Tiller vs Rowmote

TL;DR: Rowmote is a long-running, Mac-only iPhone remote with a genuinely nice media focus: it emulates the old Apple Remote and drives 40+ Mac media apps, and it’s cheap ($0.99, or $4.99 for Pro with the trackpad). The catch is upkeep: its iOS apps were last updated in 2022, its Mac helper in early 2022, and the App Store listing says it’s “not verified for macOS,” so on current macOS its reliability is uncertain. Tiller does the same living-room job (trackpad, keyboard, media D-pad) but is actively developed for current macOS and iOS, for $9.99 once with everything included. Choose Rowmote if you’re on older, stable macOS and want cheap media control. Choose Tiller if you want something built and maintained for today’s Macs.

At a glance

The short version

Rowmote and Tiller are aiming at nearly the same target: control your Mac from the couch. Rowmote got there first and has a real strength in media: it emulates the old Apple Remote and can drive 40-plus Mac media and presentation apps (Music, Keynote, Plex, VLC, Airfoil, Lightroom), launch and switch apps, and wake a sleeping Mac. It’s local, account-free, and cheap. On paper, a lot to like.

The concern is maintenance. Rowmote’s iOS apps were last updated in late 2022, and the Mac-side Rowmote Helper in early 2022. Roughly three to four years without an update. Rowmote Pro’s own App Store listing carries the “not verified for macOS” note, and macOS has tightened its Accessibility and permissions model considerably since then. It may still work for you; it may not on the newest macOS. That’s a real risk for a tool that needs deep system access to move your cursor.

Tiller is the same job, kept current. It’s actively developed, built for today’s iOS and macOS, and everything (trackpad, keyboard, media D-pad) is included in one $9.99 purchase, with no separate Pro tier.

Maintenance and compatibility

This is the deciding factor for most people. A remote-control app lives or dies on system permissions, and Apple keeps changing the rules: Accessibility, Local Network, and input-monitoring prompts have all shifted in recent macOS releases. An app last updated in 2022 hasn’t been rebuilt against any of that.

Tiller is maintained against current macOS and iOS, with a changelog you can follow and support you can email if something breaks. If a future macOS changes the rules again, a maintained app is the one that keeps working.

Price and what’s included

Rowmote is cheaper to buy: $0.99 for the base app, $4.99 for Pro. But note what sits where: the base app is media-remote-focused, and the trackpad and full keyboard are in Rowmote Pro (or a separate Pro in-app upgrade). To get the full remote you’re buying the Pro tier.

Tiller is $9.99 once with the trackpad, keyboard, and media D-pad all included. It’s a higher sticker price than Rowmote’s base app, but there’s no tier to untangle and it’s kept up to date.

Media and the living room

Media is where Rowmote is strongest, and it’s a fair fight here. Rowmote’s Apple Remote emulation across 40+ apps is broad and, for the apps it supports, quite slick. If you mainly want play/pause and skip across a lot of media apps, that’s its home turf.

Tiller’s media mode is a purpose-built D-pad with play/pause, designed around a Mac mini under the TV, with a pairing code the Mac can put on the big screen. It’s less about per-app emulation and more about being a clean, reliable living-room remote plus a full trackpad when you need one.

Who should choose Rowmote

• You’re running an older, stable macOS where a 2022-era app is known to work for you.
• You mainly want media control and Apple Remote-style playback across many apps.
• You want the cheapest option and don’t need active support.
• You’re comfortable with the risk that it may not work on the latest macOS.

Ideal Rowmote user: a Mac media enthusiast on an older system who wants cheap, Apple-Remote-style control and isn’t worried about future updates.

Who should choose Tiller

• You’re on a current Mac and iPhone and want something built for them.
• You want an actively-maintained app that keeps up with macOS changes.
• You want the trackpad, keyboard, and media D-pad included in one price.
• You’d rather have support and a changelog than a cheaper app that’s gone quiet.

Ideal Tiller user: anyone on today’s Apple gear who wants a clean living-room remote they can trust to keep working.

Switching from Rowmote

There’s nothing to migrate. Both are remotes, not apps that store your data:

1. Download Tiller for Mac (the free menu-bar helper) and grant it Accessibility access.
2. Get Tiller on the App Store for your iPhone.
3. Open the app, enter the four-digit code once, and you’re paired for good.

Setup takes about a minute. You can remove Rowmote and its helper once you’re set up.

Common questions

Is Rowmote still maintained? Its iOS apps were last updated in late 2022 and the Mac helper in early 2022 (no updates in roughly three to four years) and its listing notes it’s “not verified for macOS.” It may still work for some, but compatibility with the latest macOS is uncertain. Tiller is actively developed for current macOS and iOS.

Is Rowmote cheaper? Up front, yes: $0.99 base, $4.99 Pro. But the trackpad and keyboard are in Pro, whereas Tiller’s $9.99 once includes the trackpad, keyboard, and media D-pad, and is kept current.

What is Rowmote good at? Media control: Apple Remote emulation across 40+ Mac apps (Music, Keynote, Plex, VLC), plus launching and switching apps. On an older, stable macOS it’s a cheap option where it still works.

Do I need Rowmote Pro for a trackpad? Yes: the trackpad and full keyboard are in Rowmote Pro. Tiller includes them in its single price.

Get Tiller

$9.99 once · no subscription · no ads · iPhone + Mac on the same Wi-Fi.

• Download on the App Store (iPhone)
• Download Tiller for Mac (free menu-bar helper)

See how Tiller compares to Remote Mouse, Mobile Mouse, and Unified Remote, or head back to the Tiller home page.