Do I need to be on the same network?

No. On the same Wi-Fi, Servey uses a direct, high-performance stream for the sharpest possible picture. On different networks it automatically switches to a private connection between your own devices. Either way it just works.

Is it secure and private?

Yes, and there are two locks rather than one. Signing in with Google pairs only your own devices, scoped to your account. On top of that you set a master password on your Mac that every device must produce before it can connect, each new device waits for you to approve it on the Mac itself, and you can revoke any device at any time. Your screen video travels end-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer between your devices; if your network will not allow a direct connection, it relays through our own server rather than a third party's cloud.

What happens to my terminal session if I disconnect?

It keeps running. Every terminal session in Servey is a named session that lives on your Mac rather than inside the app, so closing Servey, losing signal or putting the phone in your pocket does not stop the work. Start a long build from the iPad, come back an hour later, and you rejoin it exactly where it got to. You can also open the same live session on your Mac and your iPad at once.

Can I hide what I am doing from people near my Mac?

Yes. Privacy Mode blacks out every monitor physically attached to your Mac while the stream you are watching keeps showing the real desktop. It covers every app, every space and every connected display, including the cursor, and nothing is overlaid on screen. If Servey quits or the connection drops, macOS restores the displays on its own, so it cannot leave the Mac stuck on black.

What if I stop using Servey - am I locked in?

No. Servey runs your terminal sessions in tmux on your own Mac, and the app shows you the attach command for each one. Paste it into Terminal.app, iTerm, Ghostty or an SSH connection and you are in the same live session with Servey uninstalled. Nothing you start in Servey is trapped in a format only Servey can open.

Does it work over cellular?

Yes. Servey is built to connect reliably even on strict mobile and carrier networks where most tools give up, and it tunes quality to your connection automatically so the picture stays smooth.

Which devices are supported?

A Mac as the host, controlled from an iPhone or iPad. Servey needs macOS 15.3 or later on the Mac and iOS or iPadOS 18.5 or later on the device you control it from, so it is worth checking your versions before you join the waitlist. Any Mac that runs macOS 15.3 works, Apple silicon or Intel, and a MacBook can be driven with the lid shut. Servey is built natively for the Apple ecosystem - not an Electron or Java port - so it feels fast and right at home on your devices.

Do I need a VPN or port forwarding?

No. There's no VPN to configure and no ports to forward. Sign in with Google on both devices and your Mac appears - that's the entire setup.

Is there a free version?

Yes. Servey has a free tier with no card and no countdown: five-minute sessions, five sessions a day, and your daily allowance resets at local midnight. Everything Servey does is in it - screen mirroring, input and the terminal - so what you are paying for on a paid plan is time, not a longer feature list.

When is it launching and how much will it cost?

Servey is in pre-submission hardening now, and the waitlist is how you get in first. Pricing is already set: free to start, the Terminal plan at $1.99/month or ₹99/month in India, and Full access - screen mirroring plus terminal - at $4.49/month or ₹299/month in India. Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment it's ready. You're never charged until launch.

What is a good alternative to Screens or Jump Desktop?

Servey is a native, Apple-focused alternative that adds a real terminal, automatic networking with no VPN, and end-to-end-encrypted remote connections between your own devices.

Is Servey better than VNC or TeamViewer for a Mac?

For controlling a Mac from an iPhone or iPad, yes - it is sharper than VNC and lighter than TeamViewer, with no manual network setup.

How much does Servey cost?

Terminal is Rs 99/month in India ($1.99 internationally); Full access (screen mirroring plus terminal) is Rs 299/month in India ($4.49 internationally).

Choosing a Screens or Jump Desktop alternative for Mac remote control

By Janesh Kapoor · July 9, 2026 · Updated September 5, 2026 · 4 min read

If you have been using Screens, Jump Desktop, TeamViewer, or a VNC app to reach your Mac from your phone, here is an honest checklist for evaluating a modern alternative.

Remote-desktop tools for the Mac fall into a few camps. VNC-based apps are open and flexible but often blurry and fiddly to secure. Cross-platform suites like TeamViewer are powerful but heavy and built primarily for IT support. Native Apple-focused apps like Screens and Jump Desktop are much nicer to use, and set the bar for what a good experience looks like. So what should you compare when choosing among them - or when looking for something new?

A practical comparison checklist

Picture quality: is text crisp and aspect-correct, or blurry and stretched? Look for a modern, hardware-accelerated video path rather than plain VNC.
Setup: does it require a VPN, port forwarding, or IP addresses - or do you just sign in on both devices?
Away-from-home connectivity: does it connect reliably over cellular and behind strict carrier networks, and switch paths automatically?
Input quality: a genuine trackpad and full keyboard with shortcuts, not a clumsy tap-to-click overlay.
Terminal: can you run a real shell on your Mac, or is it screen-only?
Privacy: is your session end-to-end encrypted and scoped to your own account, or relayed through third-party infrastructure?
Native feel: is it built for Apple platforms, or an Electron or Java port that feels foreign on iOS?

Where Servey fits

Servey is a new, native alternative built specifically for controlling a Mac from an iPhone or iPad. It aims at the parts of this checklist that matter most day to day:

Crystal-clear mirroring on your local network with a direct, hardware-accelerated stream.
Zero-config setup: sign in with Google on both devices, no VPN and no port forwarding.
Automatic path switching - direct on your network, private peer-to-peer when you are away - reliable even on strict mobile networks.
A real terminal on your Mac, over either connection path.
Private by design: sessions are scoped to your own account and end-to-end encrypted on the remote path.
Built natively for the Apple ecosystem - not an Electron or Java port.

Bottom line

Screens and Jump Desktop are excellent and well established. If you specifically want a native, zero-configuration tool with sharp mirroring and a real terminal - and you are happy to be an early adopter - Servey is worth watching. It is launching soon; join the waitlist to try it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good alternative to Screens or Jump Desktop?: Servey is a native, Apple-focused alternative that adds a real terminal, automatic networking with no VPN, and end-to-end-encrypted remote connections between your own devices.
Is Servey better than VNC or TeamViewer for a Mac?: For controlling a Mac from an iPhone or iPad, yes - it is sharper than VNC and lighter than TeamViewer, with no manual network setup.
How much does Servey cost?: Terminal is Rs 99/month in India ($1.99 internationally); Full access (screen mirroring plus terminal) is Rs 299/month in India ($4.49 internationally).

Servey puts your Mac in your pocket. Launching soon.