Kitsmith / Compare / Jump Desktop (RDP, VNC, Fluid) vs Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop
MacJump Desktop (RDP, VNC, Fluid) vs Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop
Jump Desktop (RDP, VNC, Fluid) vs Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop: verdict, pricing, and specs compared, so you can pick the right one for your Mac.
At a glance
Jump Desktop (RDP, VNC, Fluid)
$34.99 one-time (Mac App Store); 14-day free trial via direct download; Jump Desktop for Teams is a separate per-user subscriptionAn RDP/VNC client built around a proprietary "Fluid" protocol, with SSO, MDM, and 2FA for teams — $34.99 one-time via the Mac App Store.
Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop
Free trial; then $3.99/mo or $29.99/yr subscription, or $179.99 lifetimeA long-running, well-regarded VNC client for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Raspberry Pi — free trial, then $3.99/mo, $29.99/yr, or $179.99 lifetime.
Spec comparison
Jump Desktop (RDP, VNC, Fluid)
- Price
- $34.99 one-time (Mac App Store); 14-day free trial via direct download; Jump Desktop for Teams is a separate per-user subscription
- Pricing model
- Paid
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Mac App Store · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop
- Price
- Free trial; then $3.99/mo or $29.99/yr subscription, or $179.99 lifetime
- Pricing model
- Paid
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Mac App Store
- Category
- Utilities
The verdict
Both are long-running, well-regarded Mac remote-desktop apps, but they’re built around different protocols and pricing. Jump Desktop is a $34.99 one-time purchase built around standard RDP, VNC, and its own faster Fluid 2.0 protocol, so it can reach Windows and Linux machines over RDP as well as other machines over VNC or Fluid. Screens 5 is VNC-only — connecting to a Windows PC means installing a separate VNC server like UltraVNC first — and costs $3.99/mo, $29.99/yr, or $179.99 as a lifetime purchase covering iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro together. Pick Jump Desktop if you need RDP support or want to pay once; pick Screens 5 if you want Tailscale integration and Curtain Mode, and don’t mind a subscription.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Jump Desktop (RDP, VNC, Fluid) if…
- Pick Jump Desktop if you want a one-time $34.99 purchase rather than an ongoing subscription
- Pick Jump Desktop if you need to connect to Windows or Linux machines over standard RDP — Screens 5 is VNC-only and needs a separate VNC server on the Windows side
- Pick Jump Desktop if you want its own Fluid 2.0 protocol’s 4:4:4 10-bit color and low-latency audio where both ends support it
- Pick Jump Desktop if you’re managing access for a team — a separate Teams plan adds MDM, SSO, and 2FA
Pick Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop if…
- Pick Screens 5 if you’d rather pay monthly or yearly ($3.99/mo, $29.99/yr) than commit to a bigger one-time purchase
- Pick Screens 5 if you want Tailscale integration for connecting without manual port-forwarding
- Pick Screens 5 if Curtain Mode — blacking out the remote Mac’s display during a session — matters for privacy on your end
- Pick Screens 5 if you want one purchase covering iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro, and like the reassurance of its 4.5-star, 531-rating App Store listing
Jump Desktop (RDP, VNC, Fluid) vs Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop — questions people ask
Which is cheaper, Jump Desktop or Screens 5?
It depends how long you keep it. Jump Desktop is a one-time $34.99 via the Mac App Store. Screens 5 is $3.99/mo, $29.99/yr, or $179.99 as a lifetime purchase across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro — the monthly plan only stays cheaper than Jump Desktop’s one-time price for about the first eight months, and the yearly plan only for a single year, after which Jump Desktop’s flat fee comes out ahead.
Can either one connect to a Windows PC?
Yes, both can. Jump Desktop connects over standard RDP, which it lists as a supported protocol for Windows and Linux machines. Screens 5 connects over VNC, which requires a separate VNC server such as UltraVNC or TightVNC running on the Windows side first, per the developer’s own listed requirements.
What protocol does each one use?
Jump Desktop’s own Fluid 2.0 is a proprietary alternative to RDP/VNC built for speed, and it also supports standard RDP and VNC. Screens 5 is VNC throughout — connecting to a Mac’s built-in Screen Sharing, or a VNC server on other platforms.