# Astropad Workbench — Access your Mac from anywhere > Remote desktop access to control your Mac from mobile devices. (iPhone/iPad app by Astro HQ.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-workbench/id6758788573 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Astro HQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/934510729) - Category: Utilities, Business - Price: Free - Rating: 4.80/5 from 153 App Store ratings · 26 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 26.0 · 39 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-24 - Data updated: 2026-09-12 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-workbench/id6758788573/reviews.md ## What is Astropad Workbench? Access and control your Mac from anywhere. Workbench is a high-performance remote desktop that lets you connect to your Mac from your iPhone or iPad. Manage your machine, run desktop apps, and check in on long-running tasks while away from your desk. Built by the team behind Astropad Studio and Luna Display, Workbench delivers fast, responsive control with crisp visual and reliable performance across all networks. ————— KEY FEATURES Fast, high-fidelity streamlining. Interact with your Mac in real time with responsive controls and sharp visuals. Voice input. Dictate text from your iPhone or iPad and send it directly to your Mac. Unified display. Consolidate multi-display setups into a single workspace that conforms to the resolution of your mobile device. Apple Pencil support. Use your Apple Pencil like a mouse for precise cursor control when interacting with Mac apps. No-hassle connections. Connect instantly without complicated router/network configurations, port forwarding, or manual setup. Secure by design. Astropad doesn’t capture your screen or track your activity, and sessions are secured by modern end-to-end encryption standards. ————— BUILT FOR REMOTE WORKFLOWS Workbench makes it easy to stay connected to your Mac wherever you are. Monitor running processes, access files, manage remote systems, or check in on tools and software that doesn’t have a mobile app. ————— PRICING Workbench includes a Free plan with 30 minutes of access per day. Upgrade to Unlimited for uninterrupted access (subscription required). ————— SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Mac: macOS 15 or later iPhone: iOS 26 or later iPad: iPadOS 26 or later ## Key features - Real-time Mac control - Voice dictation to Mac - Unified multi-display workspace - Apple Pencil cursor control - Hassle-free network connections - End-to-end encrypted sessions ## Recent user reviews (10 of 26) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-workbench/id6758788573/reviews.md ### 5/5 — LOVE IT *2026-07-06* LOVE IT ### 3/5 — Shortcuts and esc key does not work on the remote host *2026-06-26* I use esc key a lot when I’m coding and the app just exit when I hit esc. Some productivity shortcuts don’t work, like switching apps on Mac. Other than that the app works great. ### 2/5 — 未完成 *2026-06-23, version 1.2.2* 完全クリーンな何も入れていないMac OS Tahoe26.5.1でテスト。iOS側からのログインはできるがキーボードが効かないことがあり、家の環境でもキーボードが効かない場合が発生したので消しました😡 ### 2/5 — Want to love it *2026-06-12* When this app works it’s great! But the connection drops all the time, like if I switch to the Notes app for 15 seconds to check something I’ll have to reconnect to my computer. Sometimes it’ll even force me to log back in to my account. Really frustrating experience for multitasking. ### 5/5 — Great way to watch over my AI remotely from my iPhone *2026-06-11* Got an old Mac mini running a local AI agent doing some monitoring of websites for me for changes. This tool helps me not have to keep a monitor on and I can peek in and control the Mac mini with my other laptop or even my iphone or iPad. Very cool stuff ### 3/5 — Wish the connection was better *2026-06-07* I feel like I need to reconnect to my machine if I leave the app for more than like 5 seconds. If I try and check another tool on iOS or iPadOS I have to wait for it to connect again. ### 5/5 — I no longer wish I had a laptop! Allows me to use my iPad to run my desktop *2026-06-04* I’m so grateful that this finally exists. I’ve long had an iPad and a Mac desktop and have been annoyed every time I needed to work on something serious away from my desk. I didn’t want to buy a laptop just for those situations. I’m so happy to be able to now use my iPad like a powerful laptop with this app! One bug I do wish they would fix is the tendency for Workbench to lock up when I am copy/pasting. When this happens I just exit it and reopen it on my iPad, and then I can paste, but it’s a tad annoying. ### 5/5 — Surprisingly amazing *2026-05-26* This guy killed TeamViewer ### 3/5 — Connection Issues *2026-05-25, version 1.2.1* The concept is good and this is the simplest and nicest to use Remote Desktop apps (when it works). The problem is that 40% of the times, it just doesn’t work. It keeps saying it’s connecting, but it