Astropad Workbench vs iTerm2 Buddy

Access and control your Mac from anywhere. Workbench is a high-performance remote desktop that lets you connect to your Mac from your iPhone or iPad. Manage your machine, run desktop apps, and check in on long-running tasks while away from your desk. Built by the team behind Astropad Studio and Luna Display, Workbench delivers fast, responsive control with crisp visual and reliable performance across all networks. ————— KEY FEATURES Fast, high-fidelity streamlining. Interact with your Mac in real time with responsive controls and sharp visuals. Voice input. Dictate text from your iPhone or iPad and send it directly to your Mac. Unified display. Consolidate multi-display setups into a single workspace that conforms to the resolution of your mobile device. Apple Pencil support. Use your Apple Pencil like a mouse for precise cursor control when interacting with Mac apps. No-hassle connections. Connect instantly without complicated router/network configurations, port forwarding, or manual setup. Secure by design. Astropad doesn’t capture your screen or track your activity, and sessions are secured by modern end-to-end encryption standards. ————— BUILT FOR REMOTE WORKFLOWS Workbench makes it easy to stay connected to your Mac wherever you are. Monitor running processes, access files, manage remote systems, or check in on tools and software that doesn’t have a mobile app. ————— PRICING Workbench includes a Free plan with 30 minutes of access per day. Upgrade to Unlimited for uninterrupted access (subscription required). ————— SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Mac: macOS 15 or later iPhone: iOS 26 or later iPad: iPadOS 26 or later

iTerm2 Buddy connects your iPhone or iPad to iTerm2, the popular terminal for macOS. Once paired with your Mac, it lets you keep an eye on your terminal and act on it from the couch or on the go. REQUIRES A MAC iTerm2 Buddy is a companion app. It works only after pairing with iTerm2 and the free companion plugin on your Mac. Pairing takes a few seconds: your Mac shows a QR code, you scan it, and confirm a short code on both devices. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Live terminal: watch a session update in real time, exactly as it looks on your Mac, including colors, inline images, and full-screen apps like vim, htop, and less. - Type and control: bring up a keyboard with the terminal keys you need (Esc, Control-C, Tab, arrows, function keys) and send input to a session. A composer lets you write longer commands and send them all at once. - Chat with an AI agent: message an assistant that runs on your Mac and can act on your sessions, open windows, run commands, review changes, and report back. Approve sensitive actions right from your phone. - Notifications: get a push when the agent replies or needs your approval, so you can step away and return when it matters. - Voice input: dictate messages with on-device transcription. Your audio never leaves your phone. PRIVACY AND SECURITY Terminal content shared between your Mac and your phone is end-to-end encrypted with the Noise protocol, so only your own devices can read it. There is no account and no advertising, and the app includes no third-party tracking. FREE iTerm2 and iTerm2 Buddy are free.