Comparison

irBoard Player vs spacedesk

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

Head to head
About

irBoard Player

Features
Read full description

Using irBoard Player, you can conveniently monitor the status and operation of FA equipment and IoT devices through an iPad or any other iOS device. The control device known as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) has communication protocols. irBoard Player communicates with PLCs via its protocol. Additionally, it has the capability to communicate effectively with IoT devices, specifically the ESP32 device at present. For creating project data, you need to use the paid version of irBoard or purchase an In-app-purcahse item of irBoard Lite. FEATURE: - You can conveniently monitor the status and operation of FA equipment and IoT devices. - Although the FA equipment has fixed touch panels installed, the irBoard Player on iOS devices offers superior portability. - It is possible to remotely check the status of a device in PLCs. - To ensure safety, manipulating connected PLC devices is only allowed on a single iOS device. - By switching projects, you can easily connect to multiple FA machines using just one iOS device. - irBoard Player supports the following PLCs via Ethernet connection: MITSUBISHI Electric, KEYENCE, OMRON, and YOKOGAWA Electric, and support Modbus/TCP. - It can also connect to an open-source PLC LadderDrive running on Raspberry Pi. (https://github.com/ito-soft-design/ladder_drive) - The irBoard Library for ESP32 library supports ESP32 devices.(https://github.com/ito-soft-design/irboard_esp32) - The irBoard.NET library supports Windows .NET applications.(https://github.com/ito-soft-design/irboard-dotnet) - Using the LadderDrive protocol, allows for communication with IoT devices such as ESP32 without any difficulty. ===================================== --- Notes --- With irBoard Player, you have the ability to turn devices on and off. If you require the interlocking of PLC-controlled devices, it is necessary to configure this on the PLC. To ensure safety, we suggest setting the status of such devices to read-only. You can monitor the health status to determine if the connection is stable. If the connection is lost, it’s important to take precautionary measures when operating your PLC. =====================================

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

irBoard Player2 screens
spacedesk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: spacedesk at Free against irBoard Player's $229.99. spacedesk also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.0). irBoard Player's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On ads and device support 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; irBoard Player costs $229.99 up front. spacedesk sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. irBoard Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

irBoard Player ships an update every 3 months, spacedesk every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
irBoard Player versus spacedesk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterirBoard Playerspacedesk
Price$229.99Free — better
Rating—4.7 (2.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews—71.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—2.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB17 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperITO SOFT DESIGN Inc.datronicsoft Technology GmbH

In-app purchases

None

irBoard Player

No in-app purchases

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 irBoard Player free?
irBoard Player costs $229.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is spacedesk free?
spacedesk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do irBoard Player or spacedesk have ads?
Neither irBoard Player nor spacedesk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, irBoard Player or spacedesk?
irBoard Player ships an update every 3 months, and spacedesk every 3 weeks. Most recently, irBoard Player was updated on October 18, 2026 and spacedesk on October 20, 2026.

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