Comparison

External Display Desktop vs Grayscale

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

Head to head
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/

About

Grayscale

This app helps you focus by converting websites to black and white within Safari. Reduce visual distractions and make your browsing experience calmer by default. It offers simple, private control through a Safari extension.

Highlights
  • Convert websites to grayscale in Safari
  • Whitelist domains to keep them in color
  • One-tap control via Safari extension
  • Lightweight and private design
  • Reduces visual noise and stimulation
Features
Read full description

Grayscale helps you stay focused by making websites appear in black and white in Safari. Use it to reduce visual noise, make feeds less stimulating, and keep your browsing calmer by default. Features: - Turn websites grayscale in Safari - Keep selected domains in color with a whitelist - One-tap control from the Safari extension - Simple, lightweight, and private Privacy: Grayscale collects absolutely nothing. No tracking, no analytics, no account. Set it once, enable the Safari extension, and browse with less distraction.

Screenshots

External Display Desktop4 screens
Grayscale4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: External Display Desktop at Free against Grayscale's $1.99. External Display Desktop also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). Grayscale's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 61%) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On 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

External Display Desktop is free to download; Grayscale costs $1.99 up front. External Display Desktop sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Grayscale asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

External Display Desktop ships an update every 2 days, Grayscale fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
External Display Desktop versus Grayscale: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExternal Display DesktopGrayscale
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.3 (16 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB3 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMarian-Daniel FilipoviciIliane Zedadra

Customer experience

External Display Desktop

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive60.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative34.8%

Grayscale

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

External Display Desktop

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$34.99
None

Grayscale

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is External Display Desktop free?
External Display Desktop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Grayscale free?
Grayscale costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do External Display Desktop or Grayscale have ads?
Neither External Display Desktop nor Grayscale shows ads.
Which is updated more often, External Display Desktop or Grayscale?
External Display Desktop ships an update every 2 days, and Grayscale fortnightly. Most recently, External Display Desktop was updated on October 22, 2026 and Grayscale on October 17, 2026.

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