# Screens 5 vs Sprinkle Smart

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sprinkle Smart at 100% against Screens 5's 49%. Sprinkle Smart also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Screens 5's advantage is ratings volume (608 vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Sprinkle Smart asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sprinkle Smart holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screens 5 has 608 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of Sprinkle Smart's.

Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, Sprinkle Smart every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screens 5 | Sprinkle Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (608 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sprinkle-smart/id6798093104/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **608** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 69 MB | 4 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) | [Pete Organics](https://appshunter.io/developer/6798093106) |

## 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


### Sprinkle Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sprinkle-smart/id6798093104)

This app monitors local weather forecasts to prevent unnecessary sprinkler use. It sends automatic notifications when rain is expected, saving water and money. An Apple Watch companion app is also available.

**Highlights:** Automatic daily forecast checks, Rain notification alerts, Multi-day outlook for rainy periods, Apple Watch app integration, Zip code based location, Ad-free and privacy focused

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screens 5 free?

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

### Is Sprinkle Smart free?

Sprinkle Smart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Screens 5 or Sprinkle Smart?

Sprinkle Smart is rated higher. Screens 5 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 608 ratings, while Sprinkle Smart averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Screens 5 or Sprinkle Smart have ads?

Neither Screens 5 nor Sprinkle Smart shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screens 5 or Sprinkle Smart?

Screens 5 ships an update fortnightly, and Sprinkle Smart every 6 weeks. Most recently, Screens 5 was updated on November 7, 2026 and Sprinkle Smart on November 10, 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.*