# KDE Connect vs Deckboard

The clearest difference is rating: KDE Connect at 4.2 against Deckboard's 2.8. KDE Connect also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (61% vs 33%). Deckboard's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

KDE Connect holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KDE Connect has 276 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of KDE Connect's written reviews are positive against 33% of Deckboard's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KDE Connect | Deckboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kde-connect/id1580245991/reviews)** | [2.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deckboard-macropad-for-pc/id1586809191/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **276** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **60.9% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KDE e.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580245993) | [Riva Farabi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586383433) |

## What reviewers say

### KDE Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kde-connect/id1580245991)

Seamlessly integrate your devices with features like a shared clipboard, file sharing, and remote control. Use your phone as a virtual touchpad or keyboard, and even control presentations remotely. All communication is secured with end-to-end encryption.

**Highlights:** Shared clipboard, File and URL sharing, Virtual touchpad and keyboard, Remote presentation control, Remote command execution, End-to-end encryption

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works seamlessly across devices
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Secure file transfer
- 💡 Innovative remote control features
- 🤖 Great for Linux/KDE integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and connectivity issues
- 🔋 Drains battery when running in the background
- 🤖 Limited functionality on iOS compared to Android
- 🤔 Pairing can be unreliable at times

**Reported bugs**

- Clipboard push feature not working
- App crashes on launch for some users
- Incompatibility with certain device/OS combinations
- Inability to discover/connect to devices in some cases

**Requested features**

- Add support for background operation
- Improve multi-file transfer capabilities
- Integrate with system share sheet
- Implement two-finger scrolling and other gestures
- Add SMS/notification sync features


### Deckboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deckboard-macropad-for-pc/id1586809191)

Transform your mobile device into a custom macro keyboard for your computer. Streamline tasks, launch applications, and control streaming software with personalized shortcuts. Requires a companion desktop app.

**Highlights:** Custom macro shortcuts, Launch applications and websites, OBS Studio/Streamlabs OBS integration, Multimedia controls, Personalize buttons with images/GIFs, WiFi connection to PC

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KDE Connect free?

KDE Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Deckboard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, KDE Connect or Deckboard?

KDE Connect is rated higher. KDE Connect averages 4.2 out of 5 from 276 ratings, while Deckboard averages 2.8 from 16 ratings.

### Do KDE Connect or Deckboard have ads?

Deckboard shows ads; KDE Connect does not.

### Which is updated more often, KDE Connect or Deckboard?

KDE Connect ships an update every 3 months, and Deckboard every 3 months. Most recently, KDE Connect was updated on October 16, 2026 and Deckboard on October 12, 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.*