# RealVNC Viewer vs Pythonista 3

The clearest difference is price: RealVNC Viewer at Free against Pythonista 3's $9.99. RealVNC Viewer also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 19 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Pythonista 3's advantage is chart position (#20 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

RealVNC Viewer is free to download; Pythonista 3 costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

RealVNC Viewer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RealVNC Viewer has 15K ratings behind it against 1.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 72% and 73% positive.

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Pythonista 3 every 19 months. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | RealVNC Viewer | Pythonista 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realvnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pythonista-3/id1085978097/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 1.5K |
| Positive reviews | 72.5% of reviews | **73.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 19 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#20** |
| Size | 9 MB | 853 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RealVNC Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/352019552) | [omz:software](https://appshunter.io/developer/285608316) |

## What reviewers say

### RealVNC Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realvnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548)

Access and control your Mac, Windows, or Linux computers remotely from any device. View your desktop, use your keyboard and mouse, and manage files securely with end-to-end encryption. Sync connections across all your devices for seamless access.

**Highlights:** Instant remote access to computers, Control mouse and keyboard remotely, End-to-end session encryption, Cloud service for easy connection, Backup and sync connections, Virtual keyboard with advanced keys, Bluetooth keyboard support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 🔒 Secure remote access
- 👍 Intuitive user interface
- 💡 Useful for remote work and support
- 🚀 Fast and reliable connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and connection issues
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data harvesting
- 💰 Paid subscription required for full functionality
- 🔍 Lack of mouse/trackpad support
- 🔍 Inconsistent performance on different devices

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor and screen synchronization issues
- Incompatibility with certain macOS and iOS versions
- Frequent disconnections and login problems
- Keyboard input not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add support for audio streaming
- Improve clipboard and file transfer functionality
- Provide better multi-monitor support
- Allow customization of keyboard and mouse controls
- Implement a true touch-based interface


### Pythonista 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pythonista-3/id1085978097)

**Currently charting:** #20 Top Paid · Productivity, #181 Top Paid (US App Store)

Develop and run Python 3 scripts directly on your iPad or iPhone. This complete scripting environment includes popular third-party modules and allows access to iOS features like sensors, location, and photos. Automate your device with app extensions and integrate with Shortcuts and Siri.

**Highlights:** Powerful code editor with syntax highlighting, Interactive prompt with code completion, Integrated visual debugger, Offline Python documentation, UI editor for prototyping, Share sheet and system-wide keyboard extensions, Shortcuts app integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RealVNC Viewer free?

RealVNC Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pythonista 3 free?

Pythonista 3 costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RealVNC Viewer or Pythonista 3?

RealVNC Viewer is rated higher. RealVNC Viewer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Pythonista 3 averages 4.5 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do RealVNC Viewer or Pythonista 3 have ads?

Neither RealVNC Viewer nor Pythonista 3 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RealVNC Viewer or Pythonista 3?

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Pythonista 3 every 19 months. Most recently, RealVNC Viewer was updated on October 12, 2026 and Pythonista 3 on October 12, 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.*