Comparison

RustDesk Remote Desktop vs LocalSend

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Open-source remote desktop
  • Remote access and control
  • TeamViewer alternative
  • Control other devices
Features
Read 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.

About

LocalSend

Securely share files offline and without the internet. This app offers fast, encrypted peer-to-peer transfers across multiple platforms, ensuring privacy and data integrity. Ideal for professionals and teams needing reliable, secure file sharing in sensitive environments.

Highlights
  • Offline file transfer over Wi-Fi/LAN
  • End-to-end TLS encryption
  • Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • No internet required
  • No tracking or data collection
  • Open-source and transparent
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

LocalSend is a secure, offline-first file transfer solution, purpose-built for professionals, teams, and organizations operating in high-trust, security-critical environments. With over 8 million downloads globally, LocalSend enables fast, encrypted peer-to-peer file sharing — without the cloud, without internet access, and without surveillance. Fully offline operation – transfer files over local Wi-Fi or LAN, no internet required End-to-end TLS encryption – full confidentiality and integrity of your data Cross-platform compatibility – available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux No tracking, no data collection, no ads Open-source & fully transparent – trusted worldwide in defense, critical infrastructure, and secure enterprise environments Designed for use cases where control, privacy, and operational integrity are non-negotiable. Ideal for deployment in corporate networks, mobile field units, temporary infrastructures, and air-gapped or connectivity-constrained environments.

Screenshots

RustDesk Remote Desktop4 screens
LocalSend4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RustDesk Remote Desktop at none against LocalSend's 4. LocalSend's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (82% vs 59%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. LocalSend sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. RustDesk Remote Desktop asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LocalSend holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LocalSend has 661 ratings behind it against 73, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of RustDesk Remote Desktop's written reviews are positive against 82% of LocalSend's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, LocalSend every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
RustDesk Remote Desktop versus LocalSend: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRustDesk Remote DesktopLocalSend
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (73 ratings)4.5 (661 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.5% of reviews81.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings73661 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#75 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPurslane LimitedTien Do Nam

Customer experience

RustDesk Remote Desktop

All ratings73 ratings
Positive75.3%
Neutral8.2%
Negative16.4%
Written reviews94 reviews
Positive58.5%
Neutral14.9%
Negative26.6%

LocalSend

All ratings661 ratings
Positive87.7%
Neutral2.7%
Negative9.5%
Written reviews629 reviews
Positive81.6%
Neutral5.1%
Negative13.4%

User reviews

RustDesk Remote Desktop

From 73 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast connection and performance
  • 🌟 Open source and free
  • 💡 Self-hosting capability
  • 👍 Easy to set up and use
  • ⚡️ Low input lag

Room to improve

  • 🔋 Phone heats up
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance on iOS/iPadOS
  • 🚫 Lacks mouse acceleration
  • 📱 Poor compatibility with older iOS versions
  • ⚠️ Some users report data collection (location, identifiers)

LocalSend

From 661 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Cross-platform file transfer
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
  • 🔒 Open-source and no ads
  • 🚀 Fast and reliable file transfers
  • 👍 Works seamlessly between devices

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional connection issues
  • 🐛 Bugs with file selection and transfer
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance across platforms
  • 🐛 Lack of a 'select all' option for media

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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

LocalSend

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes after device hibernation
  • Transferred files not appearing in device gallery
  • Inability to delete transferred files from app
  • Compatibility issues with certain OS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add a 'select all' option for media files
  • Improve file organization and management
  • Implement background/automatic file transfer
  • Add support for wired file transfers

In-app purchases

None

RustDesk Remote Desktop

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

LocalSend

One-time4
  • LocalSend Donation$5.00
  • LocalSend Donation$10.00
  • LocalSend Donation$20.00
Show 1 more
  • LocalSend Donation$50.00

Questions

Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?
RustDesk Remote Desktop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LocalSend free?
LocalSend is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RustDesk Remote Desktop or LocalSend?
LocalSend is rated higher. RustDesk Remote Desktop averages 4.1 out of 5 from 73 ratings, while LocalSend averages 4.5 from 661 ratings.
Do RustDesk Remote Desktop or LocalSend have ads?
Neither RustDesk Remote Desktop nor LocalSend shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RustDesk Remote Desktop or LocalSend?
RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, and LocalSend every 11 days. Most recently, RustDesk Remote Desktop was updated on September 29, 2026 and LocalSend on September 30, 2026.

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