RustDesk vs Poket PC for Mac and iPhone
As of 2026-09-26
RustDesk publishes its source code (the rustdesk/rustdesk project on GitHub) and lets you run your own rendezvous and relay server or use its public one. Poket PC is a Mac-and-iPhone app from Innoedge Technologies with its own relay and the Ask agent. Both can control a Mac from an iPhone; they differ in how much you operate yourself, how they are priced, and what the iPhone app does beyond remote desktop.
At a glance
| RustDesk | Poket PC | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Remote desktop with public source code; run Server OSS (free) or Server Pro (paid license) on your own machine | Mac helper plus iPhone app |
| Controls a Mac from iPhone | Yes (iPhone app is control-only) | Yes (Mac host only) |
| Free tier | Client and Server OSS free; public relay for casual use | 1.0 free: no ads, no in-app purchases |
| Paid price (as listed) | Server Pro Individual from $11.88/month (billed annually; a license for your own server, not a hosted plan) | Free (1.0) |
| Account required | No (Server Pro adds user accounts) | No |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes by default (built on NaCl); prompt if E2EE cannot be established (1.4.9+) | Yes (Noise IK through the relay; the relay sees metadata, not content) |
| AI agent | None listed | Ask on the Mac |
| Who runs the relay | You (Server OSS or Pro) or RustDesk’s public server | Poket PC |
As of 2026-09-26 · sources below
When RustDesk is the better pick
You want public source code and your own server. Server OSS is free; Server Pro adds a web console, 2FA, an address book, audit logs, access control and LDAP/OIDC on paid annual licenses. Server Pro does not auto-renew; RustDesk sends a reminder 14 days before expiry.
You need Windows, Linux, and Android hosts in the same tool, not only Mac.
You are comfortable running your own rendezvous and relay server, or using RustDesk’s public one, and reading a prompt when E2EE cannot be negotiated.
You do not need an AI agent or action tiles from the phone; classic remote desktop is enough.
When Poket PC is the better pick
You want an encrypted relay without running a server. Poket PC runs the relay; you pair, and you revoke devices from the Mac. The relay matches your two devices by a random token and forwards ciphertext. It sees IP addresses, timing and message sizes, not your screen or keystrokes.
You want Ask from the iPhone to hand work to Claude Code or Ollama on the Mac, with schedules and memory in 1.0; scheduled runs need a model that works without the screen, such as a local model, so the Claude subscription cannot run them. With Claude, the prompts and screenshots a task needs go to Anthropic under your subscription; with Ollama they stay on the Mac.
You prefer QR plus six-digit pairing bound into the Noise handshake to setting up a server.
You want tiles for media keys, Mission Control, lock, and sleep next to the live screen and trackpad.
You accept Mac-only hosting and the main display only (at 30 fps) in exchange for less configuration.
Install from the Mac download page and join the public TestFlight beta for the iPhone app from the beta page.
Sources
- RustDesk pricing (Server OSS free, Server Pro from $11.88/month annually): https://rustdesk.com/pricing/
- RustDesk encryption (end to end by default, NaCl): https://rustdesk.com/blog/rustdesk-vs-vnc/
- RustDesk iPhone app (control-only): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rustdesk-remote-desktop/id1581225015
- GitHub pull request for the insecure-connection prompt (1.4.9): https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/pull/15514
- RustDesk 1.5.0 release (2026-09-25): https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/releases/tag/1.5.0
More: TeamViewer comparison and the compare hub.
Checked on 26 September 2026. Tell us if something changed: support@poketpc.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is RustDesk free?
The RustDesk client and Server OSS, which you run on your own machine, cost nothing. A public rendezvous and relay server exists for casual use with no published limits in cited pricing. Server Pro licenses are paid and billed annually.
Can RustDesk control a Mac from iPhone?
Yes. The iPhone app is control-only; iOS devices cannot be controlled or share their screen per the App Store listing.
Is RustDesk always end-to-end encrypted?
RustDesk states traffic is end-to-end encrypted by default. Since client 1.4.9, the app warns and lets you continue or disconnect when E2EE cannot be established.
Do you need an account for RustDesk?
No account is required in cited RustDesk docs for basic use; Server Pro adds login users and management features.
Why pick Poket PC over RustDesk?
If you want one Mac, no server to run, and Ask on the Mac from the iPhone app, Poket PC is simpler. RustDesk is the better fit when you want its public source code, your own server, or hosts other than a Mac.