Comparison

Screens 5 vs Maccess

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

Maccess

Control your Mac remotely from your iPhone. Manage files, control media, and even use an AI assistant to perform tasks on your computer, all through an encrypted connection. Essential features are free locally, with advanced options available via subscription.

Highlights
  • Remote trackpad and keyboard control
  • Live screen mirroring
  • AI assistant for task execution
  • File browsing and management
  • Media and volume control
  • Send files from iPhone to Mac
  • Spotlight search on Mac
Features
Read full description

Your Mac, right there in your pocket. Pause the movie playing on your Mac without leaving the couch. Grab a file off your desktop from a coffee shop across town. Ask Mackie to open your presentation before you even sit down. Maccess turns your iPhone into a remote for everything your Mac can do — pairing takes one QR code scan, and every session is end-to-end encrypted. EVERYTHING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS • Trackpad and keyboard — smooth cursor control with multi-touch gestures, plus full text input • Live screen mirroring — watch your Mac's screen on your iPhone in real time • Works anywhere — on your home Wi-Fi, or from anywhere in the world over our cloud relay • Mackie, your AI assistant — talk or type, and Mackie sees your Mac's current state and gets it done • Spotlight search — find and launch anything on your Mac in seconds • Media and volume — play, pause, skip, and adjust volume from your phone • Send to Mac — beam photos and files from your iPhone straight to your desktop • Mac Finder — browse your Mac's files right from your phone • Screenshots — capture your Mac's screen and save it to your iPhone photo library • Apps and windows — see what's open, switch apps, and manage windows • Quick actions — screenshot, mute, keep awake, wake, sleep, and lock BUILT FOR TRUST • End-to-end encrypted with X25519 + ChaCha20-Poly1305 — your keystrokes, screen, and files are never readable by our servers, on local network or over the internet • Sign in with Apple — no passwords, no separate account • Pair in seconds by scanning a QR code REQUIRES THE FREE MACCESS HELPER Maccess works together with Maccess Helper, our free companion app for your Mac. Download it at https://maccess.io/download open it on your Mac, and scan the QR code once — local control over Wi-Fi works right away. MACCESS PRO The essentials are free on your local network. Maccess Pro unlocks remote access over the internet, the Mackie assistant, screen mirroring, Send to Mac, Spotlight search, Mac Finder, Apps & Windows, multiple Macs, advanced trackpad settings, and custom accent colors. Maccess Pro is an auto-renewable subscription: $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year, each with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://www.mymaccess.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screens 54 screens
Maccess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Maccess at 100% against Screens 5's 49%. Maccess also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). Screens 5's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Maccess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, Maccess every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Screens 5 versus Maccess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreens 5Maccess
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (590 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings590 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB106 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEdovia Inc.Maira Akram

Customer experience

Screens 5

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

Maccess

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Maccess

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
2 purchases

Maccess

Subscriptions2
  • Maccess Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Maccess Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Screens 5 free?
Screens 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Maccess free?
Maccess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screens 5 or Maccess have ads?
Neither Screens 5 nor Maccess shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screens 5 or Maccess?
Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, and Maccess every 2 days. Most recently, Screens 5 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Maccess on October 28, 2026.

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