A Screens Alternative for Mac and iPhone
An honest comparison, written by the people who make Peering. Researched September 2026.
Side by side
| Peering | Screens 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | A Mac | Mac, Windows, Linux, anything running VNC |
| Control from | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro |
| Mac's sound | Yes (Relay and above) | No |
| Free tier | Your own network, unmetered, forever; one hour a day away | No permanent free tier |
| Paid | $2.99/month or $19.99/year | $3.99/month, $29.99/year or $179.99 once |
| Away from home | Direct between devices when possible, otherwise a relay that cannot read the session | Screens Connect, or Tailscale |
| Terminal and SSH | Built in, free | No |
| Shell alerts | Banner when a shell waits for a password or a yes or no | No |
Prices are what each developer listed in September 2026, in US dollars. Check Screens' own site for current terms.
Where Peering is the better fit
You want to hear the Mac. Screens works over VNC, and its own documentation says it does not carry computer sound. Peering streams whatever the Mac is playing, with one switch in the session panel.
You would rather not have an account. Peering has none. Each device makes its own key and keeps it in its own Keychain, and you confirm a six-digit code the first time they meet. When a relay has to carry the session, it copies bytes it cannot decrypt.
You mostly use it at home. On your own network Peering is free with no time limit and no trial clock. You only pay if you want unlimited access from other networks.
You live in a terminal. Peering adds a full-screen shell with a phone key row, SSH to your servers, a file browser, and a banner when a shell or a coding agent stops to ask you something. See notifications for coding agents.
Where Screens is the better fit
If you need to reach a Windows PC or a Linux box, control a Mac from another Mac or from Vision Pro, or would rather pay once than subscribe, Screens does those things and Peering does not. Screens also has Curtain Mode and temporary assistance sessions for helping someone else.
Trying Peering costs nothing
Install the Mac app, pair your iPhone on the same network, and use it for as long as you like. The paid plans only matter once you leave the house.