Comparison

Backblaze vs Screens 5

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

Head to head
About

Backblaze

Access and manage your cloud-backed-up files directly from your iOS device. Download, preview, and share files securely, with support for Face ID login. Keep your important data readily available wherever you go.

Highlights
  • Access backed-up files
  • Manage cloud storage
  • Face ID login
  • Search and download files
  • Image thumbnail previews
  • Share files
Read full description

Backblaze Mobile for iOS is a free app to view, download, and share files you have backed up to your Backblaze Personal Backup account. Easily access your files from devices running iOS 15+. Features: * Access files backed up to Backblaze Personal Backup * Manage buckets and files in Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage * Face ID access supported for login * Search for specific files and download to your iOS device * Thumbnail preview of downloaded image files * Share files via text, email, etc About Backblaze: * Founded in 2007 * 2.2+ Exabytes of customer data under storage * Recommended by About.com, The Verge, Lifehacker, re/code, Macworld... and hundreds of thousands of customers across over 175 countries "You will sleep so much better knowing you have Backblaze." - John Gruber "I've used other online backup, Backblaze is my favorite." - Marco Arment "I like and can recommend Backblaze." - Walt Mossberg

About

Screens 5

Access your Mac, Windows, Linux, or Raspberry Pi computers remotely from your Apple devices. Offers fast, secure, and reliable desktop access for work, travel, or helping others. Integrates with modern workflows and system features for seamless control.

Highlights
  • Remote access to Mac, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi
  • Fast and secure VNC connections
  • Curtain Mode for private sessions
  • SSH connections and key support
  • Clipboard and file transfer
  • Multi-display support
  • Siri and Shortcuts integration
Features
Read full description

Access your computers from anywhere. Screens lets you remotely access your Mac, Windows PC, Linux PC, or Raspberry Pi from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Vision Pro. Whether you’re connecting to a remote workstation, a headless Mac mini, or helping friends and family, Screens delivers fast, secure, and reliable remote desktop access wherever you are. REMOTE ACCESS FROM ANYWHERE Remote access is built right into Screens on Mac. For older Macs and Windows PCs, install Screens Connect to easily set up remote access over the internet. Need to connect to Linux or Raspberry Pi? Screens also integrates with Tailscale for secure, hassle-free connections. FAST, SECURE REMOTE DESKTOP ACCESS Screens is optimized for responsive remote control with support for: • Curtain Mode for private remote sessions on Mac • SSH connections and SSH keys • Secure password storage and quick logins • Observe or control remote computers • Adaptive and Full display quality BUILT FOR MODERN REMOTE WORKFLOWS Use Screens to: • Access remote Macs, PCs, Linux systems, and Raspberry Pi devices • Connect to headless Mac mini setups and remote workstations • Monitor long-running tasks from anywhere • Help friends, family, or coworkers remotely • Access your computers while traveling or away from home DO MORE WITH SCREENS Take advantage of powerful system features across iPhone and iPad: • Connect using Siri, Shortcuts, and Spotlight • Quickly connect to saved computers from widgets • Use external keyboards, mice, and trackpads • Use Apple Pencil on iPad • Display your remote computer on an external display with AirPlay POWERFUL FEATURES • Multi-display support • Clipboard sharing • File transfer between iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro and Mac • Customizable connection settings for individual computers • Dictation support for remote text input • Session selection on Mac • iCloud synchronization • Full URL Schemes support • Touch ID, Face ID, Apple Watch, and password protection COMPATIBILITY • Connect from iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro • Connect to Mac, Windows PC, Linux PC, and Raspberry Pi • Screens Connect is built into Screens for Mac on macOS 14.6 or later • Standalone Screens Connect is available for Macs running macOS 10.13 or later and PCs running Windows 10 or later • Clipboard sharing on Windows and Linux supports text only • Sound transmission is not supported due to VNC protocol limitations • Screens does not support connections to iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro devices Screens gives you secure, reliable access to your computers anytime, anywhere. Privacy Policy: https://screens.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://screens.app/terms

Screenshots

Backblaze4 screens
Screens 54 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Screens 5 at 4.5 against Backblaze's 2.7. Screens 5 also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (590 vs 38). Backblaze's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, 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. Screens 5 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Backblaze asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screens 5 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screens 5 has 590 ratings behind it against 38, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Backblaze's written reviews are positive against 49% of Screens 5's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backblaze ships an update every 2 months, Screens 5 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Backblaze versus Screens 5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackblazeScreens 5
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (38 ratings)4.5 (590 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.6% of reviews49.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings38590 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBackblazeEdovia Inc.

Customer experience

Backblaze

All ratings27 ratings
Positive40.7%
Neutral7.4%
Negative51.9%
Written reviews237 reviews
Positive34.6%
Neutral13.5%
Negative51.9%

Screens 5

All ratings590 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews313 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral8.3%
Negative42.5%

User reviews

Backblaze

From 38 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and easy access
  • 💡 Remote downloading
  • 👍 Secure backup access

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes, bugs, and reliability issues
  • 👎 Clunky, slow, and unintuitive UI
  • 🔒 Authentication and login problems
  • 📤 Limited file download capabilities

Screens 5

From 590 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent remote access
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🔒 Secure SSH-based remote control
  • 👍 Native to Apple ecosystem
  • 🚀 High-quality remote desktop rendering

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable connection and frequent disconnections
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔒 Requires complex networking setup (port forwarding, Tailscale)
  • 🐛 Issues with full-screen mode and window management
  • 🐛 Telemetry and analytics cannot be disabled

Bugs and requests

Backblaze

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on launch or login
  • Inconsistent performance and connectivity
  • Unreliable file downloads and restoration

Requested features

4 requests
  • Thumbnails and previews for media files
  • Ability to manage backups and buckets
  • Improved search and sorting options
  • Sync and upload capabilities from mobile

Screens 5

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to delete auto-saved nearby devices
  • Inconsistent behavior when editing device configurations
  • Screens Connect failing to work reliably

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to block remote input while keeping remote desktop visible
  • File transfer between Mac and iOS/iPadOS
  • Upgrade pricing for existing users

In-app purchases

None

Backblaze

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Screens 5

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.491 Year
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Family UpgradeFree
  • Lifetime2 variants$199.99

Questions

Is Backblaze free?
Backblaze is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Screens 5 free?
Screens 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backblaze or Screens 5?
Screens 5 is rated higher. Backblaze averages 2.7 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Screens 5 averages 4.5 from 590 ratings.
Do Backblaze or Screens 5 have ads?
Neither Backblaze nor Screens 5 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backblaze or Screens 5?
Backblaze ships an update every 2 months, and Screens 5 fortnightly. Most recently, Backblaze was updated on October 23, 2026 and Screens 5 on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons