# NativeScript Preview vs Screens 5

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NativeScript Preview at none against Screens 5's 6. NativeScript Preview also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). Screens 5's advantage is review sentiment (49% vs 19%) and ratings volume (541 vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. NativeScript Preview asks for nothing beyond the download.

NativeScript Preview holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screens 5 has 541 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of NativeScript Preview's written reviews are positive against 49% of Screens 5's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NativeScript Preview ships an update every 3 weeks, Screens 5 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NativeScript Preview | Screens 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nativescript-preview/id1264484702/reviews)** | [4.5 (541 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **541** |
| Positive reviews | 19.4% of reviews | **49.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 151 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [nStudio LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1334290003) | [Edovia Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284606519) |

## What reviewers say

### NativeScript Preview

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nativescript-preview/id1264484702)

Instantly preview your NativeScript projects directly on your mobile device. See your native UI elements, from buttons to complex 2D/3D canvas renderings, come to life as you develop.

**Highlights:** Live preview on device, Native UI element rendering, 2D canvas rendering, 3D canvas rendering, Cross-platform development tool

**In-app purchases:** none


### Screens 5

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

Access and control your Mac, Windows, Linux, or Raspberry Pi computers remotely from any device. Enjoy fast, secure connections with features like privacy masking, multi-display support, and file transfer.

**Highlights:** Remote computer access, Secure connections, Multi-display support, Clipboard sharing, File transfer, Privacy masking (Curtain Mode)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.49 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Family Upgrade | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $179.99 | 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 NativeScript Preview free?

NativeScript Preview is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Screens 5 free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NativeScript Preview or Screens 5?

NativeScript Preview is rated higher. NativeScript Preview averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Screens 5 averages 4.5 from 541 ratings.

### Do NativeScript Preview or Screens 5 have ads?

Neither NativeScript Preview nor Screens 5 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NativeScript Preview or Screens 5?

NativeScript Preview ships an update every 3 weeks, and Screens 5 fortnightly. Most recently, NativeScript Preview was updated on June 9, 2026 and Screens 5 on September 22, 2026.

---

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