AFK Remote vs AFK
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AFK Remote
Read full descriptionHide full description
AFK is a remote desktop app that connects your iPhone to your Mac — built specifically for AI-assisted development. Modern coding is about directing AI agents, reviewing their output, and verifying results. AFK lets you do this from anywhere: your couch, your bed, or your favorite coffee shop. HOW IT WORKS 1. Install the free macOS companion app (AFK Host) 2. Pair your iPhone once 3. Connect anytime over WiFi or cellular 4. Voice-command your AI tools and watch the magic happen VOICE-FIRST DESIGN Typing prompts on a phone keyboard is painful. AFK uses push-to-talk voice input optimized for natural language instructions. Just hold, speak your command, and release. Your words go straight to Claude Code, Cursor, or any AI tool you're using. INSTANT WINDOW SWITCHING Vibe coding means jumping between apps — terminal, browser, simulator, diff viewer. AFK gives you quick-switch buttons to instantly focus the window you need. No squinting at a shrunken desktop or hunting for tiny window edges. LOW LATENCY STREAMING WebRTC peer-to-peer connection means everything feels immediate. Scrolling, tapping, voice — no lag, no stutter. Works great on WiFi and surprisingly well on cellular. YOUR REAL ENVIRONMENT This isn't a sandboxed cloud IDE. It's your actual Mac — your configs, your tools, your local databases, your running services. Everything you've set up, accessible from your pocket. WORKS WITH ANY AI TOOL • Claude Code • Cursor • GitHub Copilot • Windsurf • Aider • VS Code • Xcode • Terminal • Any app on your Mac FEATURES • Push-to-talk voice transcription • Touch-optimized virtual keyboard • Sticky modifier keys (Cmd, Option, Control) • Customizable shortcut grid • Smart window management • Paste from iOS clipboard • Gesture support • Secure device pairing • No account required REQUIREMENTS • macOS companion app (AFK Host) - free download from afk.dev • Works over any network after pairing PRIVACY AFK remote access directly and encrypted to your Mac with no servers in between. Device credentials are stored securely. Perfect for developers who want to stay productive without being chained to their desk. Code review from the couch. Run tests from the kitchen. Ship features from anywhere.
AFK
Read full descriptionHide full description
Move your AI coding sessions from desktop to phone without SSH, VPNs, or exposing your computer to the internet. AFK streams your live terminal session to your iPhone over outbound WebSockets, so it works in most restricted networks where inbound SSH or remote desktop setups are blocked. Use Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, or any terminal command on your computer. When you step away, AFK keeps the same session in your pocket so you can monitor progress, approve prompts, type replies, and steer the work from anywhere. Try AFK instantly with the free live demo, or connect your own machine in minutes. WHY DEVELOPERS USE AFK AI coding agents can work for hours, but they still need you for tool approvals, error decisions, direction changes, and quick replies. AFK keeps your agent moving without keeping you at your desk. - Start work on desktop and continue from iPhone - Watch terminal sessions live with GPU-accelerated rendering - Approve prompts and tool calls remotely - Type commands or use precision voice input - Get mobile alerts when your agent needs attention - Works without SSH, VPNs, port forwarding, or remote desktop HOW IT WORKS 1. Install the AFK CLI on your machine 2. Run your agent or terminal command with AFK 3. Open the iPhone app 4. Monitor, approve, and respond from anywhere AFK uses outbound WebSocket streaming, so your computer does not need to accept inbound connections. No router changes. No public ports. No messy network setup. BUILT FOR AI CODING WORKFLOWS AFK works with any terminal command, and is designed for modern AI-assisted development: - Claude Code - OpenAI Codex - Gemini CLI - OpenCode - Custom scripts and long-running CLI tools REAL-TIME TERMINAL STREAMING - Low-latency WebSocket streaming - GPU-accelerated terminal rendering with Metal - Full bidirectional I/O - Automatic terminal resize - Push notifications for agent activity - Smooth terminal experience on mobile SECURE BY DESIGN Your terminal data is end-to-end encrypted. The backend acts as a relay and cannot read your session contents. - End-to-end encrypted terminal streams - X25519 key exchange - AES-256-GCM encryption - TLS 1.3 for transport security FREE TO START Free: - 2 concurrent sessions - End-to-end encryption - 20 voice commands per month Pro: - Unlimited sessions - Unlimited precision voice input - Push notifications when your AI agent needs input - Priority support Start with a 7-day free Pro trial. Refer 3 friends to earn a free month of Pro. AFK is built by Thaker Innovations. Website: https://getafk.dev Support: https://getafk.dev/support Privacy Policy: https://getafk.dev/legal/privacy Terms of Service: https://getafk.dev/legal/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: AFK Remote at 3 against AFK's 1. AFK Remote also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
AFK Remote ships an update every 2 weeks, AFK fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AFK Remote | AFK |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bookhead LTD | Tapan Thaker |
In-app purchases
AFK Remote
No in-app purchases
AFK
No in-app purchases









