Alternatives · Remote Desktop
Screens alternatives
As of Nov 12, 2026, the highest-graded Screens alternative is Jump Desktop (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Screens compared with 6 alternatives: Jump Desktop, RealVNC Connect, Splashtop, TeamViewer, AnyDesk and 1 more.
Screens is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Screens sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScreensThis tool | Free trial · from $4.99/mo | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Jump Desktop | Free plan · from $14.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| RealVNC Connect | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Splashtop | Free plan · from $23.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| TeamViewer | Free plan · from $619.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| AnyDesk | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| mRemoteNG | Free | Free | Windows |
Price against what you get
Screens starts at $2.50 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 3 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Splashtop.
TeamViewer scores higher without starting lower. mRemoteNG starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Screens
Jump Desktop
Remote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan
- Jump Desktop starts at $14.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad app); Teams from $7.99 per user / month, yearly.
- Jump Desktop has a free plan, which Screens lacks.
- Jump Desktop also lists a web app and Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Jump Desktop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Jump Desktop does not cover file sharing and menu bar app, which Screens does.
Suits: Mac or iPad owners who would rather pay once than subscribe
RealVNC Connect
Remote access from the makers of VNC, with end-to-end encryption
- RealVNC Connect has a free plan, which Screens lacks.
- RealVNC Connect also lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- RealVNC Connect is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- RealVNC Connect does not cover file sharing and menu bar app, which Screens does.
Suits: Reaching your own Windows, Mac or Linux computers from a phone or tablet
Splashtop
Remote access to your own computers, plus separate IT support plans
- Splashtop starts at $23.99 per year for personal use; business plans from $6 / month, billed annually.
- Splashtop has a free plan, which Screens lacks.
- Splashtop also lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Splashtop is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Splashtop does not cover file sharing and menu bar app, which Screens does.
Suits: Reaching a home computer from the couch at no cost, or from anywhere for a small yearly fee
TeamViewer
Remote access and IT support, free for personal use only
- TeamViewer starts at $619.99 per year (Business, as an in-app purchase on the US App Store).
- TeamViewer has a free plan, which Screens lacks.
- TeamViewer also lists a web app and Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- TeamViewer is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- TeamViewer does not cover file sharing and menu bar app, which Screens does.
Suits: Helping friends and family with computer problems at no cost
AnyDesk
Remote desktop app, free for personal use, licensed for business
- AnyDesk has a free plan, which Screens lacks.
- AnyDesk also lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- AnyDesk is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- AnyDesk does not cover file sharing and menu bar app, which Screens does.
Suits: Reaching your own home or work computer at no cost for personal use
mRemoteNG
Free tabbed connection manager for RDP, VNC and SSH on Windows
- mRemoteNG is free.
- mRemoteNG has a free plan, which Screens lacks.
- mRemoteNG also lists a Windows app.
- mRemoteNG lists no iOS and macOS apps, which Screens has.
- mRemoteNG is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Administrators who manage many servers over RDP, SSH and VNC
Limits worth knowing in Screens
- Apple devices only as the controlling side; the app does not connect to iPhone, iPad or Vision Pro.
- Prices come from the US App Store listing, which also shows two yearly options ($29.99 and $29.49) and no billing basis for Lifetime.
- High Performance mode needs an Apple silicon Mac on macOS 14 Sonoma or later, and audio is unavailable over SSH.
- File transfer is described for remote Macs only, and Linux and Windows clipboards share plain text.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Screens?
The alternatives to Screens in this directory are Jump Desktop, RealVNC Connect, Splashtop, TeamViewer, AnyDesk and mRemoteNG. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Screens.
Is there a free alternative to Screens?
Yes. mRemoteNG is free to use. Jump Desktop, RealVNC Connect, Splashtop, TeamViewer and AnyDesk have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Screens alternatives work on Windows?
The Screens listing does not include a Windows app. Jump Desktop, RealVNC Connect, Splashtop, TeamViewer, AnyDesk and mRemoteNG list one.
Which Screens alternatives work on Linux?
The Screens listing does not include a Linux app. Jump Desktop, RealVNC Connect, Splashtop, TeamViewer and AnyDesk list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Screens?
mRemoteNG is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.