never does. Other Remote Desktop apps just work, under the same circumstances. ### 1/5 — Nice Apple Native experience *2026-05-19* When this app works, it’s great. I’m constantly being signed out, signing back in, and then reopening the app to try it all again. When the app suddenly decides to let me in and access remote computers, it’s great. That’s not happening consistently enough to justify paying for this app. ## Frequently asked questions about Astropad Workbench ### What is Astropad Workbench? Astropad Workbench is a high-performance remote desktop application that allows you to connect to and control your Mac from your iPhone or iPad. It enables you to manage your machine, run desktop apps, and monitor tasks remotely. ### How much does Astropad Workbench cost? Astropad Workbench offers a Free plan with 30 minutes of daily access. For unlimited, uninterrupted access, an upgrade to the Unlimited plan is available via subscription. ### What devices are compatible with Astropad Workbench? Astropad Workbench is compatible with Mac computers running macOS 15 or later, and can be accessed from iPhones running iOS 26 or later, and iPads running iPadOS 26 or later. ### Is Astropad Workbench secure? Yes, Astropad Workbench is secure by design. It does not capture your screen or track your activity, and all sessions are protected with modern end-to-end encryption standards. ### Can I use my Apple Pencil with Astropad Workbench? Yes, Astropad Workbench supports Apple Pencil, allowing you to use it as a mouse for precise cursor control when interacting with Mac applications on your mobile device. ### How often is Astropad Workbench updated? The latest version of Astropad Workbench is 1.2.2, which was last updated on June 9, 2026. Updates are released regularly to improve performance and add features. ### Does Astropad Workbench have ads? Astropad Workbench does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use with a daily time limit, with an optional subscription for unlimited access. ### What are the benefits of the Unlimited plan in Astropad Workbench? The Unlimited plan for Astropad Workbench provides uninterrupted access to your Mac, removing the 30-minute daily limit of the free plan. This is ideal for users who require continuous remote access for extended periods. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.3 — 2026-08-19 Workbench 1.3 is our biggest update yet, with major improvements to performance, reliability, and remote access. What’s new: * Privacy Curtain — Hide your remote Mac’s screen, dim the display, and optionally block local input while you’re connected. * Watchdog — Workbench on Mac can automatically relaunch if it crashes or stops responding, making unattended remote access more reliable. * 30% Faster Streaming — A new Apple Silicon-optimized streaming system delivers faster refresh rates and sharper text. * iPad Shortcut Mapping — Remap iPadOS-reserved shortcuts like Cmd-Tab so you can send them directly to your remote Mac. * Picture-in-Picture — Keep your remote session running in a floating window while using other apps on your iPad or iPhone. * 71 Bug Fixes & Improvements — Including better clipboard sync, keyboard support, sign-in reliability, iPhone panning, key repeat, and much more. Workbench 1.3 is all about making remote access faster, more dependable, and easier to use. ### 1.2.6 — 2026-07-28 - Fixes Pencil input when Scribble mode is enabled - Onboarding improvements - Other misc fixes ### 1.2.4 — 2026-07-06 What’s New • Improved encryption security • Added support for Japanese Kana keyboards • Improved clipboard syncing reliability • Fixed compatibility with Wispr Flow • Added support for the Esc key on iPad keyboards ### 1.2.2 — 2026-06-09 • Smoother zooming on iPhone • Faster connections • Fixed duplicate Command and Option key inputs • Improved Unified Display robustness • Strengthened connectivity and reliability • Other misc fixes including copy paste ### 1.2.1 — 2026-05-08 - Improved connection reliability - Misc bug fixes ## More apps by Astro HQ - [Astropad Standard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-standard/id934510730) - [Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-studio-drawing-tablet/id1181582576) - [Luna Display](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luna-display/id1250259715) - [Astropad Slate](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-slate/id1661053818) - [Bookcase by Astropad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookcase-by-astropad/id6736535823) - [Fresh Coat v1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fresh-coat-v1/id6741782355) All apps by Astro HQ: https://appshunter.io/developer/934510729 ## Related topics [astro pad](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/astro-pad) · [sustainable softworks](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sustainable-softworks) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-12.*