Comparison

ACLE Updater vs ControlPad

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

Head to head
About

ACLE Updater

Features
Read full description

Airconsole LE is a Bluetooth Low Energy to RS232 Serial adaptor. This app can be used to discover, configure and perform firmware updates for your Airconsole LE device. This App is not a terminal application - for a VT100 terminal to use on iPhone or iPad that works with Airconsole LE, please see the Get Console app available on the Apple App Store.

About

ControlPad

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a versatile remote for your Mac. It functions as a trackpad, keyboard, and app-specific control surface, adapting automatically to the application you're using. Enjoy seamless control from anywhere in the room.

Highlights
  • Mac-like trackpad experience
  • Full iPhone/iPad keyboard input
  • App-adaptive controls
  • Three customizable layouts
  • Haptic feedback
  • Private, local network connection
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a trackpad, keyboard and control surface for your Mac, one that automatically adapts to the app you're using. Control your Mac from the couch, across the room or right beside your desk. ControlPad connects directly to your Mac over your local network, with a trackpad tuned to feel like a MacBook's and controls that change as you switch apps. A TRACKPAD THAT FEELS LIKE YOUR MAC'S • Tap to click, two fingers to scroll, press and drag to move windows • Two-finger tap to right-click • Four-finger swipes for Mission Control, App Exposé and switching Spaces • Pointer speed tuned to match a MacBook trackpad, and adjustable to suit you TYPE WITH YOUR OWN KEYBOARD • Type on your Mac with the iPhone or iPad keyboard you already know, including autocorrect, dictation and emoji • Command, Option, Control and Shift, the arrow keys and Escape, always one tap away CONTROLS THAT FOLLOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING Switch apps on your Mac and ControlPad adapts automatically: tabs and navigation in Safari, replies in Mail, formatting in Notes, builds in Xcode, playback for music and video. More than 50 Mac apps have their own controls, and every other app still gets the essentials, like Undo, Copy, Paste and Find. THREE LAYOUTS • Input: the whole screen is your trackpad • Balanced: a trackpad and your app's controls, side by side • Controls: every command at a glance, beside your own keyboard and mouse Switch any time, on iPhone and iPad. MORE • Switch between the apps running on your Mac • Pair as many iPhones and iPads as you like; one controls your Mac at a time • Haptic feedback for clicks, drags, gestures and controls PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Your devices talk directly to each other over your local network, with no cloud service in between • Pair once with a code shown on your Mac; the code is never sent over the network, and every connection is secure. • No account, no sign-up and no in-app analytics GETTING STARTED ControlPad works with ControlPad for Mac, a companion app you download from controlpad.tech. Open it on your Mac, allow Accessibility access when macOS asks (it's what lets ControlPad move the pointer and type for you), then open ControlPad on your iPhone or iPad on the same local network. Your Mac appears by itself; enter the code it shows and you're connected. Requires iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, and a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later on the same local network.

Screenshots

ACLE Updater1 screens
ControlPad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ControlPad at every 4 weeks against ACLE Updater's every 28 months. ACLE Updater's advantage is iOS requirement (11.2 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ACLE Updater ships an update every 28 months, ControlPad every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ACLE Updater versus ControlPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterACLE UpdaterControlPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 28 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.2 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmix Capital LimitedAlan Bryden

In-app purchases

None

ACLE Updater

No in-app purchases

None

ControlPad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ACLE Updater free?
ACLE Updater is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ControlPad free?
ControlPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ACLE Updater or ControlPad have ads?
Neither ACLE Updater nor ControlPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ACLE Updater or ControlPad?
ACLE Updater ships an update every 28 months, and ControlPad every 4 weeks. Most recently, ACLE Updater was updated on November 11, 2026 and ControlPad on October 31, 2026.

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