Comparison

External Display Desktop vs OpenDisplay

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
Features
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

OpenDisplay

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a genuine second display for your Mac. This open-source solution allows you to extend your screen space, keeping essential apps visible. Connect via USB for minimal latency or Wi-Fi for easy setup.

Highlights
  • Use iPhone/iPad as a second Mac display
  • Connect via USB or Wi-Fi
  • Retina-sharp rendering
  • Touch and scroll support
  • Portrait or landscape orientation
  • Private by design, no tracking
Features
Read full description

OpenDisplay turns your iPhone or iPad into a second display for your Mac. It's the open-source way to put your spare Apple device to work as a real extended monitor — drag windows onto it, keep chat, notes, or logs in view, and gain screen space anywhere you go. It's not a mirror: it's a genuine additional display your Mac treats like any other monitor. • Real extended display — arrange it in your Mac's Display settings and drag windows across • Connect over USB for the lowest latency, or over Wi-Fi with zero setup • Retina-sharp, pixel-for-pixel rendering • Touch and scroll — tap, drag, and two-finger scroll to control your Mac • Works in portrait or landscape • Private by design — a direct connection between your own devices, with no accounts, no servers, and no tracking IMPORTANT: OpenDisplay requires the companion OpenDisplay app for Mac, running on your computer on the same cable or Wi-Fi network. Get it at opendisplay.app — without it, this app has nothing to connect to. OpenDisplay is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Read the code, report issues, or contribute at https://github.com/peetzweg/opendisplay

Screenshots

External Display Desktop4 screens
OpenDisplay1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: OpenDisplay at 4.7 against External Display Desktop's 4.2. OpenDisplay also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (92% vs 59%). External Display Desktop's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. External Display Desktop sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. OpenDisplay asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenDisplay holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 21 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of External Display Desktop's written reviews are positive against 92% of OpenDisplay's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

External Display Desktop ships an update every 2 days, OpenDisplay every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
External Display Desktop versus OpenDisplay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExternal Display DesktopOpenDisplay
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (19 ratings)4.7 (21 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews92.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1921 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB1 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMarian-Daniel FilipoviciPhilip Poloczek

Customer experience

External Display Desktop

All ratings19 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral7.4%
Negative33.3%

OpenDisplay

All ratings21 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral4.8%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%

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

OpenDisplay

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is External Display Desktop free?
External Display Desktop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenDisplay free?
OpenDisplay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, External Display Desktop or OpenDisplay?
OpenDisplay is rated higher. External Display Desktop averages 4.2 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while OpenDisplay averages 4.7 from 21 ratings.
Do External Display Desktop or OpenDisplay have ads?
Neither External Display Desktop nor OpenDisplay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, External Display Desktop or OpenDisplay?
External Display Desktop ships an update every 2 days, and OpenDisplay every 8 days. Most recently, External Display Desktop was updated on October 28, 2026 and OpenDisplay on October 29, 2026.

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