# RealVNC Viewer vs Shadow PC

The clearest difference is rating: RealVNC Viewer at 4.8 against Shadow PC's 3.7. RealVNC Viewer also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 45%) and ratings volume (15K vs 1.9K). 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 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RealVNC Viewer has 15K ratings behind it against 1.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of RealVNC Viewer's written reviews are positive against 45% of Shadow PC's.

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Shadow PC every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RealVNC Viewer | Shadow PC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realvnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548/reviews)** | [3.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-pc/id1446621967/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 1.9K |
| Positive reviews | **72.4% of reviews** | 45.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [RealVNC Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/352019552) | [Blade SAS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1337702676) |

## 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


### Shadow PC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-pc/id1446621967)

Access your powerful Windows 10 PC from any device, anywhere. Stream your high-end computer with all its software and connect your peripherals. Enjoy a full PC experience on your mobile, tablet, or TV.

**Highlights:** Access full Windows 10 PC, Use on any device, Low bandwidth support, Connect peripherals, Automatic resolution scaling

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for gaming and productivity
- 🚀 Powerful cloud PC experience
- 👍 Convenient mobile access
- 👍 Smooth streaming quality
- 💡 Allows full PC experience on mobile

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues and crashes
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance
- 🔋 High data consumption
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 👎 Lack of mouse/keyboard support

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and session expiration problems
- Compatibility problems with certain devices
- Frequent disconnections and unstable connections
- Resolution and scaling issues on mobile devices

**Requested features**

- Add custom layout options for virtual controller
- Improve mouse and keyboard support
- Implement better microphone and camera integration
- Add scrolling gestures for touch controls
- Provide more storage options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RealVNC Viewer free?

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

### Is Shadow PC free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RealVNC Viewer or Shadow PC?

RealVNC Viewer is rated higher. RealVNC Viewer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Shadow PC averages 3.7 from 1.9K ratings.

### Do RealVNC Viewer or Shadow PC have ads?

Neither RealVNC Viewer nor Shadow PC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RealVNC Viewer or Shadow PC?

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Shadow PC every 6 weeks. Most recently, RealVNC Viewer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Shadow PC on September 23, 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.*