# Screens 5 vs WatchCTRL

The clearest difference is price: Screens 5 at Free against WatchCTRL's $2.99. Screens 5 also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). WatchCTRL's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and chart position (#184 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Screens 5 is free to download; WatchCTRL costs $2.99 up front. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. WatchCTRL asks for nothing beyond the download.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screens 5 | WatchCTRL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.5 (578 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **578** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | — | **#184** |
| Size | 70 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Edovia Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284606519) | [Nondescript Software Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811785069) |

## What reviewers say

### Screens 5

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

Access and control your Mac, Windows, Linux, or Raspberry Pi computers remotely from any device. Enjoy fast, secure connections with features like privacy masking, multi-display support, and file transfer.

**Highlights:** Remote computer access, Secure connections, Multi-display support, Clipboard sharing, File transfer, Privacy masking (Curtain Mode)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**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


### WatchCTRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watchctrl/id6759215100)

**Currently charting:** #184 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

**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 WatchCTRL free?

WatchCTRL costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Screens 5 or WatchCTRL have ads?

Neither Screens 5 nor WatchCTRL shows ads.

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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.*