# Simple Countdowns vs Screens 5

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple Countdowns at none against Screens 5's 6. Screens 5's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Simple Countdowns ships an update every 3 months, Screens 5 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Countdowns | Screens 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (572 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **572** |
| Positive reviews | — | 49.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gabriel Verret](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480003413) | [Edovia Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284606519) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Countdowns

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-countdowns/id1571053365)

**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 | $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 Simple Countdowns free?

Simple Countdowns 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 Simple Countdowns or Screens 5 have ads?

Neither Simple Countdowns nor Screens 5 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Countdowns or Screens 5?

Simple Countdowns ships an update every 3 months, and Screens 5 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Simple Countdowns was updated on October 14, 2026 and Screens 5 on October 21, 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.*