# TheDesk mobile client vs Herd for Mastodon

The clearest difference is price: TheDesk mobile client at Free against Herd for Mastodon's $0.99. Herd for Mastodon's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 days). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

TheDesk mobile client is free to download; Herd for Mastodon costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Herd for Mastodon holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

TheDesk mobile client ships an update every 3 days, Herd for Mastodon daily. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TheDesk mobile client | Herd for Mastodon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thedesk-mobile-client/id1591748028/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herd-for-mastodon/id6447533834/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 49 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Ryuki Yoshikawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1547059021) | [Ross Cooper](https://appshunter.io/developer/288074882) |

## What reviewers say

### TheDesk mobile client

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thedesk-mobile-client/id1591748028)

This social networking app allows users to view up to six Mastodon timelines concurrently. It includes standard streaming functionality for real-time updates.

**Highlights:** View up to 6 timelines simultaneously, Standard streaming included, Mastodon client, Real-time updates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Herd for Mastodon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herd-for-mastodon/id6447533834)

Connect with millions on Mastodon using this iOS client. Manage multiple accounts, view timelines, send direct messages, and organize follows with lists. Discover trending content and people.

**Highlights:** Multi-account support, Home, Local & Federated timelines, Bookmarks & Direct messages, Notifications, People & Hashtag recommendations, Lists for organizing follows

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TheDesk mobile client free?

TheDesk mobile client is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Herd for Mastodon free?

Herd for Mastodon costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TheDesk mobile client or Herd for Mastodon?

Herd for Mastodon is rated higher. TheDesk mobile client averages 2.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Herd for Mastodon averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do TheDesk mobile client or Herd for Mastodon have ads?

Neither TheDesk mobile client nor Herd for Mastodon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TheDesk mobile client or Herd for Mastodon?

TheDesk mobile client ships an update every 3 days, and Herd for Mastodon daily. Most recently, TheDesk mobile client was updated on November 3, 2026 and Herd for Mastodon on November 3, 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.*