QuickLayout vs Aurora Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
QuickLayout
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Switch your Mac's saved window workspaces from iPhone or iPad. QuickLayout gives you a touch-friendly list of Layouts on your paired Mac, with search, Apply, desktop status and Undo. A Mac running QuickLayout on the same local network is required for remote operation. Create and edit Layouts on the Mac first. This iOS app does not arrange other iPhone or iPad apps' windows. CHOOSE A WORKSPACE - Browse saved Layouts with their display profile and app/window counts. - Search by Layout name. Favorites set on the Mac appear first. - Keep a focused list on iPhone or use the wider Layout grid on iPad. APPLY AND UNDO - Tap Apply to send the selected Layout to your Mac. - See progress and the desktop's result, including partial results or errors. - Refresh the list and desktop status. - Use Undo when the Mac reports that its previous arrangement can be restored. PAIR WITH YOUR MAC - Enable Mobile remote in QuickLayout's Mac settings and keep the app open. - Find the Mac on your local network or enter its IP address manually. - Compare the six-digit code on both devices and approve pairing on the Mac. - Reconnect to saved, approved desktops. - No QuickLayout account or cloud relay is required. Paired commands use an authenticated encrypted connection. SET UP LAYOUTS ON MAC Install the bundled QuickLayout Window Bridge shortcut when prompted by the Mac app. Save the window arrangements you want to switch between. Layout capture, editing, Quick Placement and automation setup stay on the Mac; your iPhone or iPad selects and applies those saved workspaces. PREVIEW THE INTERFACE Explore demo shows sample Layouts without a Mac connection. It is a labelled interactive preview only: no desktop commands are sent. FREE AND PRO Start with a seven-day trial. Remote-control features remain available in Free after the trial, with advertising. Pro removes ads through a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Restore Purchases is available. Terms of Use: https://kakitiro.com/quickapps/quicklayout/terms/
Aurora Remote
Control your Mac or Windows PC from your iPhone. Access apps, edit files, and use custom shortcuts with intuitive touch controls and high-performance streaming.
- Connect to Mac and Windows PCs
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Intuitive mouse and touch controls
- High-performance Mac access
- Remote audio streaming
- Picture-in-Picture mode
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Your Mac, Windows PC and Andriod, right on your iPhone or iPad. Aurora Remote brings your desktop to your phone with intuitive controls, remote audio, and keyboard shortcuts tailored to the way you work. Open desktop apps, make a quick edit, or check on a task—all from your iPhone. CONNECT TO MAC AND WINDOWS • Access your Mac through macOS Screen Sharing. • Connect to Windows through its built-in Remote Desktop service (RDP), with no VNC server installation required. • Discover Mac and Windows computers on your local network, or add a computer manually using its IP address or hostname. • Save and favorite multiple computers, with separate connection settings for each device. • Store saved passwords in the iPhone Keychain. YOUR SHORTCUTS, WITHIN REACH • Create, name, edit, and reorder custom keyboard shortcuts. • Keep separate shortcut collections for Mac and Windows. • Use Command, Option, Control, and Shift on Mac, or Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and Win on Windows. • Combine modifiers with letters, numbers, function keys, arrow keys, and more. • Access your saved shortcuts from a floating shortcut wheel during a remote session. NATURAL DESKTOP CONTROL • Switch between mouse and direct-touch modes. • Click, right-click, drag, and scroll. • Enter text and use essential keys such as Return, Tab, Escape, and Delete. • Adjust mouse wheel speed to suit your workflow. • Receive text copied on your Mac through supported screen-sharing connections. HIGH-PERFORMANCE MAC ACCESS On compatible Macs, Pro adds a high-performance viewing experience: • HEVC video with H.264 fallback for compatibility. • Hardware-accelerated video decoding on iPhone. • Frame rates up to 60 FPS. • Adjustable resolution and frame rate. • HiDPI options and a desktop layout sized to fit your phone. • Remote audio from your Mac. REMOTE AUDIO AND MULTITASKING • Hear Windows desktop audio through supported RDP sessions. • Use Pro Picture in Picture to keep watching your remote desktop while using another app. • Picture in Picture is view-only; return to Aurora Remote to control your computer. MADE FOR IPHONE • Portrait and landscape support. • Dark mode. • Convenient floating controls for remote input and shortcuts. PRO OPTIONS Try Pro features for up to 15 minutes each day. Unlock continued access with a monthly subscription or a one-time purchase. Mac high-performance mode, Mac remote audio, and Picture in Picture are Pro features. Windows RDP and Windows remote audio do not require Pro. CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS Mac connections require Screen Sharing to be enabled. High-performance mode requires a compatible Mac, macOS version, and network environment. Windows connections require Remote Desktop to be enabled on Windows Pro, Enterprise, Education, or Windows Server. Windows Home cannot host built-in Remote Desktop. Sign in with your Windows account password, not your Windows Hello PIN. Windows clipboard transfer and RD Gateway are not currently supported. Use a trusted local network, VPN, or secure tunnel. Standard VNC password authentication does not encrypt the desktop session; do not expose TCP port 5900 directly to the public internet. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Aurora Remote at none against QuickLayout's shown. QuickLayout's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price 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. QuickLayout sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year and Aurora Remote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | QuickLayout | Aurora Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Fortnightly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | KAZUHIRO KAKIMOTO | 宇丰 麦 |
In-app purchases
QuickLayout
- Pro - Annual$1.991 Year
- Pro - Lifetime$6.99
Aurora Remote
- Pro Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
- Pro Lifetime Unlock$2.99









