# RealVNC Viewer vs DeskState

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RealVNC Viewer at 72% against DeskState's 0%. RealVNC Viewer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). DeskState's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DeskState sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. RealVNC Viewer asks for nothing beyond the download.

RealVNC Viewer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RealVNC Viewer has 15K ratings behind it against 2, 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 0% of DeskState's.

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, DeskState every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RealVNC Viewer | DeskState |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realvnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deskstate/id6757682755/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **72.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 9 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [RealVNC](https://appshunter.io/developer/352019552) | [Abraham Rubio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571784493) |

## 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

**Features:** Vision Pro 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


### DeskState

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deskstate/id6757682755)

Transform your iPhone into a focused external workspace. This app creates a windowed environment on a monitor with floating panels, keyboard/mouse support, and customizable layouts. Pin favorite web panels to maintain a consistent and efficient setup.

**Highlights:** External display workspace, Floating windows, Keyboard and mouse support, Pin favorite web panels, Customizable backgrounds

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime subscription | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RealVNC Viewer free?

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

### Is DeskState free?

DeskState is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

RealVNC Viewer is rated higher. RealVNC Viewer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while DeskState averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do RealVNC Viewer or DeskState have ads?

Neither RealVNC Viewer nor DeskState shows ads.

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

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and DeskState every 4 days. Most recently, RealVNC Viewer was updated on October 29, 2026 and DeskState on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*