# StarDesk vs TapDeck

The clearest difference is rating: StarDesk at 4.9 against TapDeck's 3.3. StarDesk also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ratings volume (175 vs 3). TapDeck's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 86%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TapDeck sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. StarDesk asks for nothing beyond the download.

StarDesk holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StarDesk has 175 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of StarDesk'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.

StarDesk ships an update every 2 weeks, TapDeck every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarDesk | TapDeck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (175 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stardesk-remote-desktop/id6751540294/reviews)** | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tapdeck-pc-controller/id6755589889/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **175** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 86.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 62 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [GearUP Portal PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653711154) | [Yashua Evans](https://appshunter.io/developer/1347639260) |

## What reviewers say

### StarDesk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stardesk-remote-desktop/id6751540294)

Control your PC remotely from any device with ultra-low latency and secure connections. Stream games in 4K, transfer files quickly, and access your work applications seamlessly. Ideal for both gamers and professionals needing constant PC access.

**Highlights:** Ultra-low latency remote desktop, Secure remote access, 4K streaming, Fast file transfer, Remote PC gaming, Remote work and productivity, Remote wake

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 StarDesk free?

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

### Is TapDeck free?

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

### Which has better reviews, StarDesk or TapDeck?

StarDesk is rated higher. StarDesk averages 4.9 out of 5 from 175 ratings, while TapDeck averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do StarDesk or TapDeck have ads?

Neither StarDesk nor TapDeck shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StarDesk or TapDeck?

StarDesk ships an update every 2 weeks, and TapDeck every 5 days. Most recently, StarDesk was updated on October 13, 2026 and TapDeck on October 9, 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.*