# Screens 5 vs Shwidget

The clearest difference is rating: Screens 5 at 4.5 against Shwidget's 3.4. Screens 5 also leads on ratings volume (590 vs 5) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Shwidget sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

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 590 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 49% and 50% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screens 5 | Shwidget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (590 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews)** | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shwidget/id6466997335/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **590** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 69 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Edovia Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284606519) | [Appsipaja Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/462383203) |

## What reviewers say

### Screens 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912)

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:** Family Sharing, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.49 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Family Upgrade | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent remote access
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure SSH-based remote control
- 👍 Native to Apple ecosystem
- 🚀 High-quality remote desktop rendering

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable connection and frequent disconnections
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Requires complex networking setup (port forwarding, Tailscale)
- 🐛 Issues with full-screen mode and window management
- 🐛 Telemetry and analytics cannot be disabled

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to delete auto-saved nearby devices
- Inconsistent behavior when editing device configurations
- Screens Connect failing to work reliably

**Requested features**

- Ability to block remote input while keeping remote desktop visible
- File transfer between Mac and iOS/iPadOS
- Upgrade pricing for existing users


### Shwidget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shwidget/id6466997335)

Display your Google Sheets data directly on your iOS device's Home or Lock Screen. Monitor key values and KPIs automatically without needing to open the Sheets app.

**Highlights:** Display Google Sheets data in widgets, Automatic widget updates, Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, No account required, Privacy-friendly data handling, Easy setup with Sheet and Cell IDs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly payment | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly payment | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screens 5 free?

Screens 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shwidget free?

Shwidget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Screens 5 or Shwidget?

Screens 5 is rated higher. Screens 5 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 590 ratings, while Shwidget averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Screens 5 or Shwidget have ads?

Neither Screens 5 nor Shwidget shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screens 5 or Shwidget?

Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, and Shwidget fortnightly. Most recently, Screens 5 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Shwidget on October 23, 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.*