# Astropad Workbench vs Maccess

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Maccess at 100% against Astropad Workbench's 59%. Maccess also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Astropad Workbench's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Maccess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Astropad Workbench asks for nothing beyond the download.

Astropad Workbench ships an update every 3 weeks, Maccess every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astropad Workbench | Maccess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (177 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-workbench/id6758788573/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **177** | — |
| Positive reviews | 58.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 41 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Astro HQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/934510729) | [Maira Akram](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896429720) |

## What reviewers say

### Astropad Workbench

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropad-workbench/id6758788573)

Access and control your Mac remotely from your iPhone or iPad. Manage your machine, run desktop applications, and monitor tasks from anywhere with a high-performance, secure connection.

**Highlights:** Real-time Mac control, Voice dictation to Mac, Unified multi-display workspace, Apple Pencil cursor control, Hassle-free network connections, End-to-end encrypted sessions

**In-app purchases:** none


### Maccess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maccess/id6774586700)

Control your Mac remotely from your iPhone. Manage files, control media, and even use an AI assistant to perform tasks on your computer, all through an encrypted connection. Essential features are free locally, with advanced options available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Remote trackpad and keyboard control, Live screen mirroring, AI assistant for task execution, File browsing and management, Media and volume control, Send files from iPhone to Mac, Spotlight search on Mac

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maccess Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Maccess Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astropad Workbench free?

Astropad Workbench is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Maccess free?

Maccess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Astropad Workbench or Maccess have ads?

Neither Astropad Workbench nor Maccess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astropad Workbench or Maccess?

Astropad Workbench ships an update every 3 weeks, and Maccess every 2 days. Most recently, Astropad Workbench was updated on October 13, 2026 and Maccess on September 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*