Best Remote Desktop Apps for iPhone (2026)
As of 2026-09-26
The best remote desktop app for your iPhone depends on whether you control your own Mac, support someone else’s, need free internet access, or want an AI agent on the Mac. This page compares eight options with sourced facts as of 26 September 2026. Parsec and LAN-only input apps are omitted here because they do not offer full Mac remote desktop from iPhone in cited sources.
Eight apps compared
| App | Mac from iPhone | iPhone client | Free tier (cited) | Paid entry (cited) | Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poket PC | Yes | Native (public TestFlight beta; 1.0 in App Review) | 1.0 free, no ads | Free (1.0) | No |
| TeamViewer | Yes | App Store | Personal, 3 devices | From $24.90/mo (annual) | Yes |
| AnyDesk | Yes | App Store, free download | Personal non-commercial | Solo $37.90/mo (annual, archive) | Optional |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Partial | Mobile browser web app | No paid tier | $0 | |
| Jump Desktop | Yes | App Store $14.99 once | Web client free | $14.99 iOS once | Yes (Fluid) |
| Splashtop | Yes | App Store | Personal local network only, 2 computers | $5.99/mo Anywhere pack | Yes |
| RustDesk | Yes | App Store, control-only | Client free | Server Pro $11.88/mo (annual) | No |
| Screens 5 | Yes | App Store + subscription | 7-day trial only | $3.99/mo subscription | Optional |
Poket PC limits to keep in mind: Mac host only, main display only (30 fps), no file transfer.
As of 2026-09-26 · sources below
Best for your Mac mini or MacBook (personal)
Poket PC: live screen, trackpad, keyboard, tiles, Ask on the Mac, no account, free 1.0. Mac helper; beta for the iPhone app.
Splashtop Personal: simple if you never leave the home network.
Best free over the internet
Poket PC and RustDesk (public relay): no subscription in cited pricing. RustDesk may prompt if E2EE cannot be established.
Chrome Remote Desktop: free but browser-based and Mac trackpad-only on iPhone.
Best for multi-monitor and file transfer
TeamViewer: multi-monitor, two-way file transfer and Wake-on-LAN on the iPhone listing; personal license limits apply.
Best frame rate on a ProMotion iPhone
Jump Desktop: version 10 added hardware decoding, up to 120 fps on ProMotion devices, and virtual displays sized to the phone screen; the iPhone app is a one-time purchase.
Best VNC-style Mac workflow
Screens 5: VNC client with a monthly ($3.99) or annual ($29.99) subscription or a $179.99 lifetime purchase, covering iPhone, Mac and Vision Pro in one purchase. Remote access over the internet relies on router port mapping or port forwarding (Screens Connect can set it up), with no relay described, and VNC carries no sound.
Best if you want your own server
RustDesk: run your own server or use the public relay; the iPhone app controls other devices but cannot itself be controlled.
Best if you already use Google
Chrome Remote Desktop: if a browser web app behind Google sign-in is enough; the native iPhone app is gone.
How we ranked
There is no single winner. IT support teams lean toward TeamViewer or AnyDesk paid tiers. Personal Mac owners on a budget lean toward Poket PC, RustDesk, or Splashtop on the home network. One-time buyers lean toward Jump Desktop on iPhone.
For Chrome Remote Desktop refugees, read alternatives.
Sources
- TeamViewer iPhone app and features: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teamviewer-remote-control/id692035811
- TeamViewer pricing: https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/pricing/overview/
- TeamViewer free license: https://www.teamviewer.com/en/global/support/knowledge-base/teamviewer-remote/licenses/licenses-and-features/free-license-feature-overview/
- AnyDesk iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anydesk-remote-desktop/id1176131273
- AnyDesk pricing (archive 2026-09-17): https://web.archive.org/web/20260917170645/https://anydesk.com/en/pricing
- Chrome Remote Desktop iPhone help: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
- Jump Desktop iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jump-desktop-rdp-vnc-fluid/id364876095
- Jump Desktop 10 (120 fps, virtual displays): https://docs.jumpdesktop.com/whats-new/jump-desktop-10/
- Splashtop Personal iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/splashtop-remote-desktop/id561386772
- Splashtop Personal (Anywhere Access Pack): https://www.splashtop.com/products/personal
- RustDesk iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rustdesk-remote-desktop/id1581225015
- RustDesk pricing: https://rustdesk.com/pricing/
- Screens 5 iPhone app and trial: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screens-5-vnc-remote-desktop/id1663047912
- Screens 5 pricing: https://help.edovia.com/en/screens-5/faq/s5-pricing
- Screens 5 remote access: https://help.edovia.com/en/screens-5/connecting-anywhere/screens-connect-in-screens
- Parsec downloads (no iOS client): https://parsec.app/downloads
- Parsec compatibility article (iOS not supported; read through a search index because the help center blocks automated fetches): https://support.parsec.app/hc/en-us/articles/32381568346644-Hardware-and-Software-Compatibility
Return to the compare hub.
Checked on 26 September 2026. Tell us if something changed: support@poketpc.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free remote desktop app for iPhone to control a Mac?
For home use only, Splashtop Personal costs nothing on your local network. For use away from home, Poket PC 1.0 is free through its relay but hosts only a Mac, and RustDesk's client is free with a public relay. Chrome Remote Desktop is free too, through a browser web app.
Does Chrome Remote Desktop still have an iPhone app?
No native app in the US App Store as of September 2026. Use remotedesktop.google.com/access in the browser; Mac hosts use virtual trackpad mode on iPhone.
Which iPhone remote desktop app has no subscription?
Jump Desktop charges $14.99 once for the native iPhone app. Screens 5 uses subscription or lifetime IAP after a trial. Poket PC 1.0 has no in-app purchases.
Can Parsec control a Mac from iPhone?
Parsec lists no iOS client on its downloads page, and its compatibility help article says iOS is not supported.