# Screens 5 vs TextLayer Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TextLayer Reader at none against Screens 5's 6. Screens 5's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. TextLayer Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screens 5 | TextLayer Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (541 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **541** | — |
| Positive reviews | 49.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 69 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Edovia Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284606519) | [楠楠 高](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775316807) |

## 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 | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.49 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Family Upgrade | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $179.99 | 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


### TextLayer Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textlayer-reader/id6782614765)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, 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 TextLayer Reader free?

TextLayer Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Screens 5 or TextLayer Reader have ads?

Neither Screens 5 nor TextLayer Reader 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.*