# DeskState vs External Display Desktop

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | DeskState | External Display Desktop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deskstate/id6757682755/reviews) | **[4.2 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/external-display-desktop-xeos/id6758286241/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **18** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **57.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Abraham Rubio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571784493) | [Marian-Daniel Filipovici](https://appshunter.io/developer/1825291966) |

## What reviewers say

### DeskState

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deskstate/id6757682755)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime subscription | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


### External Display Desktop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/external-display-desktop-xeos/id6758286241)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*