Comparison

Steam Link vs Remote Gamepad

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

Head to head
About

Steam Link

Play your PC Steam games on your iPhone or iPad. Connect a controller and stream your library wirelessly from your computer to your mobile device. Enjoy your favorite titles on the go with this app.

Highlights
  • Stream Steam library to mobile
  • Use MFI or Steam controllers
  • Play on iPhone or iPad
  • Requires iOS 11.0+
  • Connect to PC on same network
Read full description

The Steam Link app brings desktop gaming to your iPhone or iPad. Just pair an MFI or Steam controller to your device, connect to a computer running Steam on the same local network, and start playing your existing Steam games. Requirements: * iPhone or iPad using iOS 11.0 or higher * Computer running Steam - Windows, Mac, or Linux * iOS device must be on the same local network as the computer running Steam For best performance: * Connect your computer using Ethernet to your 5Ghz WiFi router * Connect your iOS device to the 5GHz band of your WiFi network * Keep your iOS device within a reasonable range of your router

About

Remote Gamepad

Transform your iPhone into a wireless game controller for Mac. Enjoy smooth, low-latency input with customizable controls and per-game profiles. Ideal for Mac games that use keyboard and mouse controls, offering a gamepad experience without extra hardware.

Highlights
  • Wireless iPhone game controller for Mac
  • Low-latency input and fast pairing
  • Dual analog sticks and ABXY buttons
  • Tap-to-click and mouse-look support
  • Optional gyro steering
  • Per-game profiles and custom key mapping
  • Secure pairing and encrypted sessions
Features
Read full description

Play Mac games with your pocket game pad. iDrift turns your iPhone into a premium wireless game pad for Mac games, built for smooth control, fast pairing, and per-game customization. Pair your iPhone to your Mac in seconds using a QR code, connect automatically when nearby, and start playing with low-latency input. iDrift is designed for Mac games that use keyboard + mouse controls. Your phone becomes the controller. Console-style controls, made for Mac • Dual analog sticks for movement + camera/mouse-look • ABXY action buttons and L1/L2/R1/R2 triggers • Tap-to-click and mouse-look support for aiming and camera control • Optional gyro steering for tilt-based control (great for driving) Per-game profiles and custom key mapping Create profiles for each game with your own keymap: • Map buttons, triggers, and movement to any keyboard keys • Save multiple layouts and switch instantly while you play • Personalize the look with themed controller styles per profile Built for speed, stability, and privacy • Streams controller state at high refresh for responsive gameplay • Reliable button taps + low-latency analog motion • Secure pairing with encrypted MultipeerConnectivity sessions • “Forget device” support on iPhone or Mac to keep trusted devices in sync Mac receiver: lightweight menu-bar app The Mac companion app runs from the menu bar and converts iDrift inputs into keyboard + mouse events. It also manages pairing, trusted devices, and connection status. Ideal for Mac games, emulators, and any title that plays best with a game pad feel, without buying extra hardware.

Screenshots

Steam Link4 screens
Remote Gamepad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Steam Link at Free against Remote Gamepad's $3.99. Steam Link also leads on rating (3.3 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (3K vs 1). On review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

Steam Link is free to download; Remote Gamepad costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Steam Link holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Steam Link has 3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Steam Link's written reviews are positive against 40% of Remote Gamepad's.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Steam Link versus Remote Gamepad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteam LinkRemote Gamepad
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating3.3 (3K ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews42.7% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB3 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperValveParth Antala

Customer experience

Steam Link

All ratings3,041 ratings
Positive52.8%
Neutral10.3%
Negative37.0%
Written reviews1,638 reviews
Positive42.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative47.0%

Remote Gamepad

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

Bugs and requests

Steam Link

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Audio issues and sound problems
  • Controller mapping and input problems
  • Streaming quality and performance inconsistencies

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow playing games with PC off
  • Add remote access and PC control features
  • Improve touch screen controls and customization
  • Expand device compatibility

Remote Gamepad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Steam Link

No in-app purchases

None

Remote Gamepad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Steam Link free?
Steam Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Remote Gamepad free?
Remote Gamepad costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Steam Link or Remote Gamepad?
Steam Link is rated higher. Steam Link averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Remote Gamepad averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Steam Link or Remote Gamepad have ads?
Neither Steam Link nor Remote Gamepad shows ads.

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