Petal (site) is a low-latency, high-resolution screensharing and remote control tool built by the team behind CoScreen. It's free and open source, with no pricing tiers or paid plans stated anywhere — just free software you download and run.
If you want the same job done — sharing screens and controlling windows remotely — here are the alternatives, closest fit first.
| Product | Free tier | Starts at | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petal | Yes (fully free) | Free | Teams wanting open-source, no-cost screen control |
| Coscreen.co | No | Not stated | Teams wanting the original CoScreen product |
| Multi-display CoScreen | No | Not stated | Users needing multi-monitor sharing |
| Screen.so | Yes (beta) | $25/mo | Cross-platform teams, from Screenhero's cofounder |
| Screenleap | Yes | $15/mo | Quick, no-install screen sharing for meetings |
| Sharry | Yes | $9/mo | Short, ad-hoc browser screen shares |
| myscreen.live | Yes | Free | Casual P2P sharing with zero setup |
| Getscreen.me | Yes | $4.17/mo | IT support and remote desktop access |
Coscreen.co
Coscreen.co (site) is the original CoScreen product that Petal's makers built before going open source. It lets teams share and remote control any window with one click, aimed at close collaborative work rather than one-way presentations. It suits teams who want the commercial, supported version rather than the free fork. Pricing isn't stated anywhere on the launch page, and there's no listed free tier, so you'd need to contact them to find out what it costs.
Multi-display screen sharing with CoScreen
CoScreen 5.0 (site) adds simultaneous multi-monitor sharing and a Rust-based compositing engine, built for teams that work across multiple displays at once. It fits users who found Petal's single-display sharing limiting. As with the base CoScreen product, pricing is not stated and there's no free tier mentioned, so cost details require checking with the vendor directly.
Screen.so
Screen (site) comes from a cofounder of Screenhero and works across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and major browsers. It suits teams needing broad platform coverage beyond desktop apps. Starter and Pro are currently free while in beta; Enterprise costs $25 per user per month, starting at 40 licenses for $12K/year. The limitation: free access is tied to the beta period, so pricing could change once it ends.
Screenleap
Screenleap (site) is built for fast, no-fuss screen sharing in meetings, sales demos, or support calls. It suits people who want something simpler than full remote-control software. The free plan allows 40 minutes a day with up to 8 viewers; paid plans start at $15/month (Basic), with Pro at $31/month and Premium at $39/month, discounted 20% annually. The limitation is the daily time cap on the free tier.
Sharry
Sharry (site) runs entirely in the browser with no downloads or installs, aimed at quick, lightweight sharing sessions. It suits people who need to show something briefly rather than collaborate long-term. The free tier is capped at 5-minute sessions with 1 viewer; Pro is €9/mo (about $9), currently free during Early Access. The limitation is the short free-tier session length, which rules out longer working sessions.
myscreen.live
myscreen.live (site) offers P2P, in-browser screen sharing with no download required, for basic sharing and viewing. It suits people who want the simplest possible free option without installing anything. It's free to use for its core features, though no remote control capability is mentioned, so it's better for showing a screen than taking over one.
Getscreen.me
Getscreen.me (site) focuses on remote desktop access from a browser, aimed at IT administration and technical support rather than casual collaboration. It suits support teams needing unlimited concurrent connections. A free version is available for individual use with no card required; business plans start at $4.17/month per technician (Standard, billed annually). Additional costs apply for devices, which is worth checking before committing.
How to choose
If you want Petal's exact free, open-source model with no catch, stick with Petal. If you want the commercial CoScreen products with more collaborative features, expect to ask about pricing directly. For broad platform support, Screen.so's beta pricing is attractive but temporary. For quick, simple sharing, Screenleap or Sharry's free tiers work; for IT support use cases, Getscreen.me is built for that job specifically.
FAQ
Is Petal really free? Yes, it's free and open source with no pricing information beyond that.
Which alternative is closest to Petal? Coscreen.co and the CoScreen 5.0 product, both from the same original makers, though neither states pricing or a free tier.
Which alternative has the lowest confirmed starting price? Getscreen.me, with paid plans from $4.17/month per technician alongside a free individual tier.