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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
1Chrome Remote Desktop logoChrome Remote DesktopFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +33 of 362.6
2Parsec logoParsecFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 557.2
3RealVNC Connect logoRealVNC ConnectFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +20 of 049.1
  1. Chrome Remote Desktop logo

    1. Chrome Remote DesktopTop pick

    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)
  2. Parsec logo

    2. Parsec

    Best for: Gamers and creative teams who need smooth, high-frame-rate remote sessions

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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Screens

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

    Pros

    • Very low latency and high frame rates
    • Free personal tier works well for remote gaming
    • Drawing-tablet and multi-monitor support on paid plans

    Cons

    • Hosting requires Windows or macOS, not Linux
    • Needs a decent GPU and connection on the host
    • Team plans cost more than general remote access tools
    Visit Parsec Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Parsec a good Screens alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Personal use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Warp (individual) price
    $8.33 per user/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Teams price
    $30 per user/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Host OS
    Windows 10+ or macOS 10.15+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Frame rate
    Up to 240 FPS (60 FPS at 4K)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
  3. RealVNC Connect logo

    3. 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.