Comparison

PhonePad vs Control‎

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

Head to head
About

PhonePad

Turn your iPhone into a responsive trackpad and keyboard for your Mac. Control your computer remotely with familiar gestures and easy text input. Requires a companion app on your Mac and a network connection.

Highlights
  • iPhone as Mac trackpad
  • Remote keyboard input
  • Familiar gestures and controls
  • Seamless integration with Mac
  • Intuitive user experience
Read full description

PhonePad - Bridging the gap between your iOS and macOS devices for a seamless and productive experience. Transform your iPhone into a fully functional trackpad for your Mac with PhonePad. Whether you’re on the go or simply prefer the convenience of using your iOS device as a trackpad, PhonePad delivers a seamless and intuitive experience. Key Features: 1. PhonePad integrates seamlessly with your Mac, providing a natural and responsive trackpad experience.  2. Enjoy the familiar gestures and controls you’re used to. 3. Using PhonePad's keyboard, easily type text on your Mac remotely. 4. Easily connect your device to your Mac by running the PhonePad for Mac app. Functionality: 1. Tap once to left-click 2. Tap twice to double-click 3. Tap with two fingers to right-click 4. Pan with two fingers to scroll 5. Pan with three fingers to drag 6. Tap on the keyboard icon to start typing on your Mac Requirements: 1. PhonePad app is also required to be installed on your Mac. 2. Network connection is required (connecting your Mac to your hotspot also works!) 3. Requires macOS 10.13 and iOS 16.0 or later. Download PhonePad today and unlock the full potential of your iOS device as a powerful, intuitive trackpad for your Mac! Security & Privacy: PhonePad does not collect any data from your devices. All communication is made between your iPhone and your Mac. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Control‎

Easily manage media playback and system volume on your Mac from your iPhone or iPad. It supports popular apps like Spotify, VLC, and Apple Music without requiring subscriptions or companion app installations.

Highlights
  • System-level volume control
  • Basic media playback controls
  • Supports TV.app, Music.app, VLC, Spotify
  • No subscription or companion app needed
  • Connects via built-in permissions
  • Requires same network connection
Features
Read full description

The simplest and fastest way to control media playback, volume, and more on your Mac. Control connects directly over your local network, so you never have to install or run a companion app. 【NEW】Control any app, video, or website with Keyboard controls. Re-arrange your keypad and add the commands (and shortcuts!) that are useful to you. Additionally, Control always supports system-level volume controls and *direct* playback controls for the following apps: • TV.app • Music.app • QuickTime Player • VLC • IINA • mpv • Spotify • Safari (experimental) No subscriptions, no payments, no ads, no tracking. Control is privacy-first and doesn't collect any data. It connects directly across your local network, so your information never even touches the internet. Need more Control? Send a request anytime. I'd love to make the app as useful as possible. Note: Control’s connection to your Mac is managed via built-in macOS permissions. Once accepted, Control will work forever with no additional setup. It requires being on the same network and enabling Remote Access. Some VPN clients may interfere, depending on settings. Powered by AppleScript.

Screenshots

PhonePad4 screens
Control‎4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Control‎ at 100% against PhonePad's 50%. Control‎ also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). PhonePad's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 days). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. PhonePad sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Control‎ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Control‎ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of PhonePad's written reviews are positive against 100% of Control‎'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhonePad ships an update every 2 days, Control‎ every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on August 16, 2026 and August 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PhonePad versus Control‎: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhonePadControl‎
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings35 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIbrahim ChihaRyan Whitney

Customer experience

PhonePad

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Control‎

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PhonePad

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
None

Control‎

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PhonePad free?
PhonePad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Control‎ free?
Control‎ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PhonePad or Control‎?
Control‎ is rated higher. PhonePad averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Control‎ averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do PhonePad or Control‎ have ads?
Neither PhonePad nor Control‎ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PhonePad or Control‎?
PhonePad ships an update every 2 days, and Control‎ every 9 days. Most recently, PhonePad was updated on August 16, 2026 and Control‎ on August 3, 2026.

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