Scry vs RealVNC — honest comparison

Looking for a RealVNC alternative? Here's an honest Scry vs RealVNC comparison. Scry connects from a browser at scry.bravely.dev, with nothing to install on the device you're using, on every plan; RealVNC's browser viewer comes only with its On-Prem Management Console for Enterprise. Scry is $95.99 a year or $399 once, against $8.75 a month, billed annually, for RealVNC Essentials. If you manage Raspberry Pis, or need the login screen after a restart and session recording, RealVNC is built for that.

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Free for 24 hours: every feature, no card.

Verified 2026-09-26
RealVNC pricing
Where RealVNC wins

Scry vs RealVNC at a glance

At a glance	Scry	RealVNC
Entry price	$0 for 7 days, then $9.99/mo	Free Lite plan — non-commercial use only, 3 devices
Next plan up	$0 for 7 days, then $95.99/yr	Essentials: $8.75 / mo, billed annually (3 devices, 1 active connection); Plus from $18.25, Premium from $29.75
Lifetime license	$399 once	None
Platforms	Mac (host + client), Windows (host + client), Linux (host + client), iOS (client), Android (client), Web (client)	Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS (viewer), Android (viewer)

Where Scry and RealVNC each win

Pick Scry if

Connect from a browser, on every plan. Sign in at scry.bravely.dev on a computer and connect with nothing to install on it (tested in Chrome). RealVNC's browser viewer comes only with its On-Prem Management Console, an Enterprise add-on.
Pay less, or pay once. Scry is $95.99 a year, or $399 once. RealVNC Essentials is $8.75 a month, billed annually ($105 a year), for 3 devices and one active connection, and RealVNC sells no lifetime license. Scry's annual and lifetime plans also unlock all 8 other Bravely apps.
Every computer you set up, on every plan. Every Mac, PC and Linux machine you set up with Scry shows up in one list, with a live online dot. RealVNC's plans cover 3 devices on Lite and Essentials, 50 on Plus and 150 on Premium.

Pick RealVNC if

A free plan for personal use. Lite is free for non-commercial use: one user and 3 devices, one connection at a time, on Windows, Mac, Linux and Raspberry Pi. Scry has no free tier.
The login screen after a restart. RealVNC Server's Service Mode, on every plan, shows the signed-in user's desktop, or else the login screen. Scry reaches a Mac or Windows PC while someone is signed in (a locked screen is fine).
Raspberry Pi and other VNC servers. RealVNC runs on Raspberry Pi OS and connects to third-party VNC servers, and its viewer runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS and Android. Scry's Linux app is x64 only, with no Raspberry Pi app.
More tools on the paid plans. Essentials includes audio, file transfer, remote printing and screen blanking; Plus adds session recording and chat; Premium adds audit logs, MFA for sessions and On-Demand Assist. Scry has no remote printing, screen blanking or session recording.

Scry vs RealVNC, feature by feature

Verified 2026-09-26. Source linked at the bottom.

Feature	Scry	RealVNC
Free path	24 hours with no card, or 7 days on a plan (card required); no free tier	Lite: free for non-commercial use (1 user, 3 devices)
Yearly price	$95.99/yr (every Scry platform, plus all 8 other Bravely apps)	Essentials: $8.75/mo, billed annually (3 devices, 1 active connection)
Lifetime purchase	$399 once	No
Computers you can reach	Every Mac, PC and Linux machine you set up with Scry	Lite and Essentials: 3; Plus: 50; Premium: 150
Browser client (no install)	Yes, at scry.bravely.dev (tested in Chrome)	Only with the On-Prem Management Console (Enterprise add-on)
Runs on	Reach: macOS 14 or later, Windows 10 or 11 (x64), 64-bit Linux. Connect from: those, plus iOS 17 or later, Android 8.0 or later and the web (tested in Chrome)	Reach: Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, 64-bit Linux; Raspberry Pi with the older v7 only. Connect from: those, iOS 14 or later, Android 8 or later
Account needed	Yes: a Bravely account (Apple, Google or email) on each device	Yes: to set up a computer, and to connect from Connect Viewer 8.4.0 or later
Mac and Windows hosts	Yes	Yes
Linux host	Yes (x64 .deb or AppImage; no Raspberry Pi app)	Yes, including Raspberry Pi
Unattended access	Yes, while someone is signed in on the computer (a locked screen is fine; on Linux that takes an X11 desktop)	Yes, on every plan (Service Mode)
Wake-on-LAN	No; the computer has to be awake	No; RealVNC says the computer must be powered on and online
Login screen after a restart	No — someone must be signed in on a Mac or Windows PC (a locked screen is fine)	Yes (Service Mode, every plan)
Multi-monitor	One display at a time; switch mid-session	Yes
Sound from the other computer	Yes — from Mac, Windows and Linux hosts, on by default, with a mute button	Yes (Essentials and up)
File transfer	Yes — one way, from any device to the computer you control (click Save there)	Yes (Essentials and up)
Remote printing, screen blanking	No	Yes (Essentials and up)
Session recording	No	Yes (Plus and up)
Help someone with a one-time code	Yes, on every plan; you both need Scry and a plan or trial	On-Demand Assist, Premium and up
Phones and tablets	iPhone, iPad and Android apps (they connect; they can't be reached)	Viewer for iOS and Android; reaching phones needs Enterprise
Encryption	End-to-end (DTLS-SRTP over WebRTC)	End-to-end, up to 256-bit AES
Support	Email	24x5 email and live chat on paid plans; none for Lite

Scry vs RealVNC FAQs

Does RealVNC have a browser client?

Only the Web Viewer inside RealVNC's self-hosted On-Prem Management Console (3.0.0+), an Enterprise add-on, for computers on RealVNC Server 7.18+. On Essentials, Plus and Premium you install RealVNC Connect Viewer. Scry: sign in at scry.bravely.dev on any plan and connect with nothing to install on that computer (tested in Chrome). The computer you reach runs the Scry app.

Do I have to set up a VNC server with Scry?

No. Install Scry on each computer you want to reach and sign in with one Bravely account, and it shows up in your list.

How much does RealVNC cost?

Lite is free for non-commercial use. Essentials is $8.75 a month, billed annually, for 3 devices and 1 connection. Plus is from $18.25 and Premium from $29.75, per active connection. Subscriptions are 12-month commitments with no monthly billing. Scry is $9.99 a month, $95.99 a year or $399 once, and the annual and lifetime plans unlock the 8 other Bravely apps.

Does Scry have a Linux host?

Yes. Scry for Linux (x64, as a .deb or an AppImage) lets you reach that machine and connect from it; the lock screen and display switching need an X11 desktop.

How is RealVNC encrypted, and how is Scry?

RealVNC says sessions are encrypted end to end, with 128-bit AES by default and 256-bit AES at its maximum setting. In Scry, your screen and sound travel over WebRTC encrypted end to end with DTLS-SRTP, your keystrokes, files and clipboard text with DTLS, and the keys never leave your two devices. When a network blocks a direct path, the session detours through a relay that only forwards encrypted packets, so our servers never see your screen.

Is RealVNC still free?

For non-commercial use, yes: RealVNC's Lite plan is free, and you can keep using its Connect Viewer free with Lite or during a free trial. Scry: set it up free and watch it connect, then 24 hours with no card or 7 days on a plan with a card.

Does RealVNC sell a lifetime license?

No. RealVNC sells 12-month subscriptions. Scry sells a $399 lifetime license that includes the 8 other Bravely apps.

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Pricing verified 2026-09-26. RealVNC pricing source. Subject to change.