Comparison

Desk Remote vs AirBoard

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

Head to head
About

Desk Remote

Read full description

Turn your iPhone into a wireless trackpad and keyboard for your Mac. Move the cursor, type, control media, switch apps, and more — all without getting up. REQUIRES THE FREE MAC APP Desk Remote comes in two parts. This app runs on your iPhone; the free Desk Remote for Mac companion app runs on your Mac. Open Desk Remote on your iPhone and tap "Send link to my Mac" — the download link goes straight to your computer by AirDrop, Messages or Mail. Get the Mac app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6758866900 With both installed, the two find each other over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth with zero configuration. Just open the app, tap your Mac, and start controlling. TRACKPAD • Single finger — move the cursor • Two fingers — scroll • Tap — left click • Double tap — double click • Two-finger tap — right click • Long press + drag — click and drag • Pinch — zoom in/out KEYBOARD • Full text input • Modifier keys: Cmd, Ctrl, Option • F1–F12 function keys • Arrow keys • Backspace and special keys MEDIA & SYSTEM CONTROLS • Play / Pause / Next / Previous • Volume up & down • Screen brightness • Mission Control & Spotlight APP LAUNCHER • View all running apps on your Mac • Switch to any app with one tap POWER MENU • Sleep, restart, log out, shut down — remotely CONNECTIVITY • Auto-discovery via Wi-Fi (Bonjour) and Bluetooth LE • Real-time connection status • Instant reconnection Free version includes trackpad, scrolling, clicks, and keyboard input. Upgrade to Pro to unlock media controls, volume, brightness, F-keys, arrow keys, app launcher, power menu, and advanced gestures. Requires the free Desk Remote for Mac app (Mac App Store, macOS 14 or later). SUBSCRIPTION Desk Remote Pro is an auto-renewable subscription (monthly or yearly). Payment is charged to your Apple Account. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://gelfand.dev/?policy=desk-remote-client

About

AirBoard

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a wireless keyboard, mouse, and touchpad for your Mac or Windows PC. Enjoy direct Bluetooth connectivity without needing extra apps or receivers. Ideal for presentations, media control, or when your computer peripherals are unavailable.

Highlights
  • Wireless keyboard with function keys and shortcuts
  • Precision touchpad with gesture support
  • Mac and Windows layout switching
  • Direct Bluetooth connection
  • Adjustable pointer speed and gestures
  • Remote media control
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a wireless keyboard, touchpad, presentation remote, and media controller for your computer with AirBoard Pro. CHOOSE BLUETOOTH OR WI-FI AirBoard Pro provides two independent connection methods for Mac and Windows. Choose the one that fits your setup: • Bluetooth mode — connect directly to a compatible Mac or Windows PC. No AirBoard Receiver or shared Wi-Fi network is required. • Wi-Fi mode — install AirBoard Receiver on a Mac or Windows PC, keep both devices on the same local network, select the computer in AirBoard Pro, and enter the six-digit code shown by the receiver. On Mac, Wi-Fi mode requires macOS 13 or later and Accessibility permission. On Windows, AirBoard Receiver supports Windows 11 and requires a Private network connection and local network access through Windows Firewall. The two connection methods work independently. Bluetooth connects directly without AirBoard Receiver, while Wi-Fi mode uses AirBoard Receiver on Mac or Windows. After a successful Wi-Fi pairing, AirBoard Pro remembers the receiver for faster reconnection. Saved computers can be reviewed or removed from Wi-Fi settings at any time. FOUR CONTROL MODES Keyboard • Type with letters, numbers, function keys, arrow keys, modifiers, Backspace, Enter, and Space • Switch between Mac-style and Windows-style keyboard layouts • Use common actions such as Copy, Paste, Select All, and Undo • Turn your device sideways for a larger keyboard layout Touchpad • Move the pointer with natural touch gestures • Tap to click and use secondary click • Scroll with two fingers • Adjust pointer speed, scroll speed, natural scrolling, and gesture preferences Presentation • Move between previous and next slides • Start or end a presentation • Show a black screen • Return to the first slide • Designed for Keynote on Mac and PowerPoint on Windows Media • Play or pause media • Move to the previous or next track • Adjust volume • Mute or restore sound CUSTOM SHORTCUTS AND TEXT SNIPPETS Create reusable keyboard shortcuts for frequently used actions. Save text snippets, preview them before sending, and cancel when needed. Available text input depends on the supported keyboard layout and characters. CLEAR CONNECTION CONTROL See whether AirBoard Pro is ready for input, switch between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, select a discovered receiver, and manage saved computers from settings. AirBoard Pro sends keyboard, pointer, presentation, and media-control input. It is not a remote desktop, screen-sharing, cloud-sync, or file-transfer app. TRY BEFORE YOU UNLOCK The 3-day trial begins with your first unpaid input-ready connection. Lifetime access is available through a one-time in-app purchase. If you have already purchased, use Restore Purchase in the app settings. Compatibility depends on the computer, operating system, Bluetooth implementation, firewall configuration, and local network environment. Keep AirBoard Pro open and active for the most reliable input experience. Support: https://airboardpro.com/support Privacy Policy: https://airboardpro.com/privacy

Screenshots

Desk Remote4 screens
AirBoard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: AirBoard at none against Desk Remote's shown. AirBoard also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases 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. Desk Remote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and AirBoard sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Desk Remote ships an update every 2 months, AirBoard weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Desk Remote versus AirBoard