# Screens 5 vs Barcodes Matter

The clearest difference is price: Screens 5 at Free against Barcodes Matter's $1.99. Screens 5 also leads on ratings volume (597 vs 7). Barcodes Matter's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 49%) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Screens 5 is free to download; Barcodes Matter costs $1.99 up front. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Barcodes Matter asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barcodes Matter holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screens 5 has 597 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Screens 5's written reviews are positive against 91% of Barcodes Matter's.

Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, Barcodes Matter monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screens 5 | Barcodes Matter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (597 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews) | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcodes-matter/id6744872593/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **597** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | **90.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#145** |
| Size | 69 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Edovia Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284606519) | [Kevin Marshall](https://appshunter.io/developer/544647717) |

## 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


### Barcodes Matter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcodes-matter/id6744872593)

**Currently charting:** #145 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Organize and manage all your smart home device barcodes, including Matter and HomeKit. Scan, add, categorize, and search devices effortlessly. Syncs across devices and supports printing QR codes for easy setup.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes and QR codes, Add devices via image, scan, or NFC, Categorize devices by type and location, Search and filter devices instantly, Recognize Matter barcodes for onboarding, Sync across devices with iCloud, Print QR codes via AirPrint

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screens 5 free?

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

### Is Barcodes Matter free?

Barcodes Matter costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Screens 5 or Barcodes Matter?

Barcodes Matter is rated higher. Screens 5 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 597 ratings, while Barcodes Matter averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do Screens 5 or Barcodes Matter have ads?

Neither Screens 5 nor Barcodes Matter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screens 5 or Barcodes Matter?

Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, and Barcodes Matter monthly. Most recently, Screens 5 was updated on November 3, 2026 and Barcodes Matter on November 5, 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.*