Comparison

Remote Mouse vs PLAYBULB

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

Head to head
About

Remote Mouse

Control your computer remotely using your phone or tablet. Mimics mouse, keyboard, and touchpad functions, with specialized panels for media, web browsing, and power options. Seamlessly transfer text and images across devices.

Highlights
  • Simulated mouse and touchpad
  • Wireless keyboard input
  • Cross-device clipboard
  • Media and web remote panels
  • Application switcher
  • Power options control
  • Gyro mouse functionality
Features
Read full description

Remote Mouse™ turns your mobile device into a powerful remote control app for your PC or Mac. Use your phone or tablet as a wireless mouse, keyboard, and touchpad — complete with multi-touch gestures and media controls. Whether you're watching movies, controlling a presentation, or browsing the web from your couch, Remote Mouse™ offers an effortless way to control your computer remotely. With over 20 million users and featured by CNET, Mashable, and Product Hunt, Remote Mouse™ offers one of the most elegant solutions to computer control from mobile. What you can do: Mouse • Control the cursor like a real PC mouse • Move using your phone’s gyroscope (Gyro Mouse) • Left-handed mode support Keyboard • Type remotely in any language • Use voice input (if supported by your soft keyboard) • Send system and app shortcuts • Adaptive layouts for Mac or PC • Use your phone as a remote keyboard for your computer Touchpad • Simulates Apple Magic Trackpad • Supports multi-touch gestures • Ideal wireless touchpad app for remote navigation Specialty Panels • Media Remote: Control videos, music, and presentations across apps and sites like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, VLC, Spotify, and more. • Browser Remote: Navigate Chrome, Firefox, and Opera • App Switcher: Launch and switch between apps • Power Options: Shut down, sleep, or restart remotely • Clipboard Sync: Copy and paste text/images across devices Other features • Control volume using physical phone buttons • Secure the connection with a password • Reorder specialty panels • Customize your remote with personal wallpapers Connection & Compatibility • Connect over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth • Connect by IP address, QR code, or connection history • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux Easy to set up: 1. Download and install Remote Mouse for desktop on your computer: [https://remotemouse.net](https://remotemouse.net) 2. Launch the desktop version (it runs in the background) 3. Connect your mobile device to your computer via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth

About

PLAYBULB

Transform any light fitting into a Bluetooth speaker and control both music and lighting from your iPhone or iPod. Stream audio and adjust brightness, all from your smart device.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth speaker functionality
  • App-controlled lighting
  • Adjustable brightness
  • Audio streaming
  • Easy installation in standard light fittings
Features
Read full description

Music and light - convert your boring old light fitting to a Bluetooth Speaker AND control the light from your iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 or iPod (5th generation). Play your favourite music, podcast or video sound wherever you have a light fitting nearby - bedside light, table lamp, ceiling light, the choice is yours. With MIPOW's PLAYBULB™ just turn off the power, screw out the old light bulb, screw in PLAYBULB™ and control it like a normal light, on and off from the switch. OR control it from your iPhone 5 without having to reach for the switch. Turn it on and off, dim it, brighten it, stream your audio to it like any other Bluetooth® enabled device. The associated PLAYBULB App currently runs on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPod 5th generation. Version 1.2 has basic light control and Mode functions, future releases will enhance these further.

Screenshots

Remote Mouse4 screens
PLAYBULB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Remote Mouse at 68% against PLAYBULB's 16%. Remote Mouse also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.7) and ratings volume (19K vs 25). PLAYBULB's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price and update cadence 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. Remote Mouse sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. PLAYBULB asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Remote Mouse holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Remote Mouse has 19K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Remote Mouse's written reviews are positive against 16% of PLAYBULB's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Remote Mouse versus PLAYBULB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRemote MousePLAYBULB
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (19K ratings) — better1.7 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews68.2% of reviews — better16.0% of reviews
Number of ratings19K — better25
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.06.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer耀 阮MIPOW LIMITED

Customer experience

Remote Mouse

All ratings18,691 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral3.6%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews2,166 reviews
Positive68.2%
Neutral6.9%
Negative24.9%

PLAYBULB

All ratings24 ratings
Positive12.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative83.3%
Written reviews156 reviews
Positive16.0%
Neutral7.7%
Negative76.3%

Bugs and requests

Remote Mouse

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Keyboard not working in certain apps
  • Touchpad not functioning in landscape mode
  • App freezing and crashing
  • Inability to connect via Bluetooth
  • Unexpected charges and subscription issues

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve Bluetooth connectivity
  • Allow using phone as a mouse for iPad
  • Add more customization options
  • Improve compatibility with VPNs
Show 1 more
  • Save last connected PC information

PLAYBULB

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Remote Mouse

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Membership (1 Month)7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Pro Membership (1 Year)7 Days trial$13.991 Year
One-time4
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Customize Wallpaper$1.99
  • Media Remote Panel$1.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlock Web Remote$1.99
None

PLAYBULB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Remote Mouse free?
Remote Mouse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PLAYBULB free?
PLAYBULB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Remote Mouse or PLAYBULB?
Remote Mouse is rated higher. Remote Mouse averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while PLAYBULB averages 1.7 from 25 ratings.
Do Remote Mouse or PLAYBULB have ads?
Remote Mouse shows ads; PLAYBULB does not.
Which is updated more often, Remote Mouse or PLAYBULB?
Remote Mouse ships an update monthly, and PLAYBULB monthly. Most recently, Remote Mouse was updated on October 16, 2026 and PLAYBULB on October 7, 2026.

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