Jump Desktop vs Unified Remote (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Jump Desktop if

• Fits if you'd rather pay once than rent a remote desktop by the month
• Works for reaching Windows and Mac machines, including ones that only speak RDP or VNC

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if the computer you need to reach runs Linux, as Connect for Linux is still alpha
• Pricey if you need 10-bit color, extra displays, USB or over 20 mbps, which need Teams Enterprise at $15.99 a user
• Watch out: the Mac app is $34.99 and the iPhone app $14.99, and Teams plans don't include the iPhone app
• Tight if your team needs single sign-on or SCIM, as both are Teams Enterprise only

Pick Unified Remote if

• Fits if you control a media or presentation PC from across the room
• Works for people who would rather pay once than subscribe

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you want it away from home, since mobile data means configuring your router
• Pricey if you use both iOS and Android, as Full is $4.99 for each platform
• Watch out: Screen Viewer, custom remotes and more than 40 remotes need Full
• Watch out: the phone app can't work alone, so a server must run on the computer

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.

Unified Remote

• By default it works only on the local network; using it over mobile data means configuring your router.
• The Full version is bought separately for each platform, so Android and iOS cost $4.99 each.
• The FAQ says controlling another Android or iOS device from the phone is not supported, and Chrome OS is not supported.
• A server program must be installed on the computer; the phone app cannot control a computer on its own.

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.

Unified Remote

Mouse and keyboard

The phone works as a single or multi-touch mouse and a keyboard, including third-party keyboards and modifier keys such as Ctrl and Alt.

Per-program remotes

The vendor lists 100+ remotes for media players, presentations and other desktop programs; 18 are free and 40+ more unlock with the Full version.

Screen Viewer

Part of the Full version: shows the computer screen on the phone. The vendor lists it as working with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

Wake on LAN and power

A Power remote can turn off, lock or wake a computer using Wake on LAN.

Custom remotes

The Full version lets you create and use custom remotes, and the vendor has a developers page for writing them.

Password protection and encryption

Both are in the free app. The FAQ advises turning them on if you open the server to the internet to use it over mobile data.

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.

Unified Remote

• Free$0

  18 essential remotes, mouse and keyboard input, Wake on LAN and power control, password protection and encryption.

• Full$4.99

  one-time, per platform (iOS and Android bought separately)

  40+ extra remotes, custom remotes, Screen Viewer, and widgets, voice, NFC and Siri Shortcuts.

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.

Unified Remote

No public discounts listed.