RealVNC Connect vs TightVNC (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, TightVNC grades higher than RealVNC Connect: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 18, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 18, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
RealVNC Connect grades higher on ease of use and platforms. TightVNC 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
TightVNC
Free VNC remote desktop for Windows, with paid Pro encryption
Free plan · from $12/yr
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Watch out: Home subscriptions are being retired for Lite, whose limits we couldn't read, so older free-tier guides are out of date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 TightVNC if
- Fits if you want to control Windows machines on your own network for free
- Works for people who want a small VNC server and viewer with open-source roots
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, Linux or a phone, as the downloads are Windows only
- Not for you if you need encrypted sessions on the free version, because encryption is Pro only
- Pricey if you need Pro on both ends, as checkout starts with two licenses at $12 each a year
- Watch out: a Corporate license allows one interactive Pro session per computer, so it does not suit terminal servers
- Watch out: Pro is billed once a year and needs internet access to activate
How we grade them
| 2.4GPARealVNC ConnectFair | 2.6GPATightVNCGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 outright, so it sits well under 60% of the $4.17 the cheaper quarter of remote access tools starts at. Pro encryption is $12 a user a year. |
| 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. | AThe base version is free for personal and commercial use and its features do not expire. The catch is that sessions are not encrypted without Pro. |
| 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. | CRemote view and control, plus TLS 1.3 with Pro and a viewer SDK. The listing shows no encryption in the free version, which is a gap for a tool you point at the internet. |
| 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. | CNo store rating on record. You install a server, set a password and sort out how to reach the machine, which is more than a click-and-go app. |
| 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. | DThe download page lists Windows installers only. No Mac, Linux or phone version, and no integrations. |
| Best for | reaching your computers from the makers of VNC | free VNC remote control of Windows PCs |
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 TightVNC. How we grade
Where they differ
- RealVNC Connect is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- TightVNC is open source, according to its own site.
In commonFree planWindowsRemote desktop
At a glance
| RealVNC Connect | TightVNC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $12 per year per user license (Pro); $1 / month, billed once a year |
| 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. | TightVNC 4 base version is free for personal and commercial use, with features that do not expire. Connections are not encrypted without Pro. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | RealVNC Limited | PE Konstantin Kaplinskii |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | tightvnc.com |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Nov 12, 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.
TightVNC
- TightVNC 4 is remote desktop software for Windows; the download page lists Windows installers only.
- Without Pro, sessions are not encrypted, and Pro needs a license at each end of the connection.
- Pro is billed once a year and needs internet access to activate.
- A Corporate license allows only one interactive Pro session per computer at a time, so it does not fit a terminal server.
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.
TightVNC
- Remote view and control
- See the remote screen and use its keyboard and mouse, opening files and launching applications almost as if sitting at it.
- TLS 1.3 encryption with Pro
- Pro encrypts the whole session. Both the Viewer and the Server need a Pro license for a connection to be encrypted.
- Free base version that does not expire
- The free features stay available if a Pro subscription ends; only the Pro features switch off.
- Open-source TightVNC 2
- TightVNC 2 is available under the GNU GPL, with maintenance and security updates, and commercial source-code licenses are sold.
- Viewer SDK and source licenses
- Developers can license the source code or a Viewer SDK with libraries for .NET and other platforms.
- MightyViewer companion
- A separate paid viewer from the same authors monitors several VNC desktops on one screen and offers a 30-day trial.
Plans
RealVNC Connect
Pricing could not be confirmed. See realvnc.com.
TightVNC
Free$0
TightVNC 4 base features for personal and commercial use, with no time limit. No session encryption.
Pro User License$12
per user account on one computer / year, billed annually
Adds TLS 1.3 encryption and email support. Encryption needs Pro at both ends, so checkout starts with two licenses.
Pro Corporate License$18
per computer / year, billed annually
Covers all user accounts on one computer, with one interactive Pro session at a time. Not suited to terminal servers.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, RealVNC Connect or TightVNC?
As of Nov 12, 2026, RealVNC Connect has no price we could confirm, and TightVNC starts at $12 per year per user license (Pro); $1 / month, billed once a year.
Which has a free plan, RealVNC Connect or TightVNC?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both RealVNC Connect and TightVNC have a free plan.
Which platforms do RealVNC Connect and TightVNC run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only RealVNC Connect lists macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps. Both list a Windows app. 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.