# RealVNC Viewer vs Thanks Bud

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RealVNC Viewer at none against Thanks Bud's 1. RealVNC Viewer also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). Thanks Bud's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 72%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Thanks Bud sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RealVNC Viewer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Thanks Bud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RealVNC Viewer has 15K ratings behind it against 3, 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 100% of Thanks Bud's.

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Thanks Bud every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RealVNC Viewer | Thanks Bud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realvnc-viewer-remote-desktop/id352019548/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thanks-bud/id6789999151/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 72.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RealVNC](https://appshunter.io/developer/352019552) | [Nikhil Daftary](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789999153) |

## 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


### Thanks Bud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thanks-bud/id6789999151)

Easily remember names and key details about people you know. Quickly search for individuals using partial information and access their details before social events. The app prioritizes privacy and stores data locally on your device.

**Highlights:** Save names and one key detail, Search with partial names and details, Organize people for events, View relationships between people, Optional phone number and email, Share people or groups, Local data storage

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Custom groups | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RealVNC Viewer free?

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

### Is Thanks Bud free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RealVNC Viewer or Thanks Bud?

Thanks Bud is rated higher. RealVNC Viewer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Thanks Bud averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do RealVNC Viewer or Thanks Bud have ads?

Neither RealVNC Viewer nor Thanks Bud shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RealVNC Viewer or Thanks Bud?

RealVNC Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Thanks Bud every 10 days. Most recently, RealVNC Viewer was updated on October 28, 2026 and Thanks Bud on October 16, 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.*