Comparison

DeskState vs External Display Desktop

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

Head to head
About

DeskState

Transform your iPhone into a focused external workspace. This app creates a windowed environment on a monitor with floating panels, keyboard/mouse support, and customizable layouts. Pin favorite web panels to maintain a consistent and efficient setup.

Highlights
  • External display workspace
  • Floating windows
  • Keyboard and mouse support
  • Pin favorite web panels
  • Customizable backgrounds
Features
Read full description

iOS mirrors your iPhone with black bars. DeskState gives you a desktop instead: plug into a monitor, TV or projector and get windows, a Dock, Launchpad, Spotlight and Mission Control at the display's full resolution. Your iPhone becomes the trackpad and keyboard. A REAL DESKTOP • Windows you move, resize and snap to halves or quarters of the screen • A Dock you arrange yourself, Launchpad, Spotlight with quick sums, and Mission Control • A web browser with tabs, bookmarks, history and downloads, and any site as an app in your Dock • Notes, documents, console, calculator, focus timer and more • Your desktop remembers: windows come back where you left them YOUR IPHONE IS THE TRACKPAD • Swipe, tap, two-finger scroll, double-tap and hold to drag, three fingers for all your windows • Type with the iPhone keyboard and see what you type; arrow keys, Tab and Esc above it • Works with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse too CONNECT • iPhone 15 and later: any USB-C to HDMI cable • Earlier iPhones: Lightning Digital AV Adapter • Apple TV and AirPlay displays PLANS Your first five desktop sessions are Pro, free. After that the free plan gives you 20 minutes of desktop a day. DeskState Pro removes the limit and adds quarter snapping, a desktop for each display, themes and wallpapers, Pro tools and iCloud sync, monthly, yearly or once. Streaming services with copy protection show video only over a cable, not over AirPlay. DeskState is a desktop inside the app: it runs its own apps and websites, not other iOS apps. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

External Display Desktop

Browse the web, watch videos, and work on an external display using your iPhone. Enjoy full-resolution browsing, file management, and even video calls with camera and microphone support. It offers a desktop-like experience with mouse and keyboard compatibility, and a privacy-focused design with an integrated ad-blocker.

Highlights
  • Full-resolution browsing on external displays
  • Full-screen video playback
  • PDF and file opening in tabs
  • Camera and microphone support for calls
  • Mouse and keyboard support
  • Floating, resizable tabs
  • Integrated ad-blocker
Read full description

XeOS is the leading and most acclaimed desktop mode experience for iPhone, iPad, and the new iPhone Duo. Browse the web on a second screen, watch videos full-screen, work or study on your external monitor, TV, or projector powered only by your iPhone/iPad. Browse at full resolution, remove black bars, open PDFs and files in tabs, join calls with camera and microphone support, and enjoy a better iPhone/iPad extended display experience. • Full-resolution browsing on your external display from iPhone/iPad • Remove black bars for a cleaner full-screen view • Open PDFs and files in browser tabs • Download files directly from the browser • Watch YouTube and online video in full screen • Camera and microphone support for calls and meetings • Mouse and keyboard support for a desktop-like setup • Multitask with floating tabs - resize and reposition them anywhere on the screen • Use the on-screen trackpad when you don't have a mouse with you • Use the on-screen keyboard when you don't have a keyboard with you • More flexible iPhone/iPad external monitor to use anywhere • Enjoy a better iPhone/iPad to external monitor experience • Use iPhone/iPad extend display for work, travel, and entertainment • Privacy-focused by design, with no server account or remote processing; your browsing session, files, and activity stay on your device • Integrated ad-blocker disables many known intrusive trackers and ads • Built on Safari and iOS security standards, with proper system permissions IMPORTANT: This app works only with iPhone/iPads supporting video output when connecting via cable or adapter! Most iPhone/iPads support it, except the Air and E models, but check your iPhone/iPad's compatibility! The app works with some iPads but we advise you to use the free trial to test it with your model first! If wired connection doesn't work for your model try the wireless mode via AirPlay. The app's onboarding guides your through connecting all peripherals and your external monitor. If you encounter any issues or need help please contact support in the app. IMPORTANT: Note that the app has a few minor limitations. Due to browser engine security restrictions, users may be unable to interact with remote iframes in certain situations. When this happens, the app provides a button to temporarily switch to the phone layout, allowing you to complete the required action. Afterward, you can return to the fullscreen, black-bar-free experience. By using this app, you agree to Apple's Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

DeskState4 screens
External Display Desktop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: External Display Desktop at 58% against DeskState's 0%. External Display Desktop also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (18 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. DeskState sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and External Display Desktop sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

External Display Desktop holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: External Display Desktop has 18 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of DeskState's written reviews are positive against 58% of External Display Desktop's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DeskState ships an update every 4 days, External Display Desktop every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DeskState versus External Display Desktop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeskStateExternal Display Desktop
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.2 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews57.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings218 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.617.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB80 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperAbraham RubioMarian-Daniel Filipovici

Customer experience

DeskState

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

External Display Desktop

All ratings18 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive57.7%
Neutral7.7%
Negative34.6%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

DeskState

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly subscription$2.991 Month
  • Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Yearly subscription$14.991 Year
  • Yearly subscription$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime subscription$29.99
  • Lifetime$59.99
3 purchases

External Display Desktop

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$34.99

Questions

Is DeskState free?
DeskState is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is External Display Desktop free?
External Display Desktop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DeskState or External Display Desktop?
External Display Desktop is rated higher. DeskState averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while External Display Desktop averages 4.2 from 18 ratings.
Do DeskState or External Display Desktop have ads?
Neither DeskState nor External Display Desktop shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DeskState or External Display Desktop?
DeskState ships an update every 4 days, and External Display Desktop every 2 days. Most recently, DeskState was updated on October 24, 2026 and External Display Desktop on October 24, 2026.

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