# XBX Controller vs TapDeck

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TapDeck at 100% against XBX Controller's 19%. TapDeck also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). XBX Controller's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.3) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 days). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. XBX Controller sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and TapDeck sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

XBX Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: XBX Controller has 569 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of XBX Controller's written reviews are positive against 100% of TapDeck's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

XBX Controller ships an update daily, TapDeck every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | XBX Controller | TapDeck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (569 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xbx-controller-remote-play/id6739027564/reviews)** | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tapdeck-pc-controller/id6755589889/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **569** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 61 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tri Tran Thi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783464076) | [Yashua Evans](https://appshunter.io/developer/1347639260) |

## What reviewers say

### XBX Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xbx-controller-remote-play/id6739027564)

Control your gaming device remotely using any Bluetooth gamepad or the app's virtual gamepad. Enjoy immersive, low-latency game streaming with customizable controls and full-screen support, whether at home or on the go.

**Highlights:** Remote play with Bluetooth gamepad support, Virtual gamepad option, Low-latency game streaming, Customizable button mapping, Full-screen support, Seamless Bluetooth controller connection

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gamepad Premium Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Gamepad Premium Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Gamepad Premium Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


### TapDeck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tapdeck-pc-controller/id6755589889)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a personalized PC gaming controller. Enjoy a fast, reliable connection and design custom layouts to match your play style. Personalize your experience with unique themes.

**Highlights:** Customizable PC gaming controller, Personalized layout design, Fast, reliable wired connection, Unique theme personalization, iPhone and iPad support

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tier 1 Tokens Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tier 2 Tokens Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tier 3 Tokens Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tier 4 Tokens Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tier 5 Tokens Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Tier 6 Tokens Pack | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XBX Controller free?

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

### Is TapDeck free?

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

### Which has better reviews, XBX Controller or TapDeck?

XBX Controller is rated higher. XBX Controller averages 4.1 out of 5 from 569 ratings, while TapDeck averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do XBX Controller or TapDeck have ads?

Neither XBX Controller nor TapDeck shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, XBX Controller or TapDeck?

XBX Controller ships an update daily, and TapDeck every 5 days. Most recently, XBX Controller was updated on October 11, 2026 and TapDeck on September 23, 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.*