Comparison

spacedesk vs Link to Windows

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

Head to head
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.

About

Link to Windows

Seamlessly integrate your iPhone with your Windows PC. Access calls, messages, notifications, and contacts directly from your computer. Easily share files between devices for enhanced productivity.

Highlights
  • Make and receive calls
  • Manage phone notifications
  • Read and reply to text messages
  • View phone contacts
  • Share files between phone and PC
Read full description

You love your phone. So does your PC. Get instant access to everything you love on your phone, right from your PC. To get started, connect your iPhone with the Phone Link Feature on your Windows PC. Enjoy these Phone Link features on your PC: • Make and receive calls • Manage your phone's notifications • Read and reply to text messages • View your phone contacts • Share files between your phone and PC Phone Link for iOS requires iPhone running iOS 16 or higher, and a PC with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support running Windows 10 (with the May 2019 Update or later) or Windows 11. Not available for iPad (iPadOS) or MacOS. By installing this app, you agree to the Microsoft Terms of Use https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=246338 and Privacy Statement https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=248686

Screenshots

spacedesk4 screens
Link to Windows4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: spacedesk at 4.7 against Link to Windows's 4.0. spacedesk also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 56%) and device support (3 vs 1). Link to Windows's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and chart position (#18 vs unranked). On price, update cadence and ads 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

Both are free to download. spacedesk sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Link to Windows asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

spacedesk holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Link to Windows has 16K ratings behind it against 2.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of spacedesk's written reviews are positive against 56% of Link to Windows's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

spacedesk ships an update every 3 weeks, Link to Windows fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
spacedesk versus Link to Windows: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterspacedeskLink to Windows
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.2K ratings) — better4.0 (16K ratings)
Positive reviews71.3% of reviews — better56.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2.2K16K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#18 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS9.3 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerdatronicsoft Technology GmbHMicrosoft Corporation

Customer experience

spacedesk

All ratings2,167 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral1.2%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews895 reviews
Positive71.3%
Neutral7.3%
Negative21.5%

Link to Windows

All ratings15,951 ratings
Positive72.5%
Neutral9.5%
Negative18.0%
Written reviews4,364 reviews
Positive56.0%
Neutral14.2%
Negative29.8%

Bugs and requests

spacedesk

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Link to Windows

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Bluetooth interference with other devices
  • Inability to reconnect after device is out of range

Requested features

4 requests
  • Seamless call handling between phone and PC
  • Full message history sync
  • Support for media sharing
  • Group messaging functionality

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
None

Link to Windows

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is spacedesk free?
spacedesk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Link to Windows free?
Link to Windows is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, spacedesk or Link to Windows?
spacedesk is rated higher. spacedesk averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Link to Windows averages 4.0 from 16K ratings.
Do spacedesk or Link to Windows have ads?
Neither spacedesk nor Link to Windows shows ads.
Which is updated more often, spacedesk or Link to Windows?
spacedesk ships an update every 3 weeks, and Link to Windows fortnightly. Most recently, spacedesk was updated on September 23, 2026 and Link to Windows on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons