# UpDown DESK vs Couchside

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: UpDown DESK at none against Couchside's 1. UpDown DESK also leads on iOS requirement (11.1 vs 16.4). Couchside's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Couchside sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. UpDown DESK asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpDown DESK ships an update every 2 months, Couchside every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | UpDown DESK | Couchside |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/couchside-remote/id6786884115/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [国强 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1151273698) | [Taylor Emery](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896613747) |

## What reviewers say

### UpDown DESK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/updown-desk/id6748215564)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Couchside

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/couchside-remote/id6786884115)

Transform your iPhone into a remote console, game launcher, and controller for your Linux gaming PC. Monitor system health, fix issues without a keyboard, and launch games directly from your couch.

**Highlights:** Live system monitoring dashboard, One-tap runbook actions for troubleshooting, Browse system logs remotely, Launch Steam games and custom applications, Virtual Xbox 360 game controller, Trackpad and swipe control modes, Easy QR code pairing

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Couchside Forever Unlock | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UpDown DESK free?

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

### Is Couchside free?

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

### Do UpDown DESK or Couchside have ads?

Neither UpDown DESK nor Couchside shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, UpDown DESK or Couchside?

UpDown DESK ships an update every 2 months, and Couchside every 2 days. Most recently, UpDown DESK was updated on October 28, 2026 and Couchside on October 28, 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.*