Comparison

RustDesk Remote Desktop vs Screens 5

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

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.

Highlights
  • Remote computer access
  • Secure connections
  • Multi-display support
  • Clipboard sharing
  • File transfer
  • Privacy masking (Curtain Mode)
Features
Read full description

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

RustDesk Remote Desktop4 screens
Screens 54 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RustDesk Remote Desktop at none against Screens 5's 6. RustDesk Remote Desktop also leads on review sentiment (59% vs 49%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Screens 5's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support 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. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. RustDesk Remote Desktop asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screens 5 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screens 5 has 541 ratings behind it against 73, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of RustDesk Remote Desktop'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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, Screens 5 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
RustDesk Remote Desktop versus Screens 5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRustDesk Remote DesktopScreens 5
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (73 ratings)4.5 (541 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.5% of reviews — better49.0% of reviews
Number of ratings73541 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPurslane LimitedEdovia Inc.

Customer experience

RustDesk Remote Desktop

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

Screens 5

All ratings541 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral1.5%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews300 reviews
Positive49.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative42.7%

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)

Screens 5

From 541 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent remote access
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🔒 Secure SSH-based remote control
  • 👍 Native to Apple ecosystem
  • 🚀 High-quality remote desktop rendering

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

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

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

None

RustDesk Remote Desktop

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Screens 5

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.491 Year
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Family UpgradeFree
  • Lifetime2 variants$179.99

Questions

Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?
RustDesk Remote Desktop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Screens 5 free?
Screens 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RustDesk Remote Desktop or Screens 5?
Screens 5 is rated higher. RustDesk Remote Desktop averages 4.1 out of 5 from 73 ratings, while Screens 5 averages 4.5 from 541 ratings.
Do RustDesk Remote Desktop or Screens 5 have ads?
Neither RustDesk Remote Desktop nor Screens 5 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RustDesk Remote Desktop or Screens 5?
RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, and Screens 5 fortnightly. Most recently, RustDesk Remote Desktop was updated on August 22, 2026 and Screens 5 on September 22, 2026.

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