Comparison

Yam Display vs spacedesk

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Yam Display

Transform your iPad or iPhone into a second display for your Mac using a USB connection. Enjoy lag-free browsing and video playback, and control your Mac with touch gestures. Enhance multitasking with Split View and streamline your workflow with features like Drag and Drop and Teleprompter Mode.

Highlights
  • Second display for Mac
  • USB wired connection
  • Minimal lag
  • Touch gesture control
  • Split View support
  • Drag and Drop (In-App Purchase)
  • Teleprompter Mode (In-App Purchase)
Features
Read full description

# iPad/iPhone as a second display for Mac via USB # Yam Display turns your iPad/iPhone into a second display for your Mac. Wired by USB, browse documents or watch videos without delay. Control your Mac with touch gestures and keyboard on your iPad. For multitasking enabled iPads, you can utilize every single pixel of your screen in Split View. Plus features such as Drag and Drop and Teleprompter Mode will make your workflow more efficient. Yam Display is fast, secure, simple and will help you to improve your productivity. Key Features: - Minimal lag for browsing or video playback - Energy efficient for static screens - Retina display - 60 FPS / 30 FPS - Split View (iOS 9 or later) - Touch gestures: Click / Zoom / Scroll / Drag / Rotate - Virtual Touch Bar (for Mac with macOS Sierra 10.12.2 or later) - Bluetooth keyboard and mouse Plus Features (In-App Purchase): - Drag and Drop between iPad and Mac (iOS 11 or later) - Teleprompter Mode System Requirements: - iOS devices with iOS 7.1 or later - Macs with macOS 10.9 or later Download app for Mac from: yamdisplay.com (free) For any questions or suggestions: help@yamdisplay.com

About

spacedesk

Extend your Windows PC's desktop to another device wirelessly or via USB. Use your tablet or phone as a drawing tablet or a portable second monitor for travel and productivity.

Highlights
  • Windows desktop extension
  • Screen mirroring
  • Remote desktop viewer
  • Drawing tablet functionality
  • Wireless display monitor
  • USB display monitor
  • Remote control
Features
Read full description

Windows computer desktop extension, mirroring and remoting tool for WiFi, USB or LAN. Supports applications like: - Screen Cast (to television, tablet or smart phone) - Desktop Remoting Viewer (over USB and Local Area Network) - Drawing Tablet (drawing and painting with digitizer pen) - Wireless Display Monitor (similar to Miracast, RDP, AirPlay and Sidecar) - USB Display Monitor (similar to DisplayLink) - Remote Access (over USB link, WiFi and LAN) - Remote Control (wireless and wired) - Screen Streaming (including audio) - Screen Mirroring (over the air and via cable) - Screen Cloning - Extension Screen - Windows Desktop Workspace Extension - Windows Desktop Duplication (clone) - Windows Desktop Streaming - Personal Computer Desktop Presenter - Virtual Monitor for Desktop PC - Second Display On The Go - TV, mobile or tablet screen as Side by Side Display - Alternative to Miracast, AirPlay and Sidecar - Portable Multimonitor Screen for Travel - Access main computer from mobile device - Software KVM-Switch (Keyboard Video Mouse) - Software Display Hub - Software Display Switch - Projector Screen Viewer - Input Console - Input Terminal - Tablet Input Device - Windows Graphics Tablet App - Windows Tablet as sketchbook for drawing artwork - Creative Video Wall App - Video Wall w. Any Angle Rotation Instruction manual, documentation and detailed setup: https://manual.spacedesk.net Quick Guide: 1. Install spacedesk DRIVER software for Windows Primary PC. Download from: https://www.spacedesk.net 2. Install this spacedesk Viewer app for iOS. 3. Open this spacedesk Viewer app and connect to Windows Primary PC. Connection: USB or LAN (Local Area Network). LAN: Driver and Viewer must be on the same network - via Mobile Hotspot Note: Does NOT need internet connection! The Windows Primary Machine running spacedesk Driver... ...supports Windows 11, Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. Apple Macs are not supported. Dual monitor and multi monitor configurations are supported. Needs spacedesk drivers installed. Download: https://www.spacedesk.net The Secondary Machine or Device (iOS network display client)... ...is an iPad, iPhone or device running the spacedesk iOS app. The wireless and wired cable connection... ...connects Windows Primary Machine to Secondary Machine or Device over USB, LAN (Local Area Network e.g. Ethernet) and/or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). Local Area Network connection can be wired or over WiFi. TCP/IP network protocol is required. More information on: https://www.spacedesk.net Instruction Manual: https://manual.spacedesk.net/ Support Forum: https://forum.spacedesk.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/spacedesk/330909083726073 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkWZSwBD-XY — LIGHTNING FAST — To achieve unparalleled performance and display quality with zero lag, use cable connection over USB or Local Area Network. Try to circumvent WiFi and network routers. E.g. configure Windows PC or iOS device as WiFi Access Point (Hotspot) and connect directly before connecting spacedesk. Please check chapter "Performance Tuning" in the instruction manual: https://manual.spacedesk.net — REMOTE CONTROL INPUT AND OUTPUT PERIPHERAL ACCESSORIES — - Touchscreen (multitouch and single touch - Touchpad - Mouse Pointer Control - Keyboard - Pressure Sensitive Stylus Pen - Audio Speaker — SETTINGS AND OPTIONS — - Landscape View - Portrait View — SYSTEM SUPPORT — Supported are iOS versions 11.x+ (including MacOS on Apple Silicon Chips) and PCs with Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. Apple Macs are not supported.

