# spacedesk vs Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet

The clearest difference is monetization model: spacedesk at free with in-app purchases against Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet's subscription. spacedesk also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 46%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. spacedesk sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for spacedesk against 4.7 for Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.3K and 3.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of spacedesk's written reviews are positive against 46% of Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet's.

spacedesk ships an update every 3 weeks, Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | spacedesk | Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spacedesk-usb-display-for-pc/id1069217220/reviews)** | [4.7 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-studio-drawing-tablet/id1181582576/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.3K | **3.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **71.2% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 17 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 13 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [datronicsoft Technology GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1069217219) | [Astro HQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/934510729) |

## What reviewers say

### spacedesk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spacedesk-usb-display-for-pc/id1069217220)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business License: 46-50 Conn. | $9.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 41-45 Conn. | $18.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 1 connection | $19.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 36-40 Conn. | $25.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 31-35 Conn. | $35.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 26-30 Conn. | $45.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 21-25 Conn. | $50.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 16-20 Conn. | $59.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 11-15 Conn. | $60.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 6-10 Conn. | $70.00 | one-time |
| Business License: 2-5 Conn. | $79.00 | one-time |


### Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-studio-drawing-tablet/id1181582576)

Transform your iPad into a professional wireless drawing tablet for demanding creative work. Enjoy customizable workspaces, gesture shortcuts, and high-speed connectivity for efficient digital art creation on Mac and PC.

**Highlights:** Wireless or USB connectivity, Customizable gesture shortcuts, Keyboard support, Pressure curve customization, Second display functionality, Optimized for Apple Pencil

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Astropad Studio Annual | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 🚀 Fantastic drawing experience
- 🚀 Seamless integration with desktop apps
- 👍 Customizable shortcuts and gestures
- 👍 Pressure sensitivity and cursor preview

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Crashes and connection issues
- 🐛 Laggy performance, especially over Wi-Fi
- 💡 Lacks dual-screen functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and disconnects
- Compatibility issues with certain apps
- Unresponsive or glitchy input

**Requested features**

- Ability to use iPad as a secondary display
- More affordable one-time purchase option
- Improved stability and performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is spacedesk free?

spacedesk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet free?

Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, spacedesk or Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet?

spacedesk is rated higher. spacedesk averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet averages 4.7 from 3.8K ratings.

### Do spacedesk or Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet have ads?

Neither spacedesk nor Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, spacedesk or Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet?

spacedesk ships an update every 3 weeks, and Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet every 3 months. Most recently, spacedesk was updated on October 26, 2026 and Astropad Studio Drawing Tablet on October 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*