NoMachine vs Aether
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NoMachine
Access your PC or Mac remotely with lightning-fast speed. Control your computer from anywhere, stream media, play games, and provide support. Seamlessly work with all your files and applications as if you were physically present.
- Remote PC/Mac access
- High-speed performance
- HD video and audio streaming
- File transfer
- Remote administration
- Access behind firewalls
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Your computer, anywhere. With NoMachine, secure, fast remote access is always available no matter where you are, putting your files, documents, videos, and music right in the palm of your hand. Whether you're an individual accessing your desktop at home or an IT professional managing an entire infrastructure, NoMachine gives you instant access so you can stay connected to what matters most. The perfect travel companion, you can use it to: - Control your office and home computers remotely over any network as if you were sitting in front of them - Work with all your files, desktop applications and other programs all running on your computer elsewhere - Share and transfer files easily between devices - Manage unattended computers and provide on-the-go support to colleagues and friends - Enjoy your media, including HD movies, TV shows, and music - Play graphics-intensive games remotely with smooth performance Key features: - Connect to any computer, wherever it is - Sign in to NoMachine Network for easy remote connections - High-quality video and audio streaming - Bi-directional file transfer - Record any activity on the remote desktop - Intuitive touch and control gestures - Guest connections to share the desktop, no local account required - Remote terminal connections (from iPad) - Protect logins with 2FA through your iPhone or iPad Quick guide 1) Install this app. 2) Download NoMachine from our website and install it on the computer you want to access. 3) In the NoMachine for iOS GUI enter the IP of your computer or the Machine Id. 4) You must already have an account on the remote computer. Enter the credentials for your system account when prompted or use a guest account. 5) For more detailed instructions check the tutorial here: https://www.nomachine.com/getting-started-with-nomachine-for-ios.
Aether
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Soar with local AI. Aether brings a modern, localized, general-purpose AI Agent experience directly to your iOS device. Powered by Pi Coding Agent kernel and equipped with a local, sandboxed Alpine Linux environment, Aether transforms your mobile device into a powerful AI workbench. Whether you are writing code, researching complex topics, executing scripts, or running multi-tool workflows, Aether delivers unmatched speed, privacy, and capability—wrapped in a silky-smooth, minimalist interface. Key Features: • Local Linux Sandbox & Tool Execution Run shell commands, JavaScript, and custom tools locally within a bundled, isolated Alpine Linux environment. Safely inspect, create, and manage files right inside your app workspace. • Multi-Provider LLM Integration Bring your own keys and connect seamlessly with leading AI models, including OpenAI (GPT-5.6 Sol), Anthropic (Claude Fable 5), Google Gemini, DeepSeek, and custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints. • Model Context Protocol (MCP) Support Extend your AI agent's skills by connecting to remote HTTP MCP servers, unlocking specialized external tools and live integrations. • Minimalist & Premium User Interface Designed with meticulous detail inspired by top-tier tools. Enjoy smooth gesture navigation, rich fluid micro-animations, customizable dark/light themes, and clean code formatting. • Extensible Architecture Tailor agent behaviors, custom prompts, and UI extensions using Pi extensions and TypeScript script modules. • Privacy-First & Local Storage Your API keys, chat history, and workspace files remain securely on your device. Experience true AI autonomy on the go. Download Aether today and take your mobile AI workflow to the next level!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: NoMachine at Free against Aether's $2.99. NoMachine also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). Aether's advantage is chart position (#138 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases 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
NoMachine is free to download; Aether costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | NoMachine | Aether |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 3.0 (125 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 37.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 125 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | — | #138 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 121 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | NoMachine S.à r.l. | 堃 周 |
Bugs and requests
NoMachine
Reported bugs
20 issues- App hangs and freezes on startup with iOS 16+
- Screen display shifted to right with black bars on iPad
- Help/intro screen misplaced and cannot be dismissed
- App crashes when changing display resolution
- Stored settings lost after crashes
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- Magic Keyboard not recognized or working
- Trackpad two-finger scroll not functioning
- Keyboard input not registering properly
- First tap on input box ignored
- Mouse cursor lags significantly
- Blank screen when reconnecting
- App not compatible with M1/M2 iPad Pro
- Username field only accepts single letter
- External keyboard disconnection after connection
- App covers notch and hardware elements on iPhone
- Rotation to landscape causes black screen
- Network auto-discovery not working
- Connection settings not saved properly
- Text rendering fuzzy and blurry
- App unresponsive in portrait mode
Requested features
16 requests- App Store payment option instead of direct credit card
- Full iPad Pro native resolution support
- Magic Keyboard and external keyboard full support
- Two-factor authentication support
- Multi-monitor selection and switching
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- Portrait orientation support on iPad
- Bluetooth audio/AirPods support
- Auto-discovery of machines on network
- Stage Manager compatibility on iPad
- Chinese language support
- Screen keep-alive option for streaming
- Better display scaling and 1:1 pixel resolution
- Hardware acceleration for newer devices
- Trackpad gesture support (two-finger click)
- External monitor support with full resolution
- Improved keyboard layout with configurable keys
Aether
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NoMachine
No in-app purchases
Aether
No in-app purchases









