AnyDesk Alternatives for Mac and iPhone
As of 2026-09-26
AnyDesk is a cross-platform remote desktop with a free personal tier and paid plans billed yearly. If session timeouts, unclear end-to-end claims, or annual pricing push you to look elsewhere, these alternatives are worth a look. All competitor facts below come from cited sources dated through 26 September 2026.
What to know about AnyDesk first
Three things in AnyDesk’s own documentation are worth knowing before you choose. Free sessions time out (AnyDesk does not say after how long); a free account extends them. Every paid plan is billed yearly; the pricing FAQ offers no monthly billing. And AnyDesk’s Help Center says sessions use TLS 1.2 while its marketing page cites TLS 1.3, and neither says whether its relay servers can read session traffic.
Best for your own Mac and iPhone (no account)
Poket PC pairs by QR and six-digit code, needs no account, and runs Ask on the Mac. Version 1.0 is free with no ads and sets no session time limit. Tradeoffs: Mac host only, main display only, no file transfer yet, and an iPhone app in public TestFlight while 1.0 is in App Review (beta).
Best free cross-platform remote desktop
RustDesk: free client, free Server OSS, optional public relay. The iPhone app is control-only. Since version 1.4.9 it warns you when end-to-end encryption cannot be established.
TeamViewer: free personal license with three managed devices; a verified account is required for outgoing connections, and suspected commercial use can block sessions.
AnyDesk (if you stay): still free for personal use; a free account lengthens sessions and adds three managed devices.
Best for home Wi-Fi only, zero subscription
Splashtop Personal is free for non-commercial use on the local network, up to two computers. Add the Anywhere Access Pack ($5.99/month or $23.99/year on the personal page) when you leave the house.
Best when you run your own server
RustDesk Server OSS or Server Pro: you operate the rendezvous and relay server, or pay for Pro features (2FA, audit log, LDAP). Poket PC runs its own relay instead, so there is no server for you to operate.
Best for contractors and support desks
AnyDesk’s licensing asks for a paid license only from the person who starts a commercial session, so a contractor who starts the sessions needs the license, not each client machine. TeamViewer’s paid plans and Splashtop Remote Access are the other paid options for this kind of work. Poket PC does not target multi-tenant IT in 1.0.
Comparison snapshot
| Option | Controls Mac from iPhone | Notable free limit | Paid from (cited) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poket PC | Yes | Mac host only; main display only | Free (1.0) |
| RustDesk | Yes | Public relay; E2EE prompt if needed | $11.88/mo Server Pro (annual) |
| Splashtop Personal | Yes | Local network only, 2 computers | $5.99/mo Anywhere pack |
| Jump Desktop | Yes | Paid native iPhone app | $14.99 once (iOS) |
| TeamViewer | Yes | 3 devices; personal only | $24.90/mo (annual) |
| AnyDesk | Yes | Session timeouts; personal only | $37.90/mo Solo (archive) |
As of 2026-09-26 · sources below
Sources
- AnyDesk accounts and free tier: https://support.anydesk.com/docs/creating-and-using-an-anydesk-account
- AnyDesk pricing snapshot (annual billing only): https://web.archive.org/web/20260917170645/https://anydesk.com/en/pricing
- AnyDesk security tips (TLS 1.2): https://support.anydesk.com/docs/security-tips
- Splashtop Personal: https://www.splashtop.com/products/personal
- Splashtop pricing (annual billing only): https://www.splashtop.com/pricing
- Jump Desktop pricing (monthly or yearly Teams billing): https://jumpdesktop.com/pricing-plans.html
- Jump Desktop on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jump-desktop-rdp-vnc-fluid/id364876095
- RustDesk pricing: https://rustdesk.com/pricing/
- RustDesk encryption: https://rustdesk.com/blog/rustdesk-vs-vnc/
- TeamViewer free license: https://www.teamviewer.com/en/global/support/knowledge-base/teamviewer-remote/licenses/licenses-and-features/free-license-feature-overview/
- TeamViewer pricing: https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/pricing/overview/
- AnyDesk App Store listing: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anydesk-remote-desktop/id1176131273
See Poket PC vs AnyDesk or the compare hub.
Checked on 26 September 2026. Tell us if something changed: support@poketpc.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest free alternative to AnyDesk?
RustDesk's client is free with an optional public relay; TeamViewer and AnyDesk both offer personal free tiers with restrictions. Poket PC 1.0 is free for your Mac with no ads but is Mac-host-only today.
Which AnyDesk alternative has no session timeouts on free use?
Poket PC 1.0 has no session time limit. AnyDesk free sessions can time out; a free AnyDesk account extends their length. Splashtop Personal is limited to your local network unless you buy Anywhere Access.
Can I avoid annual billing?
Yes, with a few options. Jump Desktop's iPhone app is a one-time purchase, Jump Desktop Teams can be billed monthly, and Splashtop's Anywhere Access Pack is sold monthly. AnyDesk, Splashtop Remote Access and TeamViewer Remote Access are billed annually in cited pricing.
Which alternative runs on my own server?
RustDesk. Its Server OSS is free, and Server Pro is a paid annual license for the server you run.