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Screens alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Screens: apple devices only, and no remote audio because of the VNC protocol. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Screens, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Jump Desktop currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Jump Desktop logoJump DesktopFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS, Windows +23 of 366.5
2Chrome Remote Desktop logoChrome Remote DesktopFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +33 of 362.6
3Windows App logoWindows AppFreeNoWindows, macOS, iOS +24 of 455.3
4RealVNC Connect logoRealVNC ConnectFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +20 of 049.1
  1. Jump Desktop logo

    1. Jump DesktopTop pick

    Best for: Mac and iPad users who want a premium remote desktop client without a subscription

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Screens

    One-time purchase on Mac and iOS, with RDP and a high-frame-rate protocol.

    Pros

    • One-time purchase on Mac and iOS
    • Fluid protocol handles video and gaming smoothly
    • Also works as an RDP and VNC client
    • Free on Windows, Android and web

    Cons

    • Team management needs a separate subscription
    • Paid apps are bought separately per platform
    • Less suited to ad-hoc support of strangers
    Visit Jump Desktop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Jump Desktop a good Screens alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free clients
    Windows, Android, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mac and iOS pricing
    One-time purchase, 14-day Mac trial
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Max frame rate
    480 fps
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Chrome Remote Desktop logo

    2. Chrome Remote Desktop

    Best for: Home users who want free, simple access to their own computers

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Screens

    Free access to your Macs from Apple devices and anything else.

    Pros

    • Free with no commercial-use restrictions
    • Works from any modern browser
    • One-time codes make quick help sessions easy

    Cons

    • Few admin, logging or team features
    • Basic file transfer and multi-monitor support
    • Requires a Google account on both ends
    Visit Chrome Remote Desktop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Chrome Remote Desktop a good Screens alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Host platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Support codes
    Single-use access codes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Unattended access
    PIN-protected
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Windows App logo

    3. Windows App

    Best for: People and companies connecting to Windows PCs, Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365

    FreeWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Screens

    Free Microsoft client for Windows targets from Mac, iPhone and iPad.

    Pros

    • Free client using native RDP for smooth Windows sessions
    • One app for Cloud PCs, virtual desktops and regular PCs
    • Available on desktop, mobile, web and VR headsets

    Cons

    • Only connects to Windows targets
    • Personal Microsoft accounts can't sign in to the cloud features
    • Not designed for ad-hoc support of someone else's machine
    Visit Windows App Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Windows App a good Screens alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Connects to
    Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Dev Box, RDS, PCs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android/ChromeOS, web, Meta Quest
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Replaces
    Microsoft Remote Desktop client
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Account for sign-in
    Work or school account
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. RealVNC Connect logo

    4. RealVNC Connect

    Best for: Teams that want VNC-based access with both cloud and direct-connection options

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    49.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Screens

    Cross-platform VNC viewer and server with cloud connections.

    Pros

    • Direct connections work without routing through the cloud
    • Strong Linux and Raspberry Pi support
    • Per-device or per-session licensing choices

    Cons

    • Free Lite plan is non-commercial with limited features
    • Pricing is higher than many newer rivals
    • Server and Viewer setup is less instant than code-based tools
    Visit RealVNC Connect Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is RealVNC Connect a good Screens alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Screens alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Screens alternative for most people

Jump Desktop

One-time purchase on Mac and iOS, with RDP and a high-frame-rate protocol.

Chrome Remote Desktop logo

Best Screens alternative for a free option

Chrome Remote Desktop

Free access to your Macs from Apple devices and anything else.

Parsec logo

Best Screens alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Parsec

Smoother streaming for creative work and games, free for personal use.

Windows App logo

Best Screens alternative for Mac

Windows App

Free Microsoft client for Windows targets from Mac, iPhone and iPad.

RealVNC Connect logo

Best Screens alternative for Windows

RealVNC Connect

Cross-platform VNC viewer and server with cloud connections.

Chrome Remote Desktop logo

Best Screens alternative for Linux

Chrome Remote Desktop

Free access to your Macs from Apple devices and anything else.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Screens alternative for iPhone and Android

Jump Desktop

One-time purchase on Mac and iOS, with RDP and a high-frame-rate protocol.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Screens alternative for working in the browser

Jump Desktop

One-time purchase on Mac and iOS, with RDP and a high-frame-rate protocol.

Screens alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Screens?

Jump Desktop ranks first right now. One-time purchase on Mac and iOS, with RDP and a high-frame-rate protocol. Chrome Remote Desktop and Parsec follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Screens?

Yes. Jump Desktop (free plan + paid), Chrome Remote Desktop (free), Parsec (free plan + paid) and Windows App (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Screens?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Screens alternatives work on Linux?

Chrome Remote Desktop, Parsec and RealVNC Connect run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Screens?

The complaints we hear most: apple devices only; no remote audio because of the VNC protocol; windows and Linux targets need a separate VNC server.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Screens, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.