Remote Desktop Comparisons for Mac and iPhone

You can control a Mac from an iPhone in several ways: classic remote desktop, browser-based access, or Mac-focused apps with extra controls. This hub links to Poket PC comparisons and roundups. Competitor numbers and limits are sourced and dated; Poket PC limits are documented on the Mac helper page and security.

Direct comparisons

• Poket PC vs TeamViewer
• Poket PC vs AnyDesk
• Poket PC vs Chrome Remote Desktop (iOS app discontinued; web app on iPhone)
• Poket PC vs Jump Desktop
• Poket PC vs Splashtop
• Poket PC vs RustDesk

Roundups and guides

• TeamViewer alternatives for Mac
• AnyDesk alternatives
• Chrome Remote Desktop alternatives for iPhone
• Best remote desktop apps for iPhone
• Free remote desktop for Mac

At a glance (Mac from iPhone)

App	iPhone control of Mac	Free personal use (cited)	Account	E2EE (cited)
Poket PC	Yes	Free (1.0), no ads	No	Yes
TeamViewer	Yes	Yes, 3 devices, non-commercial	Yes	Yes
AnyDesk	Yes	Non-commercial; sessions time out	Optional	Unclear
Chrome Remote Desktop	Partial (trackpad mode on Mac)	Yes	Google	Unclear
Jump Desktop	Yes	Web client free; iOS app paid	Yes (Fluid)	Yes
Splashtop	Yes	Local network only (Personal)	Yes	Yes
RustDesk	Yes	Client and Server OSS free	No	Yes (prompt if unavailable)

As of 2026-09-26 · sources below

Poket PC today: Mac hosts only, main display only (30 fps), no file transfer, no Windows host. Version 1.0 is free with no ads.

When to read which page

If you need one Mac at home and an AI agent, start with Poket PC vs AnyDesk or free remote desktop for Mac.

If Chrome Remote Desktop’s missing App Store app broke your routine, start with Chrome Remote Desktop alternatives.

If you support other people’s computers, read TeamViewer alternatives and the TeamViewer direct comparison.

If you want to run your own server, read RustDesk vs Poket PC.

Setup help: how to control your Mac from your iPhone. Get the Mac helper, and join the public TestFlight beta for the iPhone app from the beta page.

About Poket PC in these comparisons

Poket PC 1.0 is free with no ads and no in-app purchases. You pair the iPhone and Mac with a QR code and a six-digit code; there is no vendor account. The live screen streams H.264 from the main display only (long edge up to 1600 px), at 30 fps on the same network and through the relay alike. There is no file transfer, no multi-monitor, no clipboard sync and no audio; those are planned, not built. Away from home, traffic goes through an end-to-end encrypted relay. The relay sees IP addresses, timing, message sizes and a random routing token, never your screen or keystrokes; the security page explains how. Ask runs on the Mac through your Claude subscription (Claude Code) or a local model in Ollama. With a cloud model, your prompts and the screenshots a task needs go to that model’s provider; with Ollama they stay on the Mac.

We do not use competitor logos on these pages, and we state where paid products beat Poket PC on platform breadth or mature IT features.

Sources

• TeamViewer US pricing: https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/pricing/overview/
• TeamViewer free license (3 managed devices, verified account): https://www.teamviewer.com/en/global/support/knowledge-base/teamviewer-remote/licenses/licenses-and-features/free-license-feature-overview/
• TeamViewer security statement (end-to-end encryption): https://www.teamviewer.com/en/global/support/knowledge-base/teamviewer-remote/security/security-statement/
• AnyDesk accounts and free-use session timeouts: https://support.anydesk.com/docs/creating-and-using-an-anydesk-account
• AnyDesk security tips (relay role not stated): https://support.anydesk.com/docs/security-tips
• Chrome Remote Desktop iOS app no longer listed: https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/405236681/i-cannot-find-the-chrome-remote-desktop-at-the-apple-app-store?hl=en
• Chrome Remote Desktop iPhone help (trackpad mode for Mac hosts): https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
• Chrome Remote Desktop network guide (relay encryption not stated): https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/16364503?hl=en
• Jump Desktop App Store price: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jump-desktop-rdp-vnc-fluid/id364876095
• Jump Desktop pricing (free web client): https://jumpdesktop.com/pricing-plans.html
• Jump Desktop Teams security paper: https://jumpdesktop.com/docs/JumpDesktopTeamsSecurityPaper.pdf
• Splashtop Personal free local-network tier: https://www.splashtop.com/products/personal
• Splashtop cloud security paper: https://www.splashtop.com/api/assets/2WcfKvs6YRyWhNu6mxUVFl/Splashtop%20Cloud%20Security.pdf
• RustDesk pricing: https://rustdesk.com/pricing/
• RustDesk encryption: https://rustdesk.com/blog/rustdesk-vs-vnc/

Checked on 26 September 2026. Tell us if something changed: support@poketpc.com.

Comparisons

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