RustDesk Remote Desktop vs atvTools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RustDesk Remote Desktop
This open-source application provides remote desktop access and control capabilities. It allows users to remotely manage their computers. Please note it only supports controlling other devices, not being controlled or screen sharing.
- Open-source remote desktop
- Remote access and control
- TeamViewer alternative
- Control other devices
Read full descriptionHide full description
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.
atvTools
Control your Android TV devices remotely from your iOS device. Install apps, manage existing ones, transfer files, and even use your phone as a remote. Offers advanced features like shell commands and system monitoring.
- Install apps remotely
- Manage TV apps (open, uninstall, disable)
- File transfer from phone to TV
- Remote control and mouse mode
- Run shell commands
- System monitoring (CPU, RAM, storage)
- Screenshot and screen recording
Read full descriptionHide full description
App developed to control your TV devices from your iOS devices. You need to have enabled USB/Network debugging on your Android device to get it work Depending on the device, some functions may not be available. Also it is not tested App allows: - Install (sideload) apps from your iOS device to your TV devices - Control your TV apps (include opening, uninstalling, disabling/enabling and downloading APK) - Control apps permissions (grant/revoke) - Build-in File Manager - Make screenshot or screenrecord (you can't capture any video content due to OS restrictions) - Send files from your phone to TV - Control your device using remote control and mouse mode in the app - Open channels on your iOS device (only Android TV 8+) - Paste text from your phone - Run Shell commands - Clear all apps cache using one button - Reboot and power TV device - See usage of CPU, RAM, network and storage - See running apps and force-stop them if needed
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RustDesk Remote Desktop at Free against atvTools's $0.99. atvTools's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and chart position (#15 vs unranked). On ratings volume, 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
RustDesk Remote Desktop is free to download; atvTools costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
atvTools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 73 and 168 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of RustDesk Remote Desktop's written reviews are positive against 69% of atvTools's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RustDesk Remote Desktop | atvTools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.1 (73 ratings) | 4.8 (168 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | 69.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 73 | 168 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #15 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Purslane Limited | Oleksandr Hamlii |
Customer experience
RustDesk Remote Desktop
atvTools
Bugs and 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
Show 33 moreShow fewer
- 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
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- 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
atvTools
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
RustDesk Remote Desktop
No in-app purchases
atvTools
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?
Is atvTools free?
Which has better reviews, RustDesk Remote Desktop or atvTools?
Do RustDesk Remote Desktop or atvTools have ads?
Which is updated more often, RustDesk Remote Desktop or atvTools?
Other comparisons
