Simple VNC vs Open Screen Sharing

Simple VNC is a small iPhone app for viewing and controlling your Mac through macOS Screen Sharing. Why I built it I started building Simple VNC while traveling in Italy. I wanted a simple way to reach my Mac from my iPhone without another monthly subscription. What began as a small tool for my trip grew as I added the features I needed along the way. It worked well for me, so I’m sharing it for others to use for free. What you can do Keep your Macs in a simple connection library. Move the pointer like a trackpad, scroll with two fingers, pinch to zoom, and type with the iPhone keyboard. Compact floating controls keep common Mac keys, editing shortcuts and app switching within reach. Connect in View Only when you just want to look. Switch back to Control when you need to interact. Send Clipboard and Get Clipboard move plain text between your iPhone and Mac when you need it. Your saved connections stay on your iPhone. Remembered passwords use the device Keychain. There is no Simple VNC account, advertising or tracking. Getting started Turn on Screen Sharing on your Mac and allow access for your Mac user. Your iPhone needs a network route to the Mac, through your local network or a private network such as Tailscale. Use a trusted private network; Simple VNC does not set up a VPN or expose your Mac to the internet. Tailscale is a separate app and service with a free Personal plan. iOS 26 or later is required. Learn more and get support: https://fmnobar.com/work/simple-vnc

Open Screen Sharing is a free and open-source remote desktop client optimized for Mac screen sharing and public networks, while also offering first-class support for standard VNC and RDP.