Free Remote Desktop for Mac From iPhone
As of 2026-09-26
“Free remote desktop for Mac” usually means a personal license, a LAN-only tier, or a product with no subscription in version 1.0. None of the options below are unlimited for every use case. This table lists free-tier limits from cited vendor sources as of 26 September 2026, including Poket PC.
Free-tier limits table
| Product | Free for | Mac from iPhone | Main free limits (cited) | Internet from iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poket PC 1.0 | Everyone | Yes (native app in public beta) | Mac host only; main display only; no file transfer; one Mac at a time on the iPhone; no ads | Yes (encrypted relay) |
| TeamViewer | Personal non-commercial | Yes | Max 3 managed devices; 1 file at a time transfer; verified account for outgoing | Yes |
| AnyDesk | Personal non-commercial | Yes | Sessions may time out; free account extends length, 3 managed devices | Yes |
| Splashtop Personal | Personal non-commercial | Yes | Local network only, up to 2 computers | No (needs Anywhere Access Pack) |
| RustDesk | Anyone using the client or Server OSS | Yes (control-only app) | Public relay for casual use; run your own Server OSS; E2EE warning if unavailable | Yes (relay) |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | General | Partial (Mac: trackpad mode) | Google account; no native iOS app; PIN per Mac | Yes (web app) |
| Jump Desktop | Personal and business | Yes (web) / paid native iOS | Web browser client and Windows app free; Mac/iOS apps paid | Yes |
As of 2026-09-26 · sources below
Best free tier for a Mac you own (iPhone + AI)
Poket PC: no subscription, no account, Ask on the Mac, tiles and trackpad included. You trade enterprise features for focus: one Mac, one iPhone, visible limits. Download the Mac helper today and join the public TestFlight beta for the iPhone app from the beta page; version 1.0 is in App Review.
Best free cross-platform personal use
TeamViewer and AnyDesk: familiar remote desktop with personal-use rules. TeamViewer caps managed devices at three and blocks connections when it suspects commercial use; AnyDesk may time out free sessions.
RustDesk: the client and Server OSS cost nothing. You run your own server or use the public relay, and you may see a prompt when E2EE cannot be set up.
Best free on home Wi-Fi only
Splashtop Personal: two computers on the LAN at no charge. Plan on $5.99/month or $23.99/year (cited personal page) when you need access away from home.
Best free with no native iPhone app
Chrome Remote Desktop: $0, but iPhone users rely on the web app after Google removed the iOS store listing. Mac control uses virtual trackpad mode on iPhone per Google help.
When free is not enough
Commercial use, many managed devices, file transfer at scale, or multi-monitor usually pushes you to paid TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Splashtop Remote Access, or Jump Desktop Teams. Poket PC 1.0 has no paid plan; see pricing.
Poket PC vs free competitors
Poket PC wins on Ask: an AI agent you start from the iPhone, which runs on the Mac and keeps working after you disconnect. TeamViewer wins on Windows/Linux hosts and file transfer, and AnyDesk on Windows/Linux hosts. Splashtop wins on an App Store app today for home-network use. RustDesk wins if you want your own server. Chrome Remote Desktop wins on no app to install on the phone if the browser workflow is acceptable.
Read remote desktop apps for iPhone for a wider app list.
Sources
- TeamViewer free license: https://www.teamviewer.com/en/global/support/knowledge-base/teamviewer-remote/licenses/licenses-and-features/free-license-feature-overview/
- TeamViewer suspected commercial use: https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/global/support/knowledge-base/teamviewer-classic/licensing/personal-use/commercial-use-suspected/
- AnyDesk free account and sessions: https://support.anydesk.com/docs/creating-and-using-an-anydesk-account
- Splashtop Personal (LAN free, Anywhere pack): https://www.splashtop.com/products/personal
- RustDesk pricing (Server OSS, public relay): https://rustdesk.com/pricing/
- RustDesk encryption prompt: https://rustdesk.com/blog/rustdesk-vs-vnc/
- Chrome Remote Desktop (no paid tier, Android listing): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.chromeremotedesktop&hl=en_US&gl=US
- Chrome Remote Desktop iPhone help (trackpad mode): https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
- Jump Desktop free web/Windows: https://jumpdesktop.com/pricing-plans.html
Checked on 26 September 2026. Tell us if something changed: support@poketpc.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a completely free remote desktop for Mac and iPhone?
Several products have free personal tiers with restrictions. Poket PC 1.0 is free with no ads and no in-app purchases. Chrome Remote Desktop has no paid tier but uses a browser on iPhone. Splashtop Personal is free only on your local network.
Which free option works away from home?
Poket PC, TeamViewer personal, AnyDesk personal, RustDesk's public relay, and Chrome Remote Desktop (web) support internet paths in cited docs. Splashtop Personal does not without the Anywhere Access Pack.
Do free tiers need accounts?
TeamViewer requires a verified account for outgoing connections on the free license. Chrome Remote Desktop requires Google sign-in. Poket PC and RustDesk do not require accounts in cited docs.
What are Poket PC's limits?
Mac host only; main display only, at 30 fps; no file transfer, no multi-monitor, and the iPhone app remembers one paired Mac at a time. Ask uses your own Claude subscription or a local Ollama model on the Mac.