Comparison

Screens 5 vs Perception

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Screens 5

Access your Mac, Windows, Linux, or Raspberry Pi computers remotely from your Apple devices. Offers fast, secure, and reliable desktop access for work, travel, or helping others. Integrates with modern workflows and system features for seamless control.

Highlights
  • Remote access to Mac, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi
  • Fast and secure VNC connections
  • Curtain Mode for private sessions
  • SSH connections and key support
  • Clipboard and file transfer
  • Multi-display support
  • Siri and Shortcuts integration
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

About

Perception

View and manage TeslaCam and Sentry Mode footage with multi-angle playback and telemetry overlays. Trim, share, and organize your video clips efficiently, keeping your data private on your devices.

Highlights
  • Multi-camera view (incl. B-Pillar)
  • Telemetry data overlays (speed, steering, etc.)
  • Event trimming and zooming
  • World Map event location
  • Seamless event import
  • Search events by location/type
  • Adjustable playback speed
Features
Read full description

Exclusive to Perception: watch all TeslaCam angles at once (incl. B-Pillar), see telemetry overlays, and import any event without importing the whole drive - optimised perfectly for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Effortlessly view, manage, trim, and share your TeslaCam & Sentry Mode footage & telemetry. Fast multi-angle playback, powerful tools - and your footage stays on your devices. Exclusive to Perception: • Watch all angles at the same time with our multi-camera view (including support for B Pillar cameras!) • View telemetry data from your TeslaCam event - including speed, steering angles, pedal presses, gears & self-driving states • Edit events with trim and zoom, and manage clips to keep only what matters • See where events happened on Perception's World Map • Seamlessly import any event you want - no need to import the entire drive! • Search events by location & event type • Scrub smoothly, with 0.25x to 5x playback speeds • Easily manage events with intuitive filtering & deletion • Import from non-USB drive sources - like TeslaUSB, NAS drives & iCloud / other cloud storage sources Perception’s Promise: • We offer the highest quality TeslaCam experience on iOS / iPadOS / macOS - you just need your TeslaCam events! • Your feedback and wishes granted - we prioritise our feature development based on your requests, and we deal with issues quickly • Your data is yours - we never take your event data, it stays on your devices only • We keep Perception up-to-date with new TeslaCam functionality, and have made regular updates since 2023. What Tesla Owners Are Saying: 5* “…Video playback is fast, and the app allows you to switch between different camera angles effortlessly. The ability to quickly scrub through footage and pinpoint specific events saves a lot of time. Additionally, the app supports high-quality video playback and doesn’t compromise on clarity. I also appreciated the option to export clips or save them for later viewing. Key feature is ability to decide resolution for export in grid mode and also able to select the section to crop out…” Perception Premium - Export & Save: Try Perception for 14 days for free: no sign-up, no commitment, no purchase required. Your trial starts automatically when you add your first event. Premium unlocks: • All export features (including Grid Export, social-friendly formats, and RAW options) • Save clips on-device for anytime access without plugging in your USB • More pro tools for sharing and archiving your footage After 14 days, Perception Premium is required to use all functionality. One-time purchases or subscriptions available - your kind support makes future updates possible and funds our team! Important to know: • USB adapter may be required (some iPhone/iPad setups need an adapter with power input). • If importing from iCloud, download the event locally first. • Certain features require car firmware updates / specific car models. Learn more: https://perception.vision Download Perception Today & Take Control of Your Footage ————————————————————————— Disclaimer: All product and company names are trademarks of their respective holders. Their use does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. We are not part of or endorsed by Tesla Inc. Subscription disclaimer: A purchase will be applied to your iTunes account on confirmation. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless canceled within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can cancel anytime from your iTunes account settings. You can manage your subscription in Settings within Perception. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited if you purchase a subscription. For more information, see https://perception.vision. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screens 54 screens
Perception4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Screens 5 at 4.5 against Perception's 3.4. Screens 5 also leads on ratings volume (608 vs 13) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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 $4.99 per month and Perception sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screens 5 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screens 5 has 608 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of Screens 5's written reviews are positive against 56% of Perception's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, Perception every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Screens 5 versus Perception: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreens 5Perception
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (608 ratings) — better3.4 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews55.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings608 — better13
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEdovia Inc.Peslo Studios LTD

Customer experience

Screens 5

All ratings590 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews313 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral8.3%
Negative42.5%

Perception

All ratings13 ratings
Positive53.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative38.5%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

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

Perception

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Screens 5

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.491 Year
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Family UpgradeFree
  • Lifetime2 variants$199.99
3 purchases

Perception

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Perception$1.991 Month
  • Yearly Perception$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Perception$59.99

Questions

Is Screens 5 free?
Screens 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Perception free?
Perception is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Screens 5 or Perception?
Screens 5 is rated higher. Screens 5 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 608 ratings, while Perception averages 3.4 from 13 ratings.
Do Screens 5 or Perception have ads?
Neither Screens 5 nor Perception shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screens 5 or Perception?
Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, and Perception every 10 days. Most recently, Screens 5 was updated on November 7, 2026 and Perception on November 3, 2026.

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