Comparison

DeskState vs Desktop Mode OS

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

Desktop Mode OS

Transform your iPhone into a powerful desktop workstation, extending its capabilities to external displays like AR glasses, monitors, or TVs. Experience a high-performance desktop environment using your phone's native silicon, with innovative input modes for seamless interaction.

Highlights
  • Turn iPhone into a desktop workstation
  • Extend to AR glasses, monitors, TVs
  • Spatial productivity with AR glasses
  • Multiple input modes: Air Mouse, Hand Tracking, Liquid Trackpad
  • Connect to any display (USB-C, HDMI, AirPlay)
  • Sync Assistant for webview issues
  • Pin frequently used sessions to dock
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into a pro-grade desktop workstation! ProDocktive extends your iPhone to any external display — AR Glasses, Monitors, or TVs — creating a high-performance, multi-window desktop environment powered entirely by your phone. Your iPhone becomes the engine, trackpad, air mouse, and spatial hand tracker. No Mac or PC required! THE ULTIMATE AR & XR COMPANION Unlock spatial productivity with XREAL, VITURE, Rokid, and RayNeo glasses. • Infinite Real Estate: Say goodbye to simple screen mirroring. Experience a massive virtual desktop for immersive multitasking. • Privacy by Design: Work on sensitive projects in public spaces with total confidence. • Spatial Interaction: Control your desktop with futuristic Hand Tracking or Air Mouse navigation. CONNECT TO ANY DISPLAY • AR Glasses: Instant, private cinema-sized workstation. • USB-C / HDMI: Wired, zero-latency output to any monitor or TV. • AirPlay: Wireless freedom for zero-friction browsing and casting. REVOLUTIONARY INPUT MODES • Air Mouse: Point your iPhone like a laser to move the cursor with physical precision. • Hand Tracker (BETA): Use your iPhone's camera for hands-free spatial gestures. • Liquid Trackpad: Transform your screen into a premium multi-touch trackpad (scroll, swipe, pinch-to-zoom). • Bluetooth Support: Pair your favorite keyboard and mouse for a true PC feel. PRO-GRADE FEATURES & PRIVACY • Native Desktop UI: Optimized for large-scale displays and precision input. • Pin to Dock: Save frequently used web apps for lightning-fast access. • 100% On-Device: No cloud lag, no video compression. Pixel-perfect rendering using your iPhone's GPU. Requirements: iOS 18+ and compatible USB-C/HDMI adapters or AirPlay displays. Privacy Policy: https://prodocktive.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

DeskState4 screens
Desktop Mode OS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Desktop Mode OS at 71% against DeskState's 0%. Desktop Mode OS also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (24 vs 2). DeskState's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Desktop Mode OS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Desktop Mode OS holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Desktop Mode OS has 24 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 71% of Desktop Mode OS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DeskState ships an update every 4 days, Desktop Mode OS every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
DeskState versus Desktop Mode OS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeskStateDesktop Mode OS
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.6 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews71.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings224 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 6 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.618.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB38 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperAbraham RubioGautam Sukhramani

Customer experience

DeskState

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

Desktop Mode OS

All ratings24 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral8.3%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral28.6%
Negative0.0%

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

Desktop Mode OS

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly subscription$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime subscription$19.99

Questions

Is DeskState free?
DeskState is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Desktop Mode OS free?
Desktop Mode OS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DeskState or Desktop Mode OS?
Desktop Mode OS is rated higher. DeskState averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Desktop Mode OS averages 4.6 from 24 ratings.
Do DeskState or Desktop Mode OS have ads?
Desktop Mode OS shows ads; DeskState does not.
Which is updated more often, DeskState or Desktop Mode OS?
DeskState ships an update every 4 days, and Desktop Mode OS every 6 days. Most recently, DeskState was updated on October 24, 2026 and Desktop Mode OS on October 31, 2026.

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