Apple Remote Desktop vs Screen Sharing
Written by the people who make Peering, so read it knowing that. Researched from Apple's documentation, 2026.
Side by side
| Screen Sharing | Apple Remote Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Built into macOS | Separate app, sold on the Mac App Store |
| Cost | Free | Paid |
| Built for | One person reaching one Mac | Administrators managing many Macs |
| Runs on | Mac | Mac |
| iPhone or iPad client | No | No |
| Away from your network | You supply the route | You supply the route |
Check Apple's pages for current pricing and features.
Screen Sharing
Turn it on in System Settings under General, Sharing. From another Mac you connect by name or address from the Finder or the Screen Sharing app. It is fast on a local network and has nothing to buy.
Apple Remote Desktop
ARD uses the same sharing service on the target Mac and adds the administrator's side: lists of computers, copying files to many at once, sending Unix commands, reports on installed software and hardware. If you look after a lab or an office of Macs it earns its price. For a single person with a single Mac it adds little to Screen Sharing.
What neither gives you
A way in from your phone, and a way in from outside your network. For both, Peering pairs your iPhone or iPad with your Mac once and finds it from anywhere, with no account and no router changes. Read how that works in Access your Mac from anywhere.
Common questions
What is the difference between Apple Remote Desktop and Screen Sharing?
Screen Sharing is built into macOS and lets you view and control one Mac from another. Apple Remote Desktop is a separate paid app for administrators, with tools for managing many Macs at once, such as sending files, running commands and collecting reports.
Can I use Screen Sharing from an iPhone?
Not with Apple's software. There is no Screen Sharing client on iOS. A third-party app, such as Peering, Screens or Jump Desktop, provides that.
Does Screen Sharing work from outside my home network?
Only if you provide the route yourself, for example with a VPN. It does not set up the route on its own.