Comparison

TouchNow Remote vs OpenSol

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

Head to head
About

TouchNow Remote

Features
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Stream your Mac to your iPhone or iPad and control it with touch — play Mac games, work remotely, or fix a family member's computer. A FULL MACBOOK KEYBOARD Esc, F1–F12, arrow keys, ⌘⌥⌃⇧ combinations and caps lock. The iOS keyboard can't send a single one of these, and they're exactly what you need when driving a Mac. Modifiers are sticky, so combos work one-handed. THREE CONTROL MODES • Game mode: fully customizable virtual gamepad + physical controller support • Trackpad mode: the whole screen becomes a precise trackpad, with a cursor loupe • Direct touch: tap exactly where you want, zero learning curve BUILT FOR PLAY • Peer-to-peer direct connection; median network round-trip time (RTT) about 8 ms on 5 GHz Wi-Fi • 1080p 60fps streaming, HEVC encoding, adaptive jitter buffer • Auto-reconnect, keys never get stuck, controllers switch in automatically MORE • An illustrated guide on first launch, reopenable any time from Settings • Single-app window streaming: put just one Mac window on your phone while the Mac screen carries on • Use your iPhone or iPad as a second display for your Mac — and touch it • Picture in Picture + Live Activity on the Lock Screen • Clipboard sync, audio streaming, Wake-on-LAN, multi-display switching PRIVATE BY DESIGN • End-to-end encrypted: peer-to-peer when possible, relayed only when a direct connection is impossible — and the relay cannot see your screen • QR / PIN encrypted pairing, end-to-end encryption, allowlist-only connections • While being controlled, the Mac shows a persistent red banner and keeps a full connection history • No account, no tracking, no cloud recording PRICING Everything is free forever on your local network (same Wi-Fi). The only paid item is the Remote Access subscription (monthly or yearly), needed only when you're away and want to reach your Mac. Features that are free today will never move behind the paywall. GETTING STARTED The Mac you want to control needs the free TouchNow Host (macOS 13 or later), from touchmac.app — it is not on the Mac App Store. Install it, scan the QR code once, and you're paired. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

OpenSol

Experience a classic 8080 computer emulator inspired by the Sol-20 Terminal Computer. Interact with original firmware, customize display effects, and enjoy an immersive terminal experience. This independently developed app offers a unique retro computing simulation.

Highlights
  • Intel 8080 interpreter
  • Original OpenSol firmware
  • Sol Command Monitor
  • Customizable display effects (CRT, phosphor)
  • Full-screen immersive mode
  • External keyboard and controller support
  • Virtual cassette tools
Features
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OpenSol is an independently developed Intel 8080 computer emulator inspired by the Processor Technology Sol-20 Terminal Computer. Explore a 64-by-16 character display, type directly into the original OpenSol firmware, and use the built-in Sol Command Monitor. Choose white, green, amber, or red phosphor; switch between a sharp flat display and period-inspired CRT effects; and use full-screen mode for an immersive terminal experience. OpenSol includes: • A complete independently written Intel 8080 interpreter • Original OpenSol firmware and Sol Command Monitor • iPhone, iPad, and Mac interfaces • Direct typing, touch input, external keyboards, and compatible game controllers • User-selected ENT and raw-binary file import • Private on-device Recent Programs and session restoration • Experimental virtual cassette and USB-audio cassette tools OpenSol includes no SOLOS ROM, vintage applications, download catalog, advertising, analytics, tracking, accounts, or network service. Users provide their own lawfully obtained compatible files. OpenSol is not affiliated with or endorsed by Processor Technology Corporation or any successor rights holder. Historical product names are used only to describe compatibility and historical context.

Screenshots

TouchNow Remote4 screens
OpenSol3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenSol at none against TouchNow Remote's 2. TouchNow Remote's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). 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. TouchNow Remote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. OpenSol asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TouchNow Remote ships an update every 3 days, OpenSol every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
TouchNow Remote versus OpenSol: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTouchNow RemoteOpenSol
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPo hin MaJordan Ruderman

In-app purchases

2 purchases

TouchNow Remote

Subscriptions2
  • 遠端連線$2.991 Month
  • 遠端連線$19.991 Year
None

OpenSol

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TouchNow Remote free?
TouchNow Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenSol free?
OpenSol is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TouchNow Remote or OpenSol have ads?
Neither TouchNow Remote nor OpenSol shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TouchNow Remote or OpenSol?
TouchNow Remote ships an update every 3 days, and OpenSol every 8 days. Most recently, TouchNow Remote was updated on November 6, 2026 and OpenSol on October 31, 2026.

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