Comparison

DeskState vs TerraNotes

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

TerraNotes

Features
Read full description

TerraNotes lets you create notes directly on maps — pin locations, draw lines and shapes, and organize everything into folders you can share with others. Whether you're planning a trip, documenting field work, tracking properties, or simply saving places that matter, TerraNotes gives you a visual, map-based way to capture spatial information. FEATURES - Drop markers, draw polylines, or outline areas with polygons on the map - Add descriptions, colors, photos, and file attachments to each note - Organize notes into color-coded folders with tags for filtering - Share folders with role-based permissions: owner, editor, or viewer - Custom styling with colors, stroke widths, and fill options - Real-time sync across all your devices - 11 languages supported - Light and dark themes GREAT FOR - Travel planning and shared itineraries - Field work and site documentation - Real estate research - Hiking, camping, and outdoor adventures - Team coordination on location-based projects Sign in with email, Google, or Apple and start mapping your world. Terms of Use: [https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/)

Screenshots

DeskState4 screens
TerraNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: DeskState at every 4 days against TerraNotes's every 2 months. TerraNotes's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, 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 TerraNotes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DeskState ships an update every 4 days, TerraNotes every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DeskState versus TerraNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeskStateTerraNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB77 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperAbraham RubioMaximilian Nocker

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
2 purchases

TerraNotes

Subscriptions2
  • TerraNotes Monthly$3.991 Month
  • TerraNotes Premium Yearly$17.991 Year

Questions

Is DeskState free?
DeskState is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TerraNotes free?
TerraNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DeskState or TerraNotes have ads?
Neither DeskState nor TerraNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DeskState or TerraNotes?
DeskState ships an update every 4 days, and TerraNotes every 2 months. Most recently, DeskState was updated on October 24, 2026 and TerraNotes on October 25, 2026.

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