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- Sync remote ID list by iCloud
- Improve Wayland support
- Add option to change two-finger gesture behavior (scroll vs. move canvas)
- Center remote screen when zooming
- Remap controls for mouse actions
- Integrate arrow keys with device keyboard
- Support iPhone to Android control
- Support Windows remote typing from iPhone
In-app purchases
Smart
No in-app purchases
RustDesk Remote Desktop
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Smart free?
Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?
Which has better reviews, Smart or RustDesk Remote Desktop?
Do Smart or RustDesk Remote Desktop have ads?
Which is updated more often, Smart or RustDesk Remote Desktop?
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