# RealVNC Viewer vs Synology Drive

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RealVNC Viewer at 72% against Synology Drive's 33%. RealVNC Viewer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (15K vs 4.2K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 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. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15K and 4.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of RealVNC Viewer's written reviews are positive against 33% of Synology Drive's.

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Synology Drive every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RealVNC Viewer | Synology Drive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realvnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548/reviews)** | [4.5 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synology-drive/id1267275421/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 4.2K |
| Positive reviews | **72.4% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 279 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RealVNC Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/352019552) | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) |

## 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


### Synology Drive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synology-drive/id1267275421)

Access and manage files stored on your Synology NAS from your mobile device. This app allows you to view various file types, including office documents, and offers convenient file management features like syncing, searching, and sharing on the go.

**Highlights:** Access Synology NAS files on the go, View documents, spreadsheets, and slides, Sync files, Search files, Share files, Move and label files

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Secure private cloud
- 👍 Convenient remote access
- 🚀 Excellent integration with iOS Files app
- 👍 Great for photographers and mobile workers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery drain
- 👎 Unreliable sync and offline access
- 👎 Confusing and unintuitive user interface
- 🔍 Lacking search and organization features

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in with 2FA
- Sync tasks get stuck or fail
- Folders not showing content
- Incompatibility with latest iOS versions
- Duplicated files and folders after sync

**Requested features**

- Add support for offline folder sync
- Improve integration with iOS Files app
- Implement document editing capabilities
- Add option to customize file/folder naming
- Enhance audio/video playback features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RealVNC Viewer free?

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

### Is Synology Drive free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RealVNC Viewer or Synology Drive?

RealVNC Viewer is rated higher. RealVNC Viewer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Synology Drive averages 4.5 from 4.2K ratings.

### Do RealVNC Viewer or Synology Drive have ads?

Neither RealVNC Viewer nor Synology Drive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RealVNC Viewer or Synology Drive?

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Synology Drive every 3 months. Most recently, RealVNC Viewer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Synology Drive on September 25, 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.*