Comparison

Tracepad vs TouchNow Remote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Tracepad

Transform your iPhone into a wireless trackpad for your Mac. Enjoy full gesture support, a built-in keyboard, and low latency for presentations or remote control. Connect via Bluetooth or USB for a seamless experience.

Highlights
  • Full gesture support
  • Wireless and USB connection
  • Built-in keyboard
  • Low latency control
  • Privacy-focused connection
Features
Read full description

Tracepad turns your iPhone into a wireless trackpad, keyboard and mouse controller. For devices where you do not want to install a helper app, use Universal Keyboard & Mouse Mode and pair Tracepad as a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for Mac, iPad, Windows PCs and other compatible devices. For the complete Mac experience, install the companion Mac app and use familiar trackpad gestures with low-latency Bluetooth or USB connection. FEATURES • Mac Trackpad Mode Use your iPhone as a precise trackpad for Mac with scrolling, clicking, dragging and advanced gestures. • Universal Keyboard & Mouse Mode Pair directly as a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for Mac, iPad, Windows PCs and other compatible devices. No helper app required on the target device. • Built-in Keyboard Type on your Mac from your iPhone, with support for common modifier keys and shortcuts. • Dual Connection for Mac Connect to your Mac over Bluetooth or USB cable. No Wi-Fi required. • Low Latency Optimized for responsive, smooth and precise control. • Privacy First Direct device-to-device connection. Your input never goes through any server. REQUIREMENTS • Mac Trackpad Mode requires the free companion Mac app. • Universal Keyboard & Mouse Mode requires a device that supports Bluetooth keyboard and mouse input. Perfect for presentations, couch control, quick typing, or using your iPhone as a portable keyboard and mouse. Terms of Use: https://www.tracepad.site/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.tracepad.site/privacy Subscription Terms: https://www.tracepad.site/subscription

About

TouchNow Remote

Features
Read full description

Stream your Mac to your iPhone or iPad and control it with touch — play Mac games, work remotely, or fix a family member's computer. A FULL MACBOOK KEYBOARD Esc, F1–F12, arrow keys, ⌘⌥⌃⇧ combinations and caps lock. The iOS keyboard can't send a single one of these, and they're exactly what you need when driving a Mac. Modifiers are sticky, so combos work one-handed. THREE CONTROL MODES • Game mode: fully customizable virtual gamepad + physical controller support • Trackpad mode: the whole screen becomes a precise trackpad, with a cursor loupe • Direct touch: tap exactly where you want, zero learning curve BUILT FOR PLAY • Peer-to-peer direct connection; median network round-trip time (RTT) about 8 ms on 5 GHz Wi-Fi • 1080p 60fps streaming, HEVC encoding, adaptive jitter buffer • Auto-reconnect, keys never get stuck, controllers switch in automatically MORE • An illustrated guide on first launch, reopenable any time from Settings • Single-app window streaming: put just one Mac window on your phone while the Mac screen carries on • Use your iPhone or iPad as a second display for your Mac — and touch it • Picture in Picture + Live Activity on the Lock Screen • Clipboard sync, audio streaming, Wake-on-LAN, multi-display switching PRIVATE BY DESIGN • End-to-end encrypted: peer-to-peer when possible, relayed only when a direct connection is impossible — and the relay cannot see your screen • QR / PIN encrypted pairing, end-to-end encryption, allowlist-only connections • While being controlled, the Mac shows a persistent red banner and keeps a full connection history • No account, no tracking, no cloud recording PRICING Everything is free forever on your local network (same Wi-Fi). The only paid item is the Remote Access subscription (monthly or yearly), needed only when you're away and want to reach your Mac. Features that are free today will never move behind the paywall. GETTING STARTED The Mac you want to control needs the free TouchNow Host (macOS 13 or later), from touchmac.app — it is not on the Mac App Store. Install it, scan the QR code once, and you're paired. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tracepad3 screens
TouchNow Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Tracepad at 13.0 against TouchNow Remote's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Tracepad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and TouchNow Remote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Tracepad versus TouchNow Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTracepadTouchNow Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (16 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer庾涛 沈Po hin Ma

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Tracepad

Subscriptions2
  • Plus: Unlock iPhone Display$0.991 Month
  • Pro Plus: Unlock All Features$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • Tracepad unlock all gesture$3.99
2 purchases

TouchNow Remote

Subscriptions2
  • 遠端連線$2.991 Month
  • 遠端連線$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Tracepad free?
Tracepad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TouchNow Remote free?
TouchNow Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tracepad or TouchNow Remote have ads?
Neither Tracepad nor TouchNow Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tracepad or TouchNow Remote?
Tracepad ships an update every 3 days, and TouchNow Remote every 3 days. Most recently, Tracepad was updated on November 3, 2026 and TouchNow Remote on November 6, 2026.

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