Comparison

RustDesk Remote Desktop vs Connectarr

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

Connectarr

Features
Read full description

Your self-hosted media stack, one app. Connectarr brings your existing media services together on iPhone and iPad. Manage your library, track downloads, discover titles, handle requests and keep an eye on the tools behind it all—from one native app. LIBRARY & CALENDAR Browse movies, TV shows, seasons and episodes from Sonarr and Radarr. Monitor titles, edit profiles, manage files, find missing episodes and add entire movie collections. Check upcoming releases in a day-by-day calendar. DOWNLOADS & ACTIVITY See one queue for SABnzbd, NZBGet, qBittorrent, Transmission and Synology Download Station. Pause, resume or remove jobs, review history, add supported magnet links, torrent files and NZBs from your phone, and set speed limits on supported clients. DISCOVER & REQUEST Explore movies and shows by trend, genre, actor or streaming platform, with results relevant to your country. Get suggestions inspired by your library. Add titles to Sonarr or Radarr, or request them through Overseerr or Seer. MEDIA SERVER INSIGHTS Connect Plex, Emby or Jellyfin to see what's playing, continue watching and recent additions. Open a title on your own compatible player and get additional playback insights with Tautulli. Connectarr itself is not a media player. MORE TOOLS, LESS SWITCHING Manage subtitles in Bazarr, search and maintain indexers with Prowlarr or Jackett, track Tdarr transcoding, inspect Docker containers and Portainer stacks, and check live TV and recordings in Dispatcharr. BUILT AROUND YOUR SETUP Use local, remote or VPN addresses with automatic fallback. Customize your Home and tab bar, add calendar and activity widgets, and lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID. No Connectarr account is required. EXPLORE DEMO Try the app with sample data before connecting a server. Free includes ads and lets you connect Bazarr, Overseerr and one core service. Pro unlocks all core services, media server integrations, push notifications and an ad-free experience. Ultimate adds advanced homelab tools and customization. A free trial is available for eligible Ultimate subscribers. IMPORTANT Connectarr is an independent companion for your own self-hosted services. It does not provide, host or stream media. You need your own configured servers to use live features. Some features require a paid subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

RustDesk Remote Desktop4 screens
Connectarr4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RustDesk Remote Desktop at none against Connectarr's 12. RustDesk Remote Desktop also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). Connectarr's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On price 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. Connectarr sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. RustDesk Remote Desktop asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, Connectarr every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RustDesk Remote Desktop versus Connectarr: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRustDesk Remote DesktopConnectarr
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (79 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews59.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings79 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB118 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPurslane LimitedValentin Devigne

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

Connectarr

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

RustDesk Remote Desktop

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Connectarr

Subscriptions10
  • Connectarr Pro - Tdarr$0.991 Month
  • Torrent Clients (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • Connectarr Pro - NZB Clients$1.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Connectarr Pro$2.991 Month
  • Connectarr Ultimate3 Days trial2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Connectarr Pro - Tdarr$9.991 Year
  • Torrent Clients (Yearly)$19.991 Year
  • Connectarr Pro - NZB Clients$19.991 Year
  • Connectarr Pro$24.991 Year
  • Connectarr Ultimate (YEAR)3 Days trial2 variants$49.991 Year

Questions

Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?
RustDesk Remote Desktop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Connectarr free?
Connectarr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do RustDesk Remote Desktop or Connectarr have ads?
Connectarr shows ads; RustDesk Remote Desktop does not.
Which is updated more often, RustDesk Remote Desktop or Connectarr?
RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, and Connectarr every 4 days. Most recently, RustDesk Remote Desktop was updated on October 30, 2026 and Connectarr on October 28, 2026.

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