# RustDesk Remote Desktop vs LocalSend

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RustDesk Remote Desktop at none against LocalSend's 4. LocalSend's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (81% vs 59%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

LocalSend holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LocalSend has 661 ratings behind it against 77, 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 81% of LocalSend's.

RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, LocalSend every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RustDesk Remote Desktop | LocalSend |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rustdesk-remote-desktop/id1581225015/reviews) | **[4.5 (661 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localsend/id1661733229/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 77 | **661** |
| Positive reviews | 59.4% of reviews | **81.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#102** |
| Size | 69 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Purslane Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/666983468) | [Tien Do Nam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552589563) |

## What reviewers say

### RustDesk Remote Desktop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rustdesk-remote-desktop/id1581225015)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### LocalSend

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localsend/id1661733229)

**Currently charting:** #102 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LocalSend Donation | $5.00 | one-time |
| LocalSend Donation | $10.00 | one-time |
| LocalSend Donation | $20.00 | one-time |
| LocalSend Donation | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


## Frequently asked 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 4.2 out of 5 from 77 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 October 15, 2026 and LocalSend on October 17, 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.*