Remolo or macOS Screen Sharing and Apple Remote Desktop
Screen Sharing is built into macOS and Apple Remote Desktop is $79.99 in the Mac App Store — but both work Mac to Mac: Apple has no iPhone or iPad app for them. From a phone you need a third-party VNC client, and network setup for access from outside. The only built-in way is Switch Control in Accessibility: a scanning interface for people with limited mobility, not a trackpad. Remolo is a Mac remote on your iPhone: trackpad, keyboard, clicker and buttons, and with Pro the Mac’s screen and control from any network.
Updated
| Remolo | macOS Screen Sharing and Apple Remote Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | free; Pro $2.99/mo or $14.99/yr | built into macOS; Apple Remote Desktop is $79.99 for Mac |
| iPhone app to control a Mac | yes, for iPhone and iPad | — Apple has no such app; only third-party VNC clients |
| From any network, no router setup | yes, built-in relay with end-to-end encryption (Pro) | not described by Apple |
| Account needed | no | optional Apple Account (Mac to Mac) |
| Touch control | trackpad with gestures; 3–4 fingers in Pro | no iPhone app |
| The Mac’s screen on the phone | yes, to watch, with a magnifier; you steer with the trackpad (Pro) | full desktop, Mac to Mac |
| Files between iPhone and Mac | one file at a time, both ways (Pro) | Mac to Mac only |
| Slides, timer, notes | Keynote, PowerPoint, Google Slides, PDF; timer; notes (Pro) | not stated |
| Custom buttons and scripts | buttons; chains, AppleScript and Shell (Pro) | Apple Remote Desktop: UNIX scripts and Automator |
| Temporary access for someone else | one-time link for 1 hour, 1 day or 7 days (Pro) | not stated |
| Wake a sleeping Mac | no; it keeps the Mac awake instead (“Mac always ready”) | “Wake for network access” on the local network |
| Apple Watch | yes (Pro) | not stated |
| Windows PCs | no, Mac only | not stated |
Data from the official pages as of 6 October 2026; “not stated” means the official pages don’t mention it. All the alternatives side by side are on the Compare page.
When Apple’s tools are the better pick
- You control a Mac from another Mac — Screen Sharing is free and already there.
- You administer dozens of Macs on one network: installs, reports, scripts and wake — that’s Apple Remote Desktop.
When Remolo is the better pick
- A real app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, not a VNC client with a tiny Mac screen.
- Access from any network without port forwarding and without accounts (Pro).
- A clicker, a media remote, buttons and chains, files and the clipboard between phone and Mac (files and clipboard in Pro).
Questions
Does Apple have an app to control a Mac from an iPhone?
No. Screen Sharing and Apple Remote Desktop work Mac to Mac. On iPhone there is only Switch Control in Accessibility — it controls a Mac on the same Wi‑Fi and Apple Account by scanning items on screen. For a normal trackpad you need a third-party app such as Remolo.
Do I need to turn on Screen Sharing for Remolo?
No. Remolo Helper shows the screen and takes commands itself — it only needs the Accessibility permission and, for the screen, Screen Recording.
What replaces Back to My Mac?
Apple removed Back to My Mac and offers no replacement for access from an iPhone. Remolo Pro reaches your Mac from any network through an end-to-end encrypted relay, with no router setup.
A month of Pro for those who wait
The iPhone and iPad app is coming soon to the App Store, and Remolo Helper for Mac is already available.