Comparison

RustDesk Remote Desktop vs BamBuddy

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

BamBuddy

Monitor and control your 3D printers remotely with live status updates, camera feeds, and print management. Offers advanced features like AI assistance and smart notifications for a seamless printing experience.

Highlights
  • Live printer status and camera feed
  • Remote print control (pause, resume, stop)
  • Filament and error message monitoring
  • Print statistics and history
  • Live Activity and Lock Screen widgets
  • AI Print Assistant for error codes
Features
Read full description

BamBuddy is the companion app for your self-hosted Bambuddy server. Monitor and control your Bambu Lab 3D printers from iPhone and iPad: over your local network at home, via your remote address on the go. The app switches automatically. LIVE ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN • Live Activity with progress, finish time and a pause button, also in the Dynamic Island and StandBy • Widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen, with pause and chamber light without opening the app • Chamber light and BamBuddy in Control Center and on the Action button • Ask Siri: "How's my print in BamBuddy?" MONITOR EVERYTHING LIVE • Real-time status: progress, layers, time remaining and finish time • Live camera view, with a snapshot you can share instantly • Temperatures, fans and AMS units with filament colors • Filament overview: every spool on one screen, including what's running low • HMS error messages right in view CONTROL WITH CONFIDENCE • Pause, resume or stop prints • Print speed and chamber light • Manage the queue: start, reorder, cancel • Archive with favorites and print history STATISTICS • Success rate, print hours, filament usage, cost and energy • Charts by filament type and by printer FREE AND PRO The free version controls one printer, including widgets, Siri and all the features above. BamBuddy Pro (subscription or one-time purchase, 7-day free trial) adds: • Unlimited printers: your entire print farm in one app • Live Activity and Dynamic Island for every print • AI Print Assistant: explains error codes and gives advice on failed prints, fully on-device with Apple Intelligence • AI Insights: analysis of your print statistics with practical tips • Smart notifications: print finished or failed, printer error, filament running low PRIVACY FIRST No account, no cloud, no tracking. The app only talks to your own server. Your server token is stored securely in the Keychain. Available in English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese. Requires a running Bambuddy server (open source, free). SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION BamBuddy Pro is available as a monthly subscription (EUR 1.99 per month) or an annual subscription (EUR 14.99 per year, with a 7-day free trial). There is also a one-time lifetime purchase (EUR 29.99). Prices may vary by country; the App Store shows the price in your currency. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://wemeekit.nl/privacy/bambuddy/

Screenshots

RustDesk Remote Desktop4 screens
BamBuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RustDesk Remote Desktop at 59% against BamBuddy's 0%. RustDesk Remote Desktop also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (77 vs 1). BamBuddy's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks 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. BamBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. RustDesk Remote Desktop asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BamBuddy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RustDesk Remote Desktop has 77 ratings behind it against 1, 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 BamBuddy'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, BamBuddy every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
RustDesk Remote Desktop versus BamBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRustDesk Remote DesktopBamBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (77 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings77 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPurslane LimitedWeMeekIt

Customer experience

RustDesk Remote Desktop

All ratings77 ratings
Positive77.9%
Neutral6.5%
Negative15.6%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive59.4%
Neutral14.6%
Negative26.0%

BamBuddy

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

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

BamBuddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

RustDesk Remote Desktop

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

BamBuddy

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?
RustDesk Remote Desktop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BamBuddy free?
BamBuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RustDesk Remote Desktop or BamBuddy?
BamBuddy is rated higher. RustDesk Remote Desktop averages 4.2 out of 5 from 77 ratings, while BamBuddy averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do RustDesk Remote Desktop or BamBuddy have ads?
Neither RustDesk Remote Desktop nor BamBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RustDesk Remote Desktop or BamBuddy?
RustDesk Remote Desktop ships an update every 2 months, and BamBuddy every 2 weeks. Most recently, RustDesk Remote Desktop was updated on October 15, 2026 and BamBuddy on October 16, 2026.

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