Comparison

DeskState vs ScreenCommand

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

ScreenCommand

Transform your iPad or iPhone into a desktop browsing workstation by connecting it to an external monitor or TV. Use your device as a trackpad and keyboard to navigate a full desktop-class browser, stream content, and manage tabs.

Highlights
  • Desktop-class browser on external display
  • iPad/iPhone as trackpad and keyboard
  • Streaming support for Netflix, YouTube, etc.
  • Up to 12 persistent tabs per window
  • Customizable cursor styles and speed
  • Full keyboard and mouse support
Read full description

Turn your iPad or iPhone and an external monitor or TV into a desktop browsing workstation, even on a non-M iPad, where iPadOS extended display isn't available. The big screen gets a full desktop-class browser. Your iPad or iPhone becomes the trackpad and keyboard: 8 cursor styles, up to 12 persistent tabs, YouTube quality up to 4K, and Netflix and other streaming over a cable. A hardware keyboard works too, and so does a mouse on iPad. Pay once, no subscription. IMPORTANT: REQUIRES AN EXTERNAL MONITOR OR TV. ScreenCommand runs the browser on an external display connected over USB-C (or a USB-C-to-HDMI/DisplayPort adapter) or via AirPlay to an Apple TV, and your iPad or iPhone becomes the trackpad and control center. Without a display connected, the app opens to a "Connect External Monitor" setup screen. There is no standalone on-device browsing mode. ScreenCommand shows websites on the TV; other apps can't run there. STREAMING ON THE BIG SCREEN: Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+, Peacock and other streaming services play on the TV over a USB-C cable. YouTube, Vimeo, and other web video play over a cable or AirPlay. SEAMLESS EXTERNAL DISPLAY • Full web browsing on your external monitor • Automatic display detection - plug and play • Optimized for 1080p, 4K, and ultrawide displays ADVANCED CURSOR & CONTROLS • Eight stunning cursor styles: Default, Cyberpunk Neon, Elegant Glass, Liquid Crystal, Gaming Pro, Luxury Gold, Aurora Borealis, Minimal Dark • Smooth trackpad navigation with gesture support • Use a Bluetooth or USB mouse or trackpad on iPad • Natural scrolling with two-finger gestures • Precise click, double-click, and right-click support INTELLIGENT KEYBOARD INPUT • Full keyboard support for web forms and search • Type on a hardware keyboard, with shortcuts like ⌘L, ⌘T and ⌘R • Smart URL bar: type a web address or a search query • Automatic input field detection and focus MEDIA CONTROLS • Play/pause video with one tap • Change YouTube video quality on the fly, up to 4K (2160p), even in fullscreen • Adjust media volume with an on-screen slider • Seek through videos with intuitive progress bar • Fullscreen toggle support • Cinema mode for distraction-free viewing POWERFUL BROWSING FEATURES • Up to 4 browser windows with 12 tabs each, saved between sessions • Two windows side by side on the TV • Password AutoFill for sign-ins on the TV • Desktop mode for full website compatibility • "What Works Here" shows how your device connects • Prevents unwanted app redirects • Pop-up blocker with a per-site switch CUSTOMIZATION • Adjustable cursor size (0.2x - 5.0x) • Adjustable mouse speed for precision or speed (0.5x - 5.0x) • Configure homepage URL • Auto-launch browser on monitor connect PRIVACY FIRST • No data collection or tracking • No third-party analytics • All processing happens locally on your device • No internet connection required (except for browsing) PERFECT FOR: • Professionals who need a larger workspace • Students doing research on a bigger screen • Content creators managing social media • Anyone wanting desktop browsing from an iPad or iPhone HOW IT WORKS: 1. Connect your iPad or iPhone to an external monitor (USB-C or HDMI adapter), or AirPlay to an Apple TV 2. Launch ScreenCommand 3. Browser automatically opens on your external display 4. Use your iPad or iPhone as a trackpad and control center 5. Enjoy desktop-class browsing! REQUIREMENTS: • iPad with a USB-C port on iPadOS 17.0 or later (no M-series chip required) • Or iPhone on iOS 17.0 or later. A cable needs USB-C video out (iPhone 15 or later, except iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air); any iPhone can use AirPlay • External monitor or TV • USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort adapter (or direct USB-C connection), or an Apple TV for wireless AirPlay (wired recommended for the lowest cursor latency) ScreenCommand brings true desktop browsing to the external display of your iPad or iPhone.

Screenshots

DeskState4 screens
ScreenCommand3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DeskState at Free against ScreenCommand's $4.99. DeskState also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). ScreenCommand's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

DeskState is free to download; ScreenCommand costs $4.99 up front. DeskState sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ScreenCommand asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ScreenCommand holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 0% and 0% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DeskState ships an update every 4 days, ScreenCommand fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
DeskState versus ScreenCommand: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeskStateScreenCommand
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#178 — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB15 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperAbraham RubioSimple Products Studio

Customer experience

DeskState

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

ScreenCommand

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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
None

ScreenCommand

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DeskState free?
DeskState is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ScreenCommand free?
ScreenCommand costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DeskState or ScreenCommand?
ScreenCommand is rated higher. DeskState averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while ScreenCommand averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do DeskState or ScreenCommand have ads?
Neither DeskState nor ScreenCommand shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DeskState or ScreenCommand?
DeskState ships an update every 4 days, and ScreenCommand fortnightly. Most recently, DeskState was updated on November 5, 2026 and ScreenCommand on October 31, 2026.

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