# Halo OS vs DeskState

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Halo OS at 83% against DeskState's 0%. Halo OS also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). DeskState's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 26 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DeskState sells 3 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 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 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 October 9, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Halo OS | DeskState |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-os/id1578192575/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deskstate/id6757682755/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 5 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.2** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Tiago Mendes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1235886918) | [Abraham Rubio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571784493) |

## What reviewers say

### Halo OS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-os/id1578192575)

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.

**Highlights:** External monitor support, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse compatibility, Web browser, File explorer, TXT file reader, Window management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### DeskState

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deskstate/id6757682755)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime subscription | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Halo OS free?

Halo OS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DeskState free?

DeskState is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Halo OS or DeskState?

Halo OS is rated higher. Halo OS averages 4.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while DeskState averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Halo OS or DeskState have ads?

Neither Halo OS nor DeskState shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Halo OS or DeskState?

Halo OS ships an update every 26 months, and DeskState every 4 days. Most recently, Halo OS was updated on October 9, 2026 and DeskState on September 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*