Plainly vs CTRL Micro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Plainly
Experience web browsing without distractions. This app offers a clean, full-screen interface with minimal controls, allowing you to focus solely on content. It includes features like quick tab switching, passcode protection for privacy, and dark mode.
- Full-screen browsing experience
- Intuitive tab switching
- Buttonless interface option
- Passcode protection for privacy
- Dark mode support
- Quick history clearing
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Plainly is a web browser for browsing your favorite web sites full-screen. No address bars, no toolbars, no status bars – just a small button at the bottom of your screen. - Tap the Plainly button at the bottom of the screen to switch tabs and access navigation options - Two button modes: draggable mode lets you move the Plainly button to wherever you want; quick-switching mode lets you switch between tabs by swiping left and right on the Plainly button. - Buttonless full-screen: Tap and hold with two fingers to completely hide the Plainly button. - Passcode protection: Require a passcode for browsing privately. Plainly will also hide what you're looking at in the app switcher. - And more! Quickly clear browsing history; shortcuts support for launching Plainly on a given tab; pop-up support for websites that require them; and dark mode.
CTRL Micro
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a tactile control surface for your Mac and AI agents. Enjoy haptic feedback, launch apps, manage media, and interact with AI tools like Codex and Claude. Dictate text and view your Mac's screen remotely for a seamless workflow.
- Haptic feedback control deck
- Launch Mac applications
- Control Mac volume, brightness, media, windows
- Monitor AI agent progress
- Dictate into desktop apps
- View Mac screen remotely
- End-to-end encrypted connections
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CTRL Micro turns your iPhone or iPad into a tactile control deck for your Mac and AI agents. HAPTIC CONTROL DECK • Feel responsive haptics, sounds, and visual feedback • Arrange controls where they feel right • Switch between Mac, Codex, Claude, and Cursor from one deck CONTROL YOUR MAC • Launch applications • Control volume, brightness, media, and windows • Move the pointer, scroll, click, run Shortcuts, and talk to Siri MONITOR AI AGENTS • See task progress and attention states at a glance • Open recent tasks and start new ones • Use client-specific controls for Codex, Claude, and Cursor SPEAK NATURALLY • Dictate into desktop apps from your deck • Transcription is processed locally by CTRL Micro Host on your Mac SEE YOUR MAC • Watch your Mac respond as you use the control deck, Trackpad, or Keyboard • Open Desktop View nearby or through Remote Anywhere • Keep the live screen above your controls or expand it full screen • Pinch, pan, and double-tap to inspect your Mac screen PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No CTRL Micro account required • Nearby connections stay directly between your devices • Remote Anywhere is end-to-end encrypted; the relay forwards opaque data and cannot read your screen or control content • Screen frames, keyboard input, commands, and dictation content are not recorded or stored CTRL Micro requires the separate CTRL Micro Host app for Mac, available from ctrlmicro.com. Pair your iPhone or iPad with one selected Mac and control it nearby or through Remote Anywhere.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: CTRL Micro at Free against Plainly's $0.99. CTRL Micro also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
CTRL Micro is free to download; Plainly costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Plainly ships an update every 9 months, CTRL Micro every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Plainly | CTRL Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Justin Cheng | MedHue Labs |
Customer experience
Plainly
CTRL Micro
In-app purchases
Plainly
No in-app purchases
CTRL Micro
No in-app purchases









