Halo OS vs DeskState
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Halo OS
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a functional desktop computer. Connect external displays, keyboards, and mice to navigate a web browser and file explorer with ease.
- External monitor support
- Bluetooth keyboard and mouse compatibility
- Web browser
- File explorer
- TXT file reader
- Window management
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Initial Project to turn your iPhone/iPad into a computer. How to use this app: - Connect your iPhone/iPad to an external monitor (use Lightning Digital AV Adapter, HDMI (for iPad) or use Apple AirPlay) - Connect Bluetooth Mouse and Bluetooth Keyboard (if you are using iPhone you gonna need to activate Assistive Touch and screen orientation change to Off so you can rotate the iPhone screen) Feature: Web browser File Explorer with a txt file reader. -- How to use the app --- Double click to open files and folders Click the window top bar so that windows became top window Double click top bar will expand the screen
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.
- External display workspace
- Floating windows
- Keyboard and mouse support
- Pin favorite web panels
- Customizable backgrounds
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Halo OS at 83% against DeskState's 0%. Halo OS also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). DeskState's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 26 months). On price, ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. DeskState sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Halo OS asks for nothing beyond the download.
Halo OS holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Halo OS's written reviews are positive against 0% of DeskState's.
Halo OS ships an update every 26 months, DeskState every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Halo OS | DeskState |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (8 ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.2 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Tiago Mendes | Abraham Rubio |
Customer experience
Halo OS
DeskState
In-app purchases
Halo OS
No in-app purchases
DeskState
- Monthly subscription$2.991 Month
- Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
- Yearly subscription7 Days trial$14.991 Year
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- Yearly subscription$14.991 Year
- Yearly subscription$24.991 Year
- Lifetime subscription$29.99
- Lifetime$59.99
Questions
Is Halo OS free?
Is DeskState free?
Which has better reviews, Halo OS or DeskState?
Do Halo OS or DeskState have ads?
Which is updated more often, Halo OS or DeskState?
Other comparisons
