Jump Desktop vs Windows App (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 Windows App if

• Fits if your employer gives you an Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 machine
• Works for people who reach their own Windows PC from a Mac or a phone

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to reach a Mac or Linux computer, as it connects to Windows only
• Not for you if you only have a personal Microsoft account, because cloud connections need a work or school one
• Too light for Remote Desktop Services on Windows, where Microsoft says to keep using the Remote Desktop app
• Watch out: the web client does not do remote PC connections
• Watch out: the cloud desktops are billed separately by Microsoft

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.

Windows App

• Signing in takes a Microsoft work or school account from an administrator; a personal Microsoft account does not work.
• Remote Desktop Services connections are not supported from Windows App on Windows, where Microsoft says to keep using the Remote Desktop app, or from the web browser client.
• Remote PC connections are not available from the web browser client, and the Meta Quest support is listed as a preview.
• It connects to Windows devices and apps; the pages describe no way to reach a Mac or Linux computer with it.

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.

Windows App

One app for several Microsoft services

Connect to Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services and remote PCs from a single customizable home screen.

Connect to a remote PC without signing in

On the platforms that support remote PC connections, the app can be used without signing in to a Microsoft account.

Display options

Multiple monitor support, custom display resolutions, and dynamic resolution and scaling.

Device redirection

Webcams, audio, storage devices and printers can be redirected between the local device and the remote session.

Teams optimizations

Microsoft says the app includes optimizations for Microsoft Teams inside remote sessions.

Multiple accounts

Sign in with several accounts and switch between them.

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.

Windows App

• Windows App$0

  Free client app. Sign-in with a work or school account is needed only for Microsoft's cloud and Remote Desktop Services connections.

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.

Windows App

No public discounts listed.