Comparison

RealVNC Viewer vs DeskIn Remote Desktop

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RealVNC Viewer

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
Features
Read full description

RealVNC® Viewer from RealVNC® gives you instant remote access to your Mac, Windows and Linux computers from anywhere in the world. You can view your computer's desktop, and control its mouse and keyboard as though you were sitting down in front of it. Download RealVNC Connect to each computer you want to control. Then sign in to RealVNC Viewer on your device using your RealVNC account credentials. You'll see your computers automatically appear; simply tap to connect. RealVNC Connect password-protects each computer out-of-the-box. You may need to enter the same user name and password you use to log in to your computer. All sessions are then encrypted end-to-end. During a session, your device's touch screen serves as a trackpad to give you precise control. Drag your finger to move the remote mouse cursor and tap anywhere to left-click (other gestures such as right-click and scroll are explained in-app). As the original inventors of VNC remote access technology, we're confident you'll love what RealVNC Viewer has to offer. If you're still not convinced, check out our reviews! ===Key features=== - Connect with ease via our cloud service to computers running RealVNC Connect. - Backup and sync your connections between all your devices by signing in to RealVNC Viewer on each one. - A scrolling bar above the virtual keyboard includes advanced keys such as Command/Windows. - Support for Bluetooth keyboards. ===Contact=== We’d love to hear from you: iphone-support@realvnc.com twitter.com/RealVNC facebook.com/realvnc Better still, leave us a review!   ===Terms of Use=== https://static.realvnc.com/media/documents/RealVNCServicesTCs.pdf ===Trademarks=== RealVNC and VNC are trademarks of RealVNC Limited and are protected by trademark registrations and/or pending trademark applications in the European Union, United States of America and other jurisdictions. Protected by UK patents 2481870, 2479756; US patent 8760366; EU patent 2652951.

About

DeskIn Remote Desktop

Access and control your computers and mobile devices from anywhere with a fast, secure, and stable remote connection. Share files, provide IT support, or enjoy remote gaming with ultra-HD resolution and low latency.

Highlights
  • Cross-Platform Remote Access
  • Secure Unattended Access
  • File Transfer & Sync
  • Quick Remote IT Support
  • Screen Mirroring & Extension
  • Remote Gaming
Features
Read full description

DeskIn is a free remote desktop app delivering fast, secure, stable remote access for personal use. Control one or multiple remote devices from your iPad or iPhone with a high-performance connection. Whether you're working remotely, offering IT support, studying, designing, or helping family, DeskIn keeps you productive. A powerful alternative to Windows App, Splashtop, AnyDesk, Parsec, Moonlight, and Unified Remote. Why DeskIn? Feature-Rich Remote access, file transfer, screenshare, screen extension, real-time voice chat, mobile control, remote play, and remote support—built for both work and entertainment. Excellent Performance 4K60FPS / 2K144FPS ultra-HD resolution and 40ms latency for a smooth experience in gaming and design. Fast & Stable 12MB/s file transfer speed and a stable connection that holds up even in low-bandwidth environments. Cross-Platform Seamless access across Windows, macOS, iOS, and more. Secure & Flexible Bank-level E2E encryption, two-factor authentication, allow/block lists, and custom passwords for unattended access. What You Can Do with DeskIn • Cross-Platform Remote Access Access and control Windows 10/11 and Mac computers, plus mobile clients, from your iPhone or iPad. A full-featured alternative to Microsoft Remote Desktop and RDP. • Secure Unattended Access Set passwords for unattended access and enable privacy mode to hide remote screens—ideal for always-on mobile work and PC remote sessions. • File Transfer & Sync Transfer files between phone and PC with no format or size limits. Send documents, images, or videos, and print remote files locally. • Quick Remote IT Support Use quicksupport and quickconnect for fast IT help. Run CMD or SSH commands remotely. Offer Apple or Airdroid-style remote support. Wake-on-LAN (WOL), start, shut down, or troubleshoot systems instantly. • Remote Work & Collaboration A perfect mobile work and remote access tool. Share clipboards, annotate, and communicate during sessions. Works seamlessly with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Access, and other enterprise tools. • Screen Mirroring & Extension Cast or extend your screen to PC, Mac, tablets, or even a remote TV. The simplest screenshare and screen extension solution—no shared network required. • Mobile Control & App Remote Control mobile devices from your computer via virtual phone or app remote, turning your PC into a touchpad or remote link. • Remote Gaming Play Steam or PC games on iPhone or iPad with customizable keyboard/gamepad. Low-latency remote play with 3D game view—a powerful Parsec and Moonlight alternative. • Remote Design & Creative Work Built for designers—true-color 4:4:4 display, digital pen support, and seamless drawing tablet input. • Virtual Screens & Multi-Session Create virtual screens for multitasking or separate workspaces, extending desktop sessions beyond hardware limits. DeskIn is the best free remote desktop software for iPhone and iPad. Whether you need remote desktop control, mobile client access, remote support, or screen mirroring, DeskIn delivers it all in one app. Compatible with third-party tools like Microsoft Teams, Quick Remote, Touchpad, and Remote Link. Quick Start Guide 1 Install DeskIn on both devices. 2 Sign in and enter the remote device's ID and password. 3 You're connected—start your remote session. DeskIn is free for personal and commercial use. We also offer an advanced Enterprise Edition—visit deskin.io for more. Questions or suggestions? Contact support@deskin.io Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

