RealVNC Connect vs TigerVNC (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, TigerVNC grades higher than RealVNC Connect: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 18, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 18, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
RealVNC Connect grades higher on ease of use and platforms. TigerVNC grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
RealVNC Connect
Remote access from the makers of VNC, with end-to-end encryption
Free plan
TigerVNC
Free open-source VNC client and server for Linux, Windows and macOS
Free
Which one is for you
Pick RealVNC Connect if
- Fits if you already use VNC and want to stop setting up port forwarding
- Works for reaching Windows, Mac or Linux computers from a phone or tablet viewer
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to see prices before you sign up, as we couldn't read any
- Not for you if you connect by IP address and won't pay for Enterprise
- Pricey if you want ad-free iPhone connections to other VNC servers, as that needs a subscription
- Watch out: Home subscriptions are being retired for Lite, whose limits we couldn't read, so older free-tier guides are out of date
- Too light for support desks, as nothing on record covers file transfer or support sessions, and there's no web app
Pick TigerVNC if
- Fits if you run Linux and want a free VNC server and viewer
- Works for admins whose distribution already packages it
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want paid support, as only mailing lists and a wiki are offered
- Not for you if you want phone apps, as none are listed
- Watch out: the man pages cover the Unix programs and are only mostly relevant to Windows
- Too light for one-click remote help, as setup is manual
How we grade them
| 2.4GPARealVNC ConnectFair | 2.6GPATigerVNCGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | AFree and open source with no paid plans, well under 60% of the cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and 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. | AFree outright, with no plan, no cap and no account to open. |
| Features | 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. | CIt does VNC viewing and serving fully, which is a smaller job than a full remote-access suite. No relay or phone apps. |
| Ease of use | 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. | DSetting up servers and authentication takes command-line work. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | CLinux, Windows and macOS programs for computers, with no phone apps. |
| Best for | reaching your computers from the makers of VNC | a free VNC viewer and server on Linux |
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: RealVNC Connect and TigerVNC. How we grade
Where they differ
- RealVNC Connect is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- TigerVNC is open source, according to its own site.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxRemote desktop
At a glance
| RealVNC Connect | TigerVNC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | Not published | Free |
| Free plan | 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. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | RealVNC Limited | The TigerVNC project |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | tigervnc.org |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
TigerVNC
- Support is through mailing lists and a wiki; no paid support is offered on the site.
- No iOS or Android apps are listed on the project's pages.
- The man pages describe the Unix programs, and the site says they are only mostly relevant to the Windows ones.
Key features
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.
TigerVNC
- VNC viewer and servers
- Documented programs include vncviewer, Xvnc, x0vncserver and the newer w0vncserver, plus vncconfig, vncpasswd and vncsession.
- Performance for graphics
- The project says it targets the performance needed to run 3D and video applications remotely.
- Authentication and TLS
- Extensions for advanced authentication methods and TLS encryption are provided.
- Shared look across platforms
- Common code and a similar look and feel are kept across the platforms it supports.
- Distribution packages
- Binaries come from GitHub releases, and the software ships in distributions such as Fedora, openSUSE, FreeBSD, Arch Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Plans
RealVNC Connect
Pricing could not be confirmed. See realvnc.com.
TigerVNC
TigerVNC$0
Free, open-source software; releases are published on GitHub.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, RealVNC Connect or TigerVNC?
As of Nov 13, 2026, RealVNC Connect has no price we could confirm, and TigerVNC is free.
Which has a free plan, RealVNC Connect or TigerVNC?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both RealVNC Connect and TigerVNC have a free plan.
Which platforms do RealVNC Connect and TigerVNC run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only RealVNC Connect lists iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.