Comparison

ISL Light vs NoMachine

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

Head to head
About

ISL Light

This app allows you to share your iOS device's screen for remote technical support or to control Windows, Mac, or Linux computers from your iPhone or iPad. It offers secure, real-time access and control for both receiving and providing assistance.

Highlights
  • iOS screen sharing
  • Remote computer control
  • Unattended computer access
  • Real-time screen viewing
  • AES 256-bit encryption
  • Text chat with users
Features
Read full description

Share the screen of your iPhone or iPad with a remote technician to receive technical support or use your iOS device to remotely control any Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. Receive technical support: Whenever you need help with your iPhone or iPad, just share the screen of your iOS device with your help desk technician to receive efficient remote support. Provide remote support: Provide technical assistance to remote users by connecting to any Windows, Mac or Linux computer from your iPhone or iPad. Access unattended computers: Remotely access your unattended computers from your iPhone or iPad. Just install ISL Online's remote access agent to your computer and access it remotely at any time. Features: - Real-time iOS screen sharing - Access remote computers, phones or tablets via WiFi/3G/LTE - View remote screen - Switch between multiple monitors - Automatically adjusted Screen resolution - Remotely control computer's keyboard and mouse - Use special keys such as Ctrl, Alt, Windows® and function keys - Send commands such as Ctrl+Alt+Del to remote computer - Switch between left and right mouse click - Reboot a remote computer and instantly resume the remote connection - ISSC Turbo Desktop Sharing - Text-chat with a remote user - Sessions are secured by symmetrical AES 256-bit end-to-end encryption NOTE: To receive support, you can join a session without logging in. To provide support or to access unattended computers, you will need a valid ISL Online account. About: ISL Online is one of the pioneers of the remote desktop support industry. Since 2003, ISL Online has been providing remote control software to IT professionals and help desk technicians across 100 countries, with Japan being the strongest market. Delivered via the cloud or on-premises, ISL Online software allows users to access and control any Windows, Mac or Linux computer or a mobile device to provide ad hoc technical support or to manage systems remotely.

About

NoMachine

Access your PC or Mac remotely with lightning-fast speed. Control your computer from anywhere, stream media, play games, and provide support. Seamlessly work with all your files and applications as if you were physically present.

Highlights
  • Remote PC/Mac access
  • High-speed performance
  • HD video and audio streaming
  • File transfer
  • Remote administration
  • Access behind firewalls
Read full description

Your computer, anywhere. With NoMachine, secure, fast remote access is always available no matter where you are, putting your files, documents, videos, and music right in the palm of your hand. Whether you're an individual accessing your desktop at home or an IT professional managing an entire infrastructure, NoMachine gives you instant access so you can stay connected to what matters most. The perfect travel companion, you can use it to: - Control your office and home computers remotely over any network as if you were sitting in front of them - Work with all your files, desktop applications and other programs all running on your computer elsewhere - Share and transfer files easily between devices - Manage unattended computers and provide on-the-go support to colleagues and friends - Enjoy your media, including HD movies, TV shows, and music - Play graphics-intensive games remotely with smooth performance Key features: - Connect to any computer, wherever it is - Sign in to NoMachine Network for easy remote connections - High-quality video and audio streaming - Bi-directional file transfer - Record any activity on the remote desktop - Intuitive touch and control gestures - Guest connections to share the desktop, no local account required - Remote terminal connections (from iPad) - Protect logins with 2FA through your iPhone or iPad Quick guide 1) Install this app. 2) Download NoMachine from our website and install it on the computer you want to access. 3) In the NoMachine for iOS GUI enter the IP of your computer or the Machine Id. 4) You must already have an account on the remote computer. Enter the credentials for your system account when prompted or use a guest account. 5) For more detailed instructions check the tutorial here: https://www.nomachine.com/getting-started-with-nomachine-for-ios.

Screenshots

ISL Light4 screens
NoMachine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NoMachine at 3.0 against ISL Light's 2.5. NoMachine also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (125 vs 25). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NoMachine holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NoMachine has 125 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of ISL Light's written reviews are positive against 37% of NoMachine's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ISL Light ships an update every 4 months, NoMachine every 7 months. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ISL Light versus NoMachine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterISL LightNoMachine
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (25 ratings)3.0 (125 ratings) — better
Positive reviews31.3% of reviews37.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25125 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.09.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB121 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperISL OnlineNoMachine S.à r.l.

Customer experience

ISL Light

All ratings23 ratings
Positive34.8%
Neutral4.3%
Negative60.9%
Written reviews163 reviews
Positive31.3%
Neutral2.5%
Negative66.3%

NoMachine

All ratings125 ratings
Positive46.4%
Neutral8.8%
Negative44.8%
Written reviews116 reviews
Positive37.1%
Neutral8.6%
Negative54.3%

Bugs and requests

ISL Light

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NoMachine

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App hangs and freezes on startup with iOS 16+
  • Screen display shifted to right with black bars on iPad
  • Help/intro screen misplaced and cannot be dismissed
  • App crashes when changing display resolution
  • Stored settings lost after crashes
Show 15 more
  • Magic Keyboard not recognized or working
  • Trackpad two-finger scroll not functioning
  • Keyboard input not registering properly
  • First tap on input box ignored
  • Mouse cursor lags significantly
  • Blank screen when reconnecting
  • App not compatible with M1/M2 iPad Pro
  • Username field only accepts single letter
  • External keyboard disconnection after connection
  • App covers notch and hardware elements on iPhone
  • Rotation to landscape causes black screen
  • Network auto-discovery not working
  • Connection settings not saved properly
  • Text rendering fuzzy and blurry
  • App unresponsive in portrait mode

Requested features

16 requests
  • App Store payment option instead of direct credit card
  • Full iPad Pro native resolution support
  • Magic Keyboard and external keyboard full support
  • Two-factor authentication support
  • Multi-monitor selection and switching
Show 11 more
  • Portrait orientation support on iPad
  • Bluetooth audio/AirPods support
  • Auto-discovery of machines on network
  • Stage Manager compatibility on iPad
  • Chinese language support
  • Screen keep-alive option for streaming
  • Better display scaling and 1:1 pixel resolution
  • Hardware acceleration for newer devices
  • Trackpad gesture support (two-finger click)
  • External monitor support with full resolution
  • Improved keyboard layout with configurable keys

In-app purchases

None

ISL Light

No in-app purchases

None

NoMachine

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ISL Light free?
ISL Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NoMachine free?
NoMachine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ISL Light or NoMachine?
NoMachine is rated higher. ISL Light averages 2.5 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while NoMachine averages 3.0 from 125 ratings.
Do ISL Light or NoMachine have ads?
Neither ISL Light nor NoMachine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ISL Light or NoMachine?
ISL Light ships an update every 4 months, and NoMachine every 7 months. Most recently, ISL Light was updated on October 20, 2026 and NoMachine on October 20, 2026.

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