Comparison

HomeBridger vs Astropad Workbench

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

Head to head
About

HomeBridger

Manage your Homebridge server remotely with ease. Monitor server status, control plugins and bridges, and access real-time logs. Features automatic backups and home screen widgets for quick access.

Highlights
  • Remote Homebridge server management
  • Real-time server status monitoring
  • Plugin management and updates
  • Child bridge control
  • Home screen widgets
  • Automatic backups and configuration history
  • Live log streaming
Features
Read full description

Take control of your smart home from anywhere with HomeBridger — the easiest way to manage your Homebridge server from your iPhone or iPad. Easy Setup Getting started is simple. Just enter your server's IP address and we'll do the rest — automatically detecting the right settings and connecting you to your Homebridge. No technical knowledge required. See Everything at a Glance Your dashboard shows you exactly what's happening with your smart home server. Is it running smoothly? How much memory is it using? How long has it been up? All the important stuff, beautifully displayed. Manage Your Plugins See all your installed plugins, check for updates, and install new ones with a single tap. You can even edit plugin settings and choose which ones notify you about updates. Control Your Bridges If you use child bridges, you can start, stop, and monitor them all from one place. Pin your favorites for quick access, or add them to a widget for instant control from your home screen. Widgets for Your Home Screen Five different widgets let you monitor and control Homebridge without even opening the app. Check server status, see plugin updates, or restart services — right from your home screen or lock screen. Automatic Backups & Configuration History Never lose your configuration again. HomeBridger can automatically back up your Homebridge settings daily, keeping your smart home safe. Track changes to your config over time and restore previous versions with a single tap. Real-Time Logs When something goes wrong, see exactly what's happening with live log streaming. Errors are highlighted in red so you can quickly find and fix issues.

About

Astropad Workbench

Access and control your Mac remotely from your iPhone or iPad. Manage your machine, run desktop applications, and monitor tasks from anywhere with a high-performance, secure connection.

Highlights
  • Real-time Mac control
  • Voice dictation to Mac
  • Unified multi-display workspace
  • Apple Pencil cursor control
  • Hassle-free network connections
  • End-to-end encrypted sessions
Features
Read full description

Access and control your Mac from anywhere, with full remote desktop and built-in terminal. Workbench connects you to your Mac from your iPhone, iPad, or another Mac. Check in on AI agents and long-running jobs, run desktop apps, or drop into the command line without being tethered to your desk. ——— KEY FEATURES Desktop and terminal: Switch between your Mac's full desktop and a terminal right from the toolbar. Terminal sessions keep running after you disconnect, so you can pick up where you left off on another device. Unified display: Combine your Mac's displays into one screen that matches your device's resolution. Headless Mac support: Run a Mac mini with no monitor attached. Workbench gives it a virtual display and manages sleep settings so it's always reachable. Voice input: Dictate prompts and commands from your iPhone or iPad, on the desktop or in the terminal. Apple Pencil and keyboard support: Use your Apple Pencil for precise cursor control in Mac apps, and your keyboard to type and trigger shortcuts. No-hassle connections: Connect instantly without port forwarding, VPNs, or router configuration. Fast, high-fidelity streaming: Interact with your Mac in real time with responsive controls and sharp visuals. Secure by design: Sessions are protected with end-to-end AES-256 encryption, and Astropad can't see your screen or activity. Built for Apple devices: Workbench uses fully native apps built specifically for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. ——— DESIGNED FOR AI AGENT WORKFLOWS Your agents don't stop when you leave your desk. Workbench lets you monitor progress, fix issues, and restart jobs from wherever you are. It's just as useful for checking on tools and software that don't have a mobile app. ——— BUILT BY EX-APPLE ENGINEERS From the team behind Astropad Studio and Luna Display, Workbench delivers fast, responsive control with crisp visuals and reliable performance on any network. ——— PRICING Workbench includes a Free plan with 20 minutes of access per day. Upgrade to Unlimited for uninterrupted access (subscription required). ——— SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Mac: macOS 15 or later iPhone: iOS 26 or later iPad: iPadOS 26 or later

Screenshots

HomeBridger4 screens
Astropad Workbench4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Astropad Workbench at 4.8 against HomeBridger's 4.3. Astropad Workbench also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 33%) and ratings volume (217 vs 10). HomeBridger's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Astropad Workbench holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Astropad Workbench has 217 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of HomeBridger's written reviews are positive against 60% of Astropad Workbench's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HomeBridger ships an update every 4 days, Astropad Workbench every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
HomeBridger versus Astropad Workbench: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHomeBridgerAstropad Workbench
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (10 ratings)4.8 (217 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews60.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10217 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLVL35 LLCAstro HQ

Customer experience

HomeBridger

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

Astropad Workbench

All ratings201 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

None

HomeBridger

No in-app purchases

None

Astropad Workbench

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HomeBridger free?
HomeBridger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Astropad Workbench free?
Astropad Workbench is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HomeBridger or Astropad Workbench?
Astropad Workbench is rated higher. HomeBridger averages 4.3 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Astropad Workbench averages 4.8 from 217 ratings.
Do HomeBridger or Astropad Workbench have ads?
Neither HomeBridger nor Astropad Workbench shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HomeBridger or Astropad Workbench?
HomeBridger ships an update every 4 days, and Astropad Workbench every 3 weeks. Most recently, HomeBridger was updated on November 5, 2026 and Astropad Workbench on November 5, 2026.

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