Rowmote Pro for Mac vs Shield Community
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rowmote Pro for Mac
Control your Mac wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Offers a multitouch trackpad, full keyboard support, and seamless control of numerous Mac applications. Ideal for media centers and presentations.
- Wireless Mac control
- Multitouch trackpad
- Full keyboard support
- App launching and switching
- Sleep and wake functionality
- Secure authentication
Read full descriptionHide full description
Rowmote Pro is the ultimate wireless remote, trackpad, and keyboard for Mac. A gorgeous universal app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, with everything from a multitouch trackpad to full extended keyboard support, and with no-configuration control of dozens of the best Mac applications, it is a must-have for any home media center or presentation! * Rated "Excellent" and one of just 400 apps featured in the WIRED App Guide 2011 * You love the remote control which came with your Mac - so simple yet elegant, with easy control of Front Row, iTunes, Quicktime, DVD Player, Keynote, and more. Or, your Mac didn’t come with a remote control or doesn’t even have an infrared port. The Apple Remote would cost a significant amount. Add ANOTHER hit to your wallet for a wireless control like a keyboard, mouse, or the Apple Magic Trackpad! You carry your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad wherever you go… so why should you carry a second device just to control your computer? Furthermore, why should you need line-of-sight to do so? Enter Rowmote Pro! Rowmote Pro is like your Mac’s remote control, but over the wireless network and even better! Trackpad and keyboard give you complete control over your computer, and you can control, launch, and quit apps, toggle the Music Visualizer, and more without ever having to squint at your screen. Rowmote is Mac-like from the ground up. FEATURES - Control your Mac completely over a wireless network. No line of sight necessary. - Works like the hardware Apple Remote Control in: • Adobe Lightroom • Airfoil Video • Amarra • Aperture • BBC iPlayer • Beamer • Boxee • Decibel • DVD Player • Ecoute • eyeTV 3.x • Firefox • Front Row • Hulu Desktop • iPhoto • iTunes • Keynote ‘08 & later • kJams Pro • Kodi • Last.fm • Logic • Microsoft Powerpoint ‘04 & later • mPlayer • Movist • Music • OpenOffice Impress • Preview • PandoraBoy • PandoraJam • PandoraOne Desktop • Photos • Plex, Plex Home Theater, & Plex Media Player • Quicktime • Rdio • Safari • Skim • Songbird • Spotify • Squire • The Tube • VLC • xbmc (Xbox Media Center) PRO CONTROL: A single tap switches to the keyboard & trackpad mode. - True multitouch: Scroll with two fingers, right click, drag, pinch to zoom, and swipe with 3 or 4 fingers. - Tap anywhere or use the virtual button - Keyboard includes extended characters, modifier keys, function keys, numeric pad, brightness control, and more - Multiple monitor support - SWITCH: Access your Mac’s Dock; launch & switch between all controllable applications on the Mac; toggle the iTunes visualizer; and more. - Sleep & wake as needed - Pause the music or video automatically when you answer a call on your iPhone - Proximity sensor support to automatically turn the screen off if the device is face-down - Secure authentication - Connect via WiFi or Bluetooth (Bluetooth requires Personal Hotspot Bluetooth tethering) REQUIREMENTS • The free Rowmote Helper program must be running on the Mac. Download at www.rowmote.com. • Apple TV: 1st gen/2nd gen only may see www.rowmote.com/atv for potential compatibility. Rowmote Pro is the only app you need to control your computer. Couple it with Apple’s free Remote app to turn your iPhone or iPod Touch into the ultimate controller for home stereo, mobile presentation, or casual video viewing. Artwork of Rowmote Pro is by Rik Schennink.
Shield Community
This security app allows users to send emergency alerts with their location to pre-selected contacts. It integrates with personal protection products for manual or automated alerts, ensuring loved ones can provide immediate assistance. PIN protection adds an extra layer of security.
- Emergency contact alerts
- Location sharing
- PIN-enabled security
- Integration with personal protection products
- Manual and automated alerts
- Text message alerts
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Shield Community app is a security network created by Damsel in Defense for individuals to be able to alert emergency contacts through a complete safety system of personal protection products. This app can be used to send a text message, using your cellular data, to your emergency contacts. PIN-enabled security ensures that no one is allowed unauthorized access in the event of an emergency. Messages are initiated manually or through a Shield-enabled personal protection product paired with your device. Not only will your loved ones be alerted to your emergency, but they will be provided your location to get help to you immediately. Shield Community from Damsel in Defense; peace of mind redefined.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Shield Community at Free against Rowmote Pro for Mac's $4.99. Rowmote Pro for Mac's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 50%) and ratings volume (106 vs 34). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Shield Community is free to download; Rowmote Pro for Mac costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Rowmote Pro for Mac against 4.3 for Shield Community. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 106 and 34 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Rowmote Pro for Mac's written reviews are positive against 50% of Shield Community's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rowmote Pro for Mac | Shield Community |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (106 ratings) | 4.3 (34 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.6% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 106 — better | 34 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.2 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Evan Schoenberg | Damsel in Defense |
Customer experience
Rowmote Pro for Mac
Shield Community
Bugs and requests
Rowmote Pro for Mac
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inconsistent connection
- Keyboard input issues
- Freezing/crashing on certain apps
- Compatibility problems with macOS updates
Requested features
5 requests- Customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Improved compatibility with newer devices
- Expanded app integrations
- Right-click functionality
- Ability to wake/sleep computer remotely
Shield Community
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Rowmote Pro for Mac
No in-app purchases
Shield Community
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Rowmote Pro for Mac free?
Is Shield Community free?
Which has better reviews, Rowmote Pro for Mac or Shield Community?
Do Rowmote Pro for Mac or Shield Community have ads?
Which is updated more often, Rowmote Pro for Mac or Shield Community?
Other comparisons