RealVNC Viewer4 screens
DeskIn Remote Desktop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RealVNC Viewer at none against DeskIn Remote Desktop's 10. RealVNC Viewer also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 332) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). DeskIn Remote Desktop's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. DeskIn Remote Desktop sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. RealVNC Viewer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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 332, 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 69% of DeskIn Remote Desktop's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, DeskIn Remote Desktop every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
RealVNC Viewer versus DeskIn Remote Desktop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRealVNC ViewerDeskIn Remote Desktop
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (15K ratings) — better4.5 (332 ratings)
Positive reviews72.3% of reviews — better68.9% of reviews
Number of ratings15K — better332
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRealVNCZULER TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD.

Customer experience

RealVNC Viewer

All ratings15,340 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews1,525 reviews
Positive72.3%
Neutral7.1%
Negative20.7%

DeskIn Remote Desktop

All ratings333 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral0.3%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive68.9%
Neutral1.1%
Negative30.0%

User reviews

RealVNC Viewer

From 15K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

DeskIn Remote Desktop

From 332 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and smooth remote access
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🔒 Reliable and secure connections
  • 💡 Versatile remote desktop capabilities
  • ⚡ Lag-free performance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with iOS/iPad
  • 💰 Expensive subscription plans
  • 🔑 Unclear login/account setup process

Bugs and requests

RealVNC Viewer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

DeskIn Remote Desktop

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Sudden charges without permission
  • Crashes and freezes on certain devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Mac app support
  • Free tier with more features
  • Improved account management options

In-app purchases

None

RealVNC Viewer

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

DeskIn Remote Desktop

Subscriptions5
  • DeskIn Standard$9.991 Month
  • DeskIn Gaming Plan$24.991 Month
  • Extra Channel Add-on$34.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • DeskIn Performance Plan$39.991 Month
  • DeskIn Standard$49.991 Year
One-time5
  • Virtual Screen$3.99
  • DeskIn Standard$11.90
  • DeskIn Gaming$29.90
Show 2 more
  • Extra Channel$41.99
  • DeskIn Performance$47.90

Questions

Is RealVNC Viewer free?
RealVNC Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DeskIn Remote Desktop free?
DeskIn Remote Desktop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RealVNC Viewer or DeskIn Remote Desktop?
RealVNC Viewer is rated higher. RealVNC Viewer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while DeskIn Remote Desktop averages 4.5 from 332 ratings.
Do RealVNC Viewer or DeskIn Remote Desktop have ads?
Neither RealVNC Viewer nor DeskIn Remote Desktop shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RealVNC Viewer or DeskIn Remote Desktop?
RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and DeskIn Remote Desktop every 3 weeks. Most recently, RealVNC Viewer was updated on November 9, 2026 and DeskIn Remote Desktop on November 3, 2026.

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