AirDesk vs PocketVNC

AirDesk lets you connect to your Mac from iPhone, iPad, or another Mac on your local network. Start sharing on the Mac, then use the client app to view the screen and control keyboard, mouse, scrolling, zoom, and connection modes. AirDesk is designed for quick personal remote desktop sessions with local discovery, pairing codes, clear permission checks, and a simple menu bar companion. For compatibility, AirDesk can also connect to existing VNC or macOS Screen Sharing setups when you choose that mode. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ For AirDesk Mac control, install the free Mac companion from https://hellox.ca/products/airdesk/.

PocketVNC turns your iPhone or iPad into a remote control for any computer running a VNC server — your Mac, a Windows PC, a Linux box, or a Raspberry Pi. Connect over your home network or the internet and see your desktop live, with smooth pinch-to-zoom, precise touch, and a proper keyboard with modifier and function keys. Secure by default. PocketVNC supports encrypted connections (VeNCrypt/TLS), including certificate-based servers with trust-on-first-use verification — so you can see exactly which machine you're connecting to. Saved server passwords are stored in the iOS Keychain, never on our servers. Built for real use: • Live remote desktop with pinch-to-zoom and pan • Tap to click, long-press to right-click, two-finger scroll • Full on-screen keyboard — Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Cmd, Esc, Tab, arrows, F1–F12 • Auto-reconnect if the network drops (Pro) • ZRLE compression and quality presets for responsive control over slower links • Light, dark, and system appearance • Works with standard VNC servers: macOS Screen Sharing, TigerVNC, RealVNC, TightVNC, x11vnc, and more • VNC password and Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) authentication Free includes one saved server and up to 30 minutes of connection time every 6 hours — plenty for a quick check-in. The free tier is ad-supported: a small banner appears in the app, and an occasional full-screen ad is shown while a connection is starting — never during an active session. PocketVNC Pro (subscription) unlocks the full toolkit: • Unlimited connection time and unlimited saved servers • No ads • Saved passwords for one-tap connect • Server groups to organize your machines • Reusable saved credentials — apply one login to a server or a whole group • Wake-on-LAN — power on a sleeping computer before you connect • Auto-reconnect after a dropped connection • App Lock with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode • Colour accents and per-server quality presets • Trackpad mode — relative, laptop-style pointer control • Clipboard sync between devices Free to download. Subscribe any time (7-day free trial) for unlimited access and every Pro feature. App Subscriptions and In-App Purchases bound by Apple's Standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/