Splashtop Alternative for Mac Remote Access
As of 2026-09-26
Splashtop is a remote-desktop product line with a free Personal tier on your home network and paid Remote Access for use over the internet. Poket PC is a newer Mac-and-iPhone app with a free 1.0 and an encrypted relay for away-from-home use. This comparison uses Splashtop and Poket PC facts cited as of 26 September 2026.
At a glance
| Splashtop (Personal / Remote Access) | Poket PC | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Streamer on Mac plus iOS apps (Personal or Business) | Mac helper plus iPhone app |
| Controls a Mac from iPhone | Yes (one computer at a time from iOS) | Yes (Mac host only) |
| Free tier | Personal: free on local network only, 2 computers, non-commercial; internet needs Anywhere Access Pack | 1.0 free: no ads, no in-app purchases |
| Paid price (as listed) | Anywhere Access Pack $5.99/month; Remote Access Solo $72/year | Free (1.0) |
| Account required | Yes | No |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes (vendor: decrypt only at endpoints) | Yes (Noise IK through the relay; the relay sees metadata, not content) |
| How sessions travel | Relayed through Splashtop servers by default; direct LAN connections are best effort | Direct on the same network, relay otherwise |
| AI agent | None for remote sessions (IT platform AI cited for other products) | Ask on the Mac |
| File transfer | Not listed in cited sources | Not available yet (planned) |
As of 2026-09-26 · sources below
When Splashtop is the better pick
You only need free access on the same Wi-Fi and you have at most two home computers. Splashtop Personal covers non-commercial use on the local network without a Remote Access subscription.
You want an iPhone app on the App Store today and you are willing to pay for Anywhere Access or Remote Access to leave the house. The Personal app added a guided setup flow in version 3.8.6.2 (9 September 2026).
You need Windows or Linux streamers in the same product family, or you may upgrade to Performance tier features such as 4:4:4 color, 240 fps and USB passthrough on the pricing page.
Annual billing fits your budget and you are fine with a Splashtop account and relayed sessions by default. Remote Access Pro is $99 per user per year for up to 10 computers.
When Poket PC is the better pick
You want internet remote access without layering a paid pack on top of a LAN-only free tier. After pairing, Poket PC 1.0 switches between a direct connection on your network and its relay on its own, at no charge.
You prefer no Splashtop account for controlling your own Mac.
You want Ask, action tiles, and a dedicated trackpad view alongside the live screen in one iPhone-focused app.
You are Mac-only as a host today and do not need Splashtop’s broader streamer lineup.
You accept Poket PC limits: main display only (30 fps), no file transfer, and an iPhone app in public TestFlight beta while 1.0 is in App Review (beta).
Sources
- Splashtop Personal (free LAN, Anywhere Access Pack pricing): https://www.splashtop.com/products/personal
- Splashtop Remote Access pricing (Solo $72/year, Pro, Performance): https://www.splashtop.com/pricing
- Splashtop Solo price change (effective 2026-03-01): https://support-splashtopbusiness.splashtop.com/hc/en-us/articles/44904971068955-Frequently-Asked-Questions-Solo-Price-Increase
- Splashtop Cloud Security PDF (endpoint decryption, relay servers): https://www.splashtop.com/api/assets/2WcfKvs6YRyWhNu6mxUVFl/Splashtop%20Cloud%20Security.pdf
- Splashtop unified IT platform announcement (AI features, 2026-04-13): https://www.splashtop.com/press/press/unified-platform-for-modern-it-announcement
- Splashtop Remote Desktop on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/splashtop-remote-desktop/id561386772
- Splashtop Business on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/splashtop-business/id650739354
Compare free remote desktop for Mac options or return to the compare hub.
Checked on 26 September 2026. Tell us if something changed: support@poketpc.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is Splashtop free on Mac?
Splashtop Personal is free on the local home network only, for non-commercial use, up to two computers. Internet access needs the Anywhere Access Pack ($5.99/month or $23.99/year on the cited personal product page).
How much is Splashtop Remote Access?
Remote Access Solo is $72 per year ($6/month equivalent) for one user and up to two computers on the US pricing page, billed annually only. It rose from $5 to $6 a month on 1 March 2026.
Can Splashtop control a Mac from iPhone?
Yes. Splashtop lists iOS as a client platform; from an iOS device you can access one computer at a time.
Does Poket PC need a subscription?
No. Version 1.0 is free with no ads and no in-app purchases.
Which has end-to-end encryption?
Both. Splashtop's cloud security PDF states session data can only be decrypted at the endpoints. Poket PC uses Noise IK end-to-end through its relay, which sees only metadata such as IP addresses and timing.