RealFrame vs Splashtop (2026)
Splashtop is a well-established remote desktop product with a large user base, a long track record, and broad device support. Here is how it compares with RealFrame on the things that tend to matter most: platforms, security, performance on weak networks, and price.
Quick take
Both tools let you see and control another computer from wherever you are. They differ most in three places: which machines can act as the host, how the connection is secured, and how each handles a shaky network.
| RealFrame | Splashtop | |
|---|---|---|
| Host platforms | Windows and Linux | Windows and Mac (Linux support is limited) |
| Client platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux (mobile coming soon) | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Encryption | End-to-end encrypted (only your devices can read the stream) | Encrypted in transit (TLS) |
| Direct connection | Connects directly device-to-device, no VPN or port-forwarding | Supported |
| Pricing | Self-host free for personal use ($499/yr commercial), Solo $3/mo, Tech $149/yr per concurrent technician | Solo plan from $6/mo, billed annually (as of June 2026) |
Where RealFrame is different
It hosts Linux, alongside Windows and Mac. If you need to reach Linux workstations (common in engineering, data, and creative pipelines), that is a first-class case for RealFrame.
The picture is end-to-end encrypted. With RealFrame, only your two devices can read the screen. Nothing in the middle, including the relay, can see it. That matters for teams under content-security or compliance review.
It holds up on weak Wi-Fi. RealFrame's network engine watches for congestion and adapts before you see a stutter. In a controlled test on a congested link it held zero packet loss where the conventional react-after-loss approach dropped about a quarter of the picture.
The pricing is simple. You can self-host free for personal use ($499 a year for a commercial license), go Solo for a few dollars a month, or run a support desk on the Tech plan priced per concurrent technician with unlimited machines.
Where Splashtop is strong
Splashtop has a wide install base and a broad set of business features built up over many years, with apps across desktop and mobile and a low entry price for individual use.
Which should you pick?
- Choose RealFrame if you need Linux hosts, end-to-end encryption, strong performance on unreliable networks, or a self-host option.
- Choose Splashtop if you want its large install base and broad business feature set, or its low entry price for individual use.
Want the full picture of how RealFrame works under the hood? Read how RealFrame streams a desktop, or see the pricing.