Jump Desktop vs RealVNC Connect
We give Jump Desktop a 3.2 GPA and RealVNC Connect a 2.4, out of 4.0. Jump Desktop grades higher on value for money, the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Jump Desktop
Remote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan
RealVNC Connect
Remote access from the makers of VNC, with end-to-end encryption
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAJump DesktopVery good | 2.4GPARealVNC ConnectFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree on Windows, Android and the web, with no limit on computers or connections. On Apple devices you pay once: $34.99 for the Mac app and $14.99 for iPhone and iPad. Against Parsec's and Splashtop's paid personal plans for the same job, which renew every year, that's cheap. | CNo price could be read: RealVNC's website refused our reader, so this listing has none. That's the C we give any missing price, with no figure to set against Splashtop, TeamViewer or Jump Desktop for the same job. RealVNC says free, paid and trial subscriptions exist. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe Windows, Android and web apps are free with unlimited computers, 480 fps, 4:4:4 colour and controllers, a plan one person can live on. The Mac and iPhone apps aren't free, though; the Mac app has a 14-day trial. | CThere's a free Lite plan, which has replaced the old Home plan, and the phone viewer apps are free. But Lite's limits couldn't be read, so we can't say how far it gets you. On iPhone, connecting to other makers' VNC servers shows ads unless you subscribe. |
| Features | CThe Fluid protocol at up to 480 fps, plus RDP and VNC, virtual displays, controllers and Mission Control for AI agents. The gaps it lists itself: Linux hosts are alpha only, and 10-bit colour, extra displays, USB and more than 20 mbps need Teams Enterprise. | CCloud connections with no firewall setup, end-to-end encryption, free phone viewers and a synced address book. The gaps it lists itself: connecting directly by IP address needs Enterprise, and nothing on record covers file transfer or support sessions. |
| Ease of use | B4.5 from 1,692 App Store ratings for the iPhone and iPad app. Install Jump Desktop Connect on the computer you want to reach and pick it from the list on the other device. | BNo App Store rating on record. Sign in to the Viewer with your RealVNC account and your computers appear, with no router or firewall setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android, plus Linux in alpha, with a REST API on Teams and single sign-on through Okta and Azure AD. It speaks RDP and VNC too, so it reaches machines without Jump on them. | BWindows, Mac and Linux computers, plus viewer apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. It also connects to other makers' VNC servers, but there's no web app, integrations or API on record. |
| Best for | paying once for remote access to your Mac or PC | reaching your computers from the makers of VNC |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Jump Desktop and RealVNC Connect. How we grade
Where they differ
- Only Jump Desktop lists a web app.
- Jump Desktop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- RealVNC Connect is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Jump Desktop | RealVNC Connect | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $14.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad app); Teams from $7.99 per user / month, yearly | Not published |
| Free plan | Free on Windows, Android and the web, with unlimited computers and connections, up to 480 fps, one virtual display, 4:4:4 color, game controllers and privacy mode. | RealVNC says free, paid and trial subscriptions exist, and its free Lite plan has replaced the old Home plan. The Lite plan's limits could not be read. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of Teams plans, no credit card required; 14-day trial of the Mac app | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Phase Five Systems | RealVNC Limited |
| Price read from | jumpdesktop.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Jump Desktop
- Mac or iPad owners who would rather pay once than subscribe
- Video editors and designers working on a powerful remote workstation
- Gamers streaming PC or Mac games to another device
- Small teams that want managed remote access for a few dollars per user
RealVNC Connect
- Reaching your own Windows, Mac or Linux computers from a phone or tablet
- IT teams already using VNC who want cloud connections without opening ports
- Connecting to VNC servers from other vendors as well as RealVNC's own
Worth knowing
Jump Desktop
- The Mac and iPhone or iPad apps cost extra as one-time purchases; Teams plans include the Mac app but not the iPhone and iPad app.
- 10-bit color, more than one virtual display, USB redirection and bandwidth above 20 mbps need Teams Enterprise.
- Linux computers can be reached only through Connect for Linux, which is in alpha and meant for testing.
- Single sign-on and SCIM provisioning are Teams Enterprise features.
RealVNC Connect
- RealVNC's website refused automated readers, so no prices or plan limits could be read; this listing has none.
- RealVNC is retiring its Home subscriptions and has replaced the Home plan with a new Lite plan, so older guides to the free tier are out of date.
- On iOS, connecting to non-RealVNC VNC servers shows ads unless you subscribe.
- Direct connections by IP address to RealVNC Connect need an Enterprise subscription.
Key features
Jump Desktop
- Fluid protocol with RDP and VNC
- Its own Fluid protocol uses the host's GPU for encoding at up to 480 frames per second; the apps also connect to computers over standard RDP and VNC.
- Virtual displays
- Give the host a display that matches your screen's resolution and refresh rate even with no monitor attached; Teams Enterprise allows up to 4.
- Creative and gaming input
- Game controllers work on every plan; Enterprise adds USB drawing tablets, Stream Deck, color panels, pen pressure and tilt, and 10-bit color.
- Ask to share screen
- Ask the person at a computer to share their screen; they choose whether you can view or control, and several people can join one computer.
- AI agents with Mission Control
- Give AI agents a full desktop on a computer or virtual machine and watch, or step in, while they set up machines, test apps or fix problems.
- Team management
- Teams get a web dashboard for users, computers and permissions, access groups, a REST API, a command-line tool in beta and session watermarks on Enterprise.
RealVNC Connect
- Cloud connections
- Sign in to the Viewer with your RealVNC account and your remote computers appear automatically, with no firewall or router setup.
- Direct connections
- With an Enterprise subscription, or to other VNC-compatible software, connect straight to a computer by its IP address, which may need port forwarding.
- End-to-end encryption
- Each remote computer is password-protected out of the box, and RealVNC says all sessions are then encrypted end-to-end.
- Mobile viewer apps
- Free RealVNC Viewer apps for iPhone, iPad and Android turn the touch screen into a trackpad and support Bluetooth keyboards and mice.
- Synced address book
- Back up and sync your saved connections between devices by signing in to RealVNC Viewer on each one.
Plans
Jump Desktop
Free$0
The Windows, Android and web apps, with no recurring fees and no limit on computers or simultaneous connections.
iPhone and iPad app$14.99
one-time, on the US App Store
A one-time purchase with no subscription. Not included in Teams plans, which cover the Mac app only.
Mac app$34.99
one-time, on the US Mac App Store
A one-time purchase with no subscription, also sold directly with a 14-day trial. Included with Teams plans.
Teams Pro$7.99
per user / month, billed annually ($9.99 billed monthly)
Teams Dashboard, 5 access groups, Mac app licences, REST API, automated custom installers and 5 years of cloud access logs.
Teams Enterprise$15.99
per user / month, billed annually ($19.99 billed monthly)
Unlimited access groups, up to 4 virtual displays, 10-bit color, 60 mbps, USB and stylus pressure, security keys, SSO and SCIM.
RealVNC Connect
Pricing could not be confirmed. See realvnc.com.
Ways to pay less
Jump Desktop
- Annual discount
Yearly billing saves 20% on Teams
The pricing page says yearly billing saves 20%: Teams Pro is $95.90 a year against $9.99 a month, and Enterprise $191.88 a year against $19.99.
RealVNC Connect
No public discounts listed.