Screenshots

Yam Display4 screens
spacedesk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: spacedesk at Free against Yam Display's $7.99. spacedesk also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Yam Display's advantage is iOS requirement (7.1 vs 9.3). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

spacedesk is free to download; Yam Display costs $7.99 up front. Yam Display sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and spacedesk sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

spacedesk holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: spacedesk has 2.3K ratings behind it against 82, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Yam Display's written reviews are positive against 71% of spacedesk's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Yam Display ships an update every 3 months, spacedesk every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Yam Display versus spacedesk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterYam Displayspacedesk
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (82 ratings)4.7 (2.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.1% of reviews71.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings822.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.1 — better9.3
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYamstu Inc.datronicsoft Technology GmbH

Customer experience

Yam Display

All ratings80 ratings
Positive82.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative16.3%
Written reviews154 reviews
Positive70.1%
Neutral7.1%
Negative22.7%

spacedesk

All ratings2,195 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.2%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews899 reviews
Positive71.2%
Neutral7.2%
Negative21.6%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Yam Display

One-time2
  • Drag and DropFree
  • Teleprompter ModeFree
11 purchases

spacedesk

One-time11
  • Business License: 46-50 Conn.$9.00
  • Business License: 41-45 Conn.$18.00
  • Business License: 1 connection$19.00
Show 8 more
  • Business License: 36-40 Conn.$25.00
  • Business License: 31-35 Conn.$35.00
  • Business License: 26-30 Conn.$45.00
  • Business License: 21-25 Conn.$50.00
  • Business License: 16-20 Conn.$59.00
  • Business License: 11-15 Conn.$60.00
  • Business License: 6-10 Conn.$70.00
  • Business License: 2-5 Conn.$79.00

Questions

Is Yam Display free?
Yam Display costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is spacedesk free?
spacedesk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Yam Display or spacedesk?
spacedesk is rated higher. Yam Display averages 4.3 out of 5 from 82 ratings, while spacedesk averages 4.7 from 2.3K ratings.
Do Yam Display or spacedesk have ads?
Neither Yam Display nor spacedesk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Yam Display or spacedesk?
Yam Display ships an update every 3 months, and spacedesk every 3 weeks. Most recently, Yam Display was updated on October 24, 2026 and spacedesk on October 24, 2026.

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