# Protectimus SMART vs RustDesk Remote Desktop

The clearest difference is update cadence: RustDesk Remote Desktop at every 6 weeks against Protectimus SMART's every 7 months. RustDesk Remote Desktop also leads on ratings volume (102 vs 18). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for Protectimus SMART against 3.9 for RustDesk Remote Desktop. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RustDesk Remote Desktop has 102 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 57% of Protectimus SMART's written reviews are positive against 59% of RustDesk Remote Desktop's.

Protectimus SMART ships an update every 7 months, RustDesk Remote Desktop every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Protectimus SMART | RustDesk Remote Desktop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protectimus-smart/id854508919/reviews) | **[3.9 (102 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rustdesk-remote-desktop/id1581225015/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **102** |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | **58.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 51 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Protectimus Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1803390093) | [Purslane Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/666983468) |

## What reviewers say

### Protectimus SMART

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protectimus-smart/id854508919)

This free two-factor authentication app provides secure access to websites requiring 2FA. It offers encrypted cloud backup, PIN and biometric protection, easy token transfer, and customization options for enhanced account security.

**Highlights:** Encrypted cloud backup, PIN and biometric protection, Token transfer to new devices, Token customization, Folder sorting, Supports OATH algorithms (HOTP, TOTP, OCRA), Data signature function

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### RustDesk Remote Desktop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rustdesk-remote-desktop/id1581225015)

This open-source application provides remote desktop access and control. It functions as an alternative to commercial remote access software, allowing users to manage their computers from a distance. Note that it only supports controlling other devices, not screen sharing or being controlled itself.

**Highlights:** Open-source remote desktop, Remote access and control, TeamViewer alternative, Self-hosting capability, Cross-platform support, Low input lag

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connection and performance
- 🌟 Open source and free
- 💡 Self-hosting capability
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- ⚡️ Low input lag

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Phone heats up
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance on iOS/iPadOS
- 🚫 Lacks mouse acceleration
- 📱 Poor compatibility with older iOS versions
- ⚠️ Some users report data collection (location, identifiers)

**Reported bugs**

- Recent update broke iPad mouse alignment
- No image displayed from PC (black screen)
- Remember Password function doesn't work
- Black screen when remoting into Raspberry Pi Linux server (Wayland)
- Keyboard issues when remoting from iPhone to PC

**Requested features**

- Add option to view and modify USB drives in file transfer mode
- Improve mouse and keyboard control configurability
- Allow Apple Pencil to function as a mouse
- Support iPhone remote control of each other
- Add option to automatically switch display/monitor to follow remote window focus


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Protectimus SMART free?

Protectimus SMART is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RustDesk Remote Desktop free?

RustDesk Remote Desktop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Protectimus SMART or RustDesk Remote Desktop?

RustDesk Remote Desktop is rated higher. Protectimus SMART averages 3.9 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while RustDesk Remote Desktop averages 3.9 from 102 ratings.

### Do Protectimus SMART or RustDesk Remote Desktop have ads?

Neither Protectimus SMART nor RustDesk Remote Desktop shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Protectimus SMART or RustDesk Remote Desktop?

Protectimus SMART ships an update every 7 months, and RustDesk Remote Desktop every 6 weeks. Most recently, Protectimus SMART was updated on November 1, 2026 and RustDesk Remote Desktop on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*