Jump Desktop - App Store or direct buy

I just bought an M4 Max Mac Studio (coming from Intel Mac Mini) and as I suspected might happen, Screens 4 no longer works (I never upgraded to the latest version 5). I plan to use Jump Desktop based on other reviews, including for my Windows Parallels VM. For the Mac desktop client, I can either buy in Apple App Store or directly from Jump. Just curious if anyone recommends one over the other? Thanks!

I can make no recommendation, but I always buy prominent software direct from developer when possible as they get more revenue, avoiding the Apple cut. Sometimes there are technical differences between the versions.

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Like @rms I also prefer buying direct when the option exists. Sure, you need to manage updates via their in-app mechanism and not through AppStore updates, but I feel confident that the developer needs that money more than Apple does.

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Thanks everyone - that makes sense and a good point. I was originally concerned with any technical differences (I remember in the past anyways that App Store versions would strip down certain permissions, etc. vs. installing outside the store). I’ll buy direct from them. Thanks.

For what it’s worth jump desktop is also available via setapp. Edit: see below, no it’s no longer available.

For what it’s worth jump desktop is also available via setapp

Jump Desktop (Mac) used to be available on Setapp, but has since been removed.

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Between the two options, the direct route definitely gives the developer a larger share. But as a developer, I think the App Store program isn’t a bad deal.

Without the App Store, you’d need a licensing/charging SDK, an update mechanism (which typically involves creating the DMG, signing it, hosting it, and updating the XML for each version), a custom analytics implementation, and so on.
Also no built-in reviews or potential to be “Featured on the App Store”

Overall, there is value in what they charge.

So I setup Jump Desktop on iPad Pro, Mac Studio, and Parallels (Windows 11 Pro) a few days ago. It took me awhile to wrap my head around as to how it works because it works very differently from Screens. At first I hated it … lol … but then it finally clicked with me as to how it works and now I think it’s brilliant and very intuitive (I’m just a little slow) :upside_down_face: I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. Now I’m a big fan … and I love how I can control Parallels too (which I could never get working before) … so much easier and better on the eyes and I can fully function with this software in such a way that it (almost) truly feels like I’m sitting at my desk (much more so than with Screens). I have an Ultrawide monitor which made understanding Jump Desktop a bit challenging for me, whereas with Screens it was very intuitive with how it worked with such a display. Anywho - yay! :+1:

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Black Friday sale going on for Jump Desktop for both iOS and Mac