# RealVNC Viewer vs Nextcloud

The clearest difference is update cadence: Nextcloud at weekly against RealVNC Viewer's every 2 months. RealVNC Viewer's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 62%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for RealVNC Viewer against 4.7 for Nextcloud. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15K and 10K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of RealVNC Viewer's written reviews are positive against 62% of Nextcloud's.

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Nextcloud weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | RealVNC Viewer | Nextcloud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realvnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548/reviews)** | [4.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextcloud/id1125420102/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 10K |
| Positive reviews | **72.4% of reviews** | 61.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 319 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RealVNC Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/352019552) | [Nextcloud GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1296825573) |

## 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


### Nextcloud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextcloud/id1125420102)

Access, manage, and share your files and photos from your private cloud storage. Upload media to free up phone space, work on documents offline, and utilize AI assistance. Secure your data with password or FaceID protection and end-to-end encryption.

**Highlights:** Connect multiple cloud accounts, Access and share documents, Upload photos and videos, Offline file access, AI Assistant, End-to-end encryption

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and stable
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Great alternative to big cloud providers
- 👍 Useful for home/business use
- 👍 Integrates well with iOS

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Unreliable file syncing and uploads
- 👎 Inconsistent performance and responsiveness
- 👎 Limited functionality compared to web version

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to open/edit text files
- Issues with password-protected folders
- Problems with HEIC file support
- Inconsistent video playback
- Crashes on launch after updates

**Requested features**

- Improved background photo/file sync
- Better integration with iOS Files app
- Support for more file types and document editing
- Customizable sorting and organization options
- Streamlined setup and configuration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RealVNC Viewer free?

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

### Is Nextcloud free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RealVNC Viewer or Nextcloud?

RealVNC Viewer is rated higher. RealVNC Viewer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Nextcloud averages 4.7 from 10K ratings.

### Do RealVNC Viewer or Nextcloud have ads?

Neither RealVNC Viewer nor Nextcloud shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RealVNC Viewer or Nextcloud?

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Nextcloud weekly. Most recently, RealVNC Viewer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Nextcloud on September 24, 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.*