# RustDesk Remote Desktop vs Open Authenticator by Skyost

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RustDesk Remote Desktop at 59% against Open Authenticator by Skyost's 0%. RustDesk Remote Desktop also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (99 vs 12). Open Authenticator by Skyost's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Open Authenticator by Skyost sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. RustDesk Remote Desktop asks for nothing beyond the download.

Open Authenticator by Skyost holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RustDesk Remote Desktop has 99 ratings behind it against 12, 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 0% of Open Authenticator by Skyost's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 6 weeks, Open Authenticator by Skyost fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RustDesk Remote Desktop | Open Authenticator by Skyost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rustdesk-remote-desktop/id1581225015/reviews) | **[4.6 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-authenticator-by-skyost/id6479272927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **99** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **58.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 69 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Purslane Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/666983468) | [Hugo Delaunay](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456648264) |

## 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. It functions as an alternative to commercial remote access software, allowing users to manage their computers from a distance. Note that it only supports controlling other devices, not screen sharing or being controlled itself.

**Highlights:** Open-source remote desktop, Remote access and control, TeamViewer alternative, Self-hosting capability, Cross-platform support, Low input lag

**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


### Open Authenticator by Skyost

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-authenticator-by-skyost/id6479272927)

This app generates Time-Based One-Time Passwords (TOTPs) to enhance online account security through two-factor authentication. It offers cross-platform syncing, a self-hostable backend, and an intuitive interface for managing your security codes.

**Highlights:** Generates Time-Based One-Time Passwords (TOTPs), Enhances online account security with 2FA, Cross-platform token syncing, Self-hostable backend option, Fast and easy-to-use interface, Open-source and free for local use

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Contributor Plan: Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Contributor Plan: Annual | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?

RustDesk Remote Desktop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Open Authenticator by Skyost free?

Open Authenticator by Skyost is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RustDesk Remote Desktop or Open Authenticator by Skyost?

Open Authenticator by Skyost is rated higher. RustDesk Remote Desktop averages 3.9 out of 5 from 99 ratings, while Open Authenticator by Skyost averages 4.6 from 12 ratings.

### Do RustDesk Remote Desktop or Open Authenticator by Skyost have ads?

Neither RustDesk Remote Desktop nor Open Authenticator by Skyost shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RustDesk Remote Desktop or Open Authenticator by Skyost?

RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 6 weeks, and Open Authenticator by Skyost fortnightly. Most recently, RustDesk Remote Desktop was updated on November 3, 2026 and Open Authenticator by Skyost on October 30, 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.*