Comparison

exBrowser vs DeskState

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

Head to head
About

exBrowser

Features
Read full description

An external display is not only used show a presentation such as powerpoint or keynote. The ExBrowser can show a defferrent screen from iPad screen in an external display. If you do arrange a contents such as web page, PDF, photo in a screen that can split (up to 4 splits), will be able to work more efficiently. Works great with iPadOS multitasking! For example, you can showing an information for work such as photo or PDF in an external display during create an illustration using a paint app. Using ExBrowser, There will be more works that can be completed only on the iPad. In ver.2, this app has become a universal app that also works in iPhone. Connect iphone to a TV in living room via AirPlay, you can watching a contents while sitting on the sofa.

About

DeskState

Transform your iPhone into a focused external workspace. This app creates a windowed environment on a monitor with floating panels, keyboard/mouse support, and customizable layouts. Pin favorite web panels to maintain a consistent and efficient setup.

Highlights
  • External display workspace
  • Floating windows
  • Keyboard and mouse support
  • Pin favorite web panels
  • Customizable backgrounds
Features
Read full description

iOS mirrors your iPhone with black bars. DeskState gives you a desktop instead: plug into a monitor, TV or projector and get windows, a Dock, Launchpad, Spotlight and Mission Control at the display's full resolution. Your iPhone becomes the trackpad and keyboard. A REAL DESKTOP • Windows you move, resize and snap to halves or quarters of the screen • A Dock you arrange yourself, Launchpad, Spotlight with quick sums, and Mission Control • A web browser with tabs, bookmarks, history and downloads, and any site as an app in your Dock • Notes, documents, console, calculator, focus timer and more • Your desktop remembers: windows come back where you left them YOUR IPHONE IS THE TRACKPAD • Swipe, tap, two-finger scroll, double-tap and hold to drag, three fingers for all your windows • Type with the iPhone keyboard and see what you type; arrow keys, Tab and Esc above it • Works with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse too CONNECT • iPhone 15 and later: any USB-C to HDMI cable • Earlier iPhones: Lightning Digital AV Adapter • Apple TV and AirPlay displays PLANS Your first five desktop sessions are Pro, free. After that the free plan gives you 20 minutes of desktop a day. DeskState Pro removes the limit and adds quarter snapping, a desktop for each display, themes and wallpapers, Pro tools and iCloud sync, monthly, yearly or once. Streaming services with copy protection show video only over a cable, not over AirPlay. DeskState is a desktop inside the app: it runs its own apps and websites, not other iOS apps. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

exBrowser1 screens
DeskState4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DeskState at Free against exBrowser's $4.99. DeskState also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 8 months). exBrowser's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and device support (3 vs 1). On 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

DeskState is free to download; exBrowser costs $4.99 up front. DeskState sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. exBrowser asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

exBrowser ships an update every 8 months, DeskState every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
exBrowser versus DeskState: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterexBrowserDeskState
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating—3.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB48 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperRyosuke KawachiAbraham Rubio

In-app purchases

None

exBrowser

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

DeskState

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly subscription$2.991 Month
  • Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Yearly subscription$14.991 Year
  • Yearly subscription$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime subscription$29.99
  • Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is exBrowser free?
exBrowser costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DeskState free?
DeskState is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do exBrowser or DeskState have ads?
Neither exBrowser nor DeskState shows ads.
Which is updated more often, exBrowser or DeskState?
exBrowser ships an update every 8 months, and DeskState every 4 days. Most recently, exBrowser was updated on November 2, 2026 and DeskState on November 5, 2026.

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