RustDesk Remote Desktop vs Phoenix Tuner X
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. 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.
- Open-source remote desktop
- Remote access and control
- TeamViewer alternative
- Self-hosting capability
- Cross-platform support
- Low input lag
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.
Phoenix Tuner X
Configure and manage CTR Electronics devices remotely. Adjust device names, IDs, and firmware. Plot and control devices, and activate advanced features.
- Manage device name, IDs, firmware
- Configure device settings
- Plot and control devices
- Activate PRO features
Read full descriptionHide full description
Welcome to Phoenix Tuner X! Tuner offers the capability to configure and manage your CTR Electronics devices from the comfort of your phone. This includes the ability to: - Manage device name, IDs, firmware version - Configure eligible device configs - Plot and control eligible devices - Activate PRO features on eligible devices
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RustDesk Remote Desktop at Free against Phoenix Tuner X's $3.99. RustDesk Remote Desktop also leads on ratings volume (102 vs 3). Phoenix Tuner X's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 6 weeks). On rating, review sentiment, 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; Phoenix Tuner X costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for RustDesk Remote Desktop against 4.0 for Phoenix Tuner X. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RustDesk Remote Desktop has 102 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of RustDesk Remote Desktop's written reviews are positive against 67% of Phoenix Tuner X's.
RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 6 weeks, Phoenix Tuner X every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RustDesk Remote Desktop | Phoenix Tuner X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 3.9 (102 ratings) | 4.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.8% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 102 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 69 MB | 229 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Purslane Limited | Cross The Road Electronics |
Customer experience
RustDesk Remote Desktop
Phoenix Tuner X
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
Phoenix Tuner X
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
RustDesk Remote Desktop
No in-app purchases
Phoenix Tuner X
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?
Is Phoenix Tuner X free?
Which has better reviews, RustDesk Remote Desktop or Phoenix Tuner X?
Do RustDesk Remote Desktop or Phoenix Tuner X have ads?
Which is updated more often, RustDesk Remote Desktop or Phoenix Tuner X?
Other comparisons
