The Screens Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Screens in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Screens
The Insider’s Guide
Remote desktop client for Apple devices
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Screens’s own pages.
Made by Edovia Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Screens’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Screens’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 2 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade
Screens, from Edovia, is a remote desktop app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro that controls Macs, Windows PCs, Linux PCs and Raspberry Pi computers. It connects over a local network or the Internet, with Screens Connect for setup, SSH tunnels, and Tailscale support. It is sold as a subscription or a lifetime purchase with a 7-day free trial.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Screens, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for controlling Macs, PCs and Linux from Apple devices
The controlling side is Apple devices only.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial on all your devices.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
Connects to many systems
Screens reaches Macs, Windows PCs, Linux PCs and Raspberry Pi from iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro.
- 6
Screens Connect
Screens Connect sets up remote access over the Internet without complicated network configuration; the Mac app has it built in.
- 7
High Performance Screen Sharing
For Apple silicon Macs on macOS 14 or later, the listing describes dynamic resizing, HEVC video, remote audio and display privacy.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 2 of 35
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Screens you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Screens at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on all your devices.
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Edovia Inc.
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for controlling Macs, PCs and Linux from Apple devices
Screens is a VNC remote desktop app for Mac and iPhone that connects to Macs, Windows and Linux machines, with a 4.5 rating from 623 ratings on the App Store. It's $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with a 7-day trial and a $249.99 lifetime option. The controlling side is Apple devices only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $29.99 a year works out to about $2.50 a month, the cheaper-quarter line for remote access tools. Monthly is $4.99, and lifetime is $249.99. |
| Free plan and trial | D | A 7-day trial through the App Store and no free plan, so you give a payment method to try it. |
| Features | C | Connects to many systems, with Screens Connect, clipboard and file transfer. High Performance mode needs an Apple silicon Mac on macOS 14, and file transfer is described for remote Macs only. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.5 from 623 App Store ratings. Install it, add a computer and connect. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac and iPhone as the controlling side, with Tailscale, Siri Shortcuts and iCloud. The app doesn't connect to iPhone, iPad or Vision Pro, and there's no Windows or Android client. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Screens is for
- Fits if you control other Macs and PCs from your own Mac or iPhone
- Works for people on Apple devices who already use Tailscale
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android as your controlling device
- Not for you if you want a free plan, as there's only a 7-day trial
- Tight if you need file transfer to a Windows or Linux machine, because it's described for remote Macs only
- Watch out: the US listing shows two yearly prices, $29.99 and $29.49, and no billing basis for Lifetime
Good to know
Good for
- Mac and iPad users reaching a home or office Mac
- Helping family or clients on a Mac through Screens Assist
- People who prefer a one-time lifetime purchase
Worth knowing
- Apple devices only as the controlling side; the app does not connect to iPhone, iPad or Vision Pro.
- Prices come from the US App Store listing, which also shows two yearly options ($29.99 and $29.49) and no billing basis for Lifetime.
- High Performance mode needs an Apple silicon Mac on macOS 14 Sonoma or later, and audio is unavailable over SSH.
- File transfer is described for remote Macs only, and Linux and Windows clipboards share plain text.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.50
A month to start, paid by the year
Screens is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
Monthly
$4.99
per month
In-app subscription on the App Store; the vendor says a plan covers all your Apple devices.
Yearly
$29.99
per year
In-app yearly subscription; the US listing also shows a second yearly option at $29.49.
Lifetime
$249.99
one-time
One-time in-app purchase; the listing also shows a $0.00 Lifetime Family Upgrade item.
Trying it first
7-day free trial on all your devices.
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Remote desktop client for Apple devices. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: file sharing, menu bar app, remote desktop.
Connects to many systems, with Screens Connect, clipboard and file transfer.
- Connects to many systems
- Screens reaches Macs, Windows PCs, Linux PCs and Raspberry Pi from iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro.
- Screens Connect
- Screens Connect sets up remote access over the Internet without complicated network configuration; the Mac app has it built in.
- High Performance Screen Sharing
- For Apple silicon Macs on macOS 14 or later, the listing describes dynamic resizing, HEVC video, remote audio and display privacy.
- Secure connections
- Built-in SSH tunnelling and custom SSH keys are supported, and the app can be locked with Face ID or Touch ID.
- Clipboard and file transfer
- Clipboard sharing works with Macs, Windows and Linux (text only on the latter two); file transfer is described for remote Macs.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Tailscale
- Siri Shortcuts
- iCloud
- Apple Pencil
- Spotlight
Screens is made by Edovia Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
2/35
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Screens's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 2 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 24 of 35) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 5 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 36 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Screens’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 24 of 35
- DFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 35
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 35
- BEase of useAbove 22 of 35
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 6 of 35
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Screens is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Screens you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 25 of the 35 other remote desktop apps grade higher. It costs $29.99 a year.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Tailscale, Siri Shortcuts and iCloud among them.
What this rests on. Screens’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Jump Desktop, RealVNC Connect, Splashtop, TeamViewer and AnyDesk
The 5 tools Screens is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Jump Desktop
Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Remote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan.
- Jump Desktop has a free plan. Screens does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Jump Desktop lists a web app.
- Only Jump Desktop lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- 2.4GPA
RealVNC Connect
Free plan
Remote access from the makers of VNC, with end-to-end encryption.
- RealVNC Connect has a free plan. Screens does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only RealVNC Connect lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- RealVNC Connect is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Splashtop
Free plan · from $23.99/yr
Remote access to your own computers, plus separate IT support plans.
- Splashtop has a free plan. Screens does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Splashtop lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Splashtop is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
TeamViewer
Free plan · from $619.99/yr
Remote access and IT support, free for personal use only.
- TeamViewer has a free plan. Screens does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only TeamViewer lists a web app.
- Only TeamViewer lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- 2.4GPA
AnyDesk
Free plan
Remote desktop app, free for personal use, licensed for business.
- AnyDesk has a free plan. Screens does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only AnyDesk lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- AnyDesk is self-hostable, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Screens free?
No, Screens is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial on all your devices.
How much does Screens cost?
Screens lists 3 plans. Monthly: $4.99 per month.
What platforms does Screens work on?
Screens is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Screens have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Screens is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Screens have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Screens is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Screens open source?
Screens is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Screens integrate with?
Screens's listing names Tailscale, Siri Shortcuts, iCloud, Apple Pencil and Spotlight.
Who makes Screens?
Screens is made by Edovia Inc.
What are the alternatives to Screens?
The closest alternatives to Screens in our directory are Jump Desktop, RealVNC Connect, Splashtop, TeamViewer and AnyDesk.
How does Screens compare with other remote desktop apps?
Screens's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 2 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is Screens good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Screens B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 5 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Screens?
To replace Screens you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Screens’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Edovia's own pages on 12 November 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Edovia Inc. Prices change, so check edovia.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Screens, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/screens
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Screens: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/screens
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/screens/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Screens, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 36 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- Jump Desktop Insider's GuideRemote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan3.2 GPA
- Moonlight Insider's GuideOpen-source client for streaming PC games to other devices3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Screens’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Screens is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Edovia Inc. Prices and plans change: check edovia.com before you buy.