WidgetPack vs Screens 5
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WidgetPack
Design custom widgets for your homescreen using the power of Shortcuts. Utilize built-in elements like images and text, or create unique designs from scratch. Display any information directly on your device.
- Create custom widgets
- Utilize Shortcuts integration
- Modify built-in examples
- Design from scratch
- Add images and symbols
- Apply colors and effects
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Create your own Widgets with Shortcuts. With WidgetPack you can use the power of Shortcuts to design your own widgets. Use and modify the built-in examples to get started, or create a widget from scratch and unleash your creativity. WidgetPack has many elements built-in including images, symbols, text and more. All the elements can be transformed with shadow, colors and effects to create exactly the widgets you want. Shortcuts integration means you can take any kind of information and display it on your homescreen.
Screens 5
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.
- Remote computer access
- Secure connections
- Multi-display support
- Clipboard sharing
- File transfer
- Privacy masking (Curtain Mode)
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Access your computers from anywhere. Screens lets you remotely access your Mac, Windows PC, Linux PC, or Raspberry Pi from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Vision Pro. Whether you’re connecting to a remote workstation, a headless Mac mini, or helping friends and family, Screens delivers fast, secure, and reliable remote desktop access wherever you are. REMOTE ACCESS FROM ANYWHERE Remote access is built right into Screens on Mac. For older Macs and Windows PCs, install Screens Connect to easily set up remote access over the internet. Need to connect to Linux or Raspberry Pi? Screens also integrates with Tailscale for secure, hassle-free connections. FAST, SECURE REMOTE DESKTOP ACCESS Screens is optimized for responsive remote control with support for: • Curtain Mode for private remote sessions on Mac • SSH connections and SSH keys • Secure password storage and quick logins • Observe or control remote computers • Adaptive and Full display quality BUILT FOR MODERN REMOTE WORKFLOWS Use Screens to: • Access remote Macs, PCs, Linux systems, and Raspberry Pi devices • Connect to headless Mac mini setups and remote workstations • Monitor long-running tasks from anywhere • Help friends, family, or coworkers remotely • Access your computers while traveling or away from home DO MORE WITH SCREENS Take advantage of powerful system features across iPhone and iPad: • Connect using Siri, Shortcuts, and Spotlight • Quickly connect to saved computers from widgets • Use external keyboards, mice, and trackpads • Use Apple Pencil on iPad • Display your remote computer on an external display with AirPlay POWERFUL FEATURES • Multi-display support • Clipboard sharing • File transfer between iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro and Mac • Customizable connection settings for individual computers • Dictation support for remote text input • Session selection on Mac • iCloud synchronization • Full URL Schemes support • Touch ID, Face ID, Apple Watch, and password protection COMPATIBILITY • Connect from iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro • Connect to Mac, Windows PC, Linux PC, and Raspberry Pi • Screens Connect is built into Screens for Mac on macOS 14.6 or later • Standalone Screens Connect is available for Macs running macOS 10.13 or later and PCs running Windows 10 or later • Clipboard sharing on Windows and Linux supports text only • Sound transmission is not supported due to VNC protocol limitations • Screens does not support connections to iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro devices Screens gives you secure, reliable access to your computers anytime, anywhere. Privacy Policy: https://screens.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://screens.app/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Screens 5 at Free against WidgetPack's $4.99. Screens 5 also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.4) and ratings volume (578 vs 17). WidgetPack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On review sentiment and ads 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
Screens 5 is free to download; WidgetPack costs $4.99 up front. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. WidgetPack asks for nothing beyond the download.
Screens 5 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screens 5 has 578 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of WidgetPack'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.
WidgetPack ships an update weekly, Screens 5 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WidgetPack | Screens 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.4 (17 ratings) | 4.5 (578 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 48.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 | 578 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 70 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bouke van der Bijl | Edovia Inc. |
Customer experience
WidgetPack
Screens 5
Bugs and requests
WidgetPack
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Screens 5
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to delete auto-saved nearby devices
- Inconsistent behavior when editing device configurations
- Screens Connect failing to work reliably
Requested features
3 requests- Ability to block remote input while keeping remote desktop visible
- File transfer between Mac and iOS/iPadOS
- Upgrade pricing for existing users
In-app purchases
WidgetPack
No in-app purchases
Screens 5
- Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.491 Year
- Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Lifetime Family UpgradeFree
- Lifetime2 variants$199.99









