Royal TS vs Windows App (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Royal TS grades higher than Windows App: 2.8 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Royal TS grades higher on value for money and features. Windows App grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Royal TS
Connection manager for RDP, SSH, VNC and web sessions
Windows App
Microsoft's free client for remote Windows PCs and cloud desktops
Which one is for you
Pick Royal TS if
- Fits if you juggle dozens of servers and want connections and logins in one place
- Works for IT teams that want shared connection documents
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay on Lite: 10 connections, 10 credentials and 1 document
- Pricey if you need both systems: Windows and Mac are separate licences, €79 for the pair
- Watch out: prices are in euros without VAT, and each licence includes only 1 year of maintenance
- Too light on its own for gateway tasks, as Royal Server is licensed separately
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
How we grade them
| 2.8GPARoyal TSGood | 2.4GPAWindows AppFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A€49 one time per user, under a year of the $10.00 middle subscription for remote access tools. It includes 1 year of maintenance, and prices exclude VAT. | CThe app is free, but the desktops it is built for are billed by Microsoft as Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Dev Box. Against a category that charges $4.17 to $28 a month, that leaves it at the middle. |
| Free plan and trial | CLite is free with up to 10 connections, 10 credentials and 1 document, a cap you'll reach once you manage more machines. | CThe download is free and a remote PC can be added without signing in. For Microsoft's cloud connections you need a work or school account from an administrator, and a personal Microsoft account does not work. |
| Features | BMany connection types, credential management, shareable documents, tasks and secure gateway tunneling. Nothing in the listing is missing for a connection manager. | CIt opens Windows desktops and apps, with display options, device redirection and Teams optimizations. Remote Desktop Services is not supported from Windows App on Windows or from the web client, and the pages describe no way to reach a Mac or Linux computer. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You build your connection documents and credentials before it's useful. | CNo store rating on record. Getting connected means accounts, an administrator and a connection to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, iOS and Android, with TeamViewer, VMware, Hyper-V, PuTTY, KeePass and LastPass links. No web version is listed. | AWindows, Mac, iPhone, Android and a web client, plus Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Dev Box and Teams. Meta Quest support is a preview. |
| Best for | organizing connections and logins for many machines | reaching Windows PCs and Microsoft cloud desktops |
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: Royal TS and Windows App. How we grade
Where they differ
- Royal TS also covers workflow automation.
- Windows App also covers file sharing.
At a glance
| Royal TS | Windows App | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | €49 one-time per user for Windows or macOS | Free |
| Free plan | Lite edition at €0: up to 10 connections, 10 credentials and 1 document. | The app is a free download from the Microsoft Store. Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Dev Box are separate Microsoft services with their own pricing. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Royal Apps GmbH | Microsoft Corporation |
| Price read from | royalapps.com | apps.microsoft.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Royal TS
- Prices are shown in euros, excluding VAT; the page says other currencies may vary with conversion rates.
- Each license includes 1 year of software maintenance, except Extended Global, which includes 3 years.
- Windows and macOS are separate products with separate licenses; the bundle covers both.
- Royal Server, the gateway for remote management tasks, is licensed separately and does not come with Royal TS.
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.
Key features
Royal TS
- Many connection types
- The Windows edition lists remote desktop (RDP), SSH and Telnet terminals, VNC, web pages, and file transfer over FTP, SFTP and SCP.
- Credential management
- Credentials are stored as separate objects that connections and folders inherit or link to, and sensitive document data is encrypted and can be password protected.
- Shareable documents
- A document of connections can be shared with a team while credentials are assigned by name, so personal passwords stay out of the shared file.
- Command and key sequence tasks
- Tasks run commands such as ping or traceroute, or replay keyboard input, against one or more connections to cut repetitive steps.
- Secure gateway tunneling
- SSH-based tunneling through a secure gateway is built in, and dynamic folders can import connection lists from external sources.
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.
Plans
Royal TS
Lite€0
Up to 10 connections, up to 10 credentials and 1 document, for a single user.
Individual User License€49
one-time, per user, for Windows or macOS
Single user on multiple devices; includes 1 year of maintenance. The Windows plus macOS bundle is €79.
Site License€849
one-time, unlimited users on a single site
Windows or macOS edition, 1 year of maintenance included. The Windows plus macOS bundle is €1349.
Global License€1699
one-time, unlimited users on multiple sites
Windows or macOS edition, 1 year of maintenance included. The Extended Global license adds 3 years for €3199.
Enterprise LicenseCustom
Unlimited users in all subsidiaries; quoted through the vendor's contact form.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Royal TS or Windows App?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Royal TS starts at €49 one-time per user for Windows or macOS, and Windows App is free.
Which has a free plan, Royal TS or Windows App?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Royal TS and Windows App have a free plan.
Which platforms do Royal TS and Windows App run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Windows App lists a web app. Both list macOS, Windows, iOS and Android 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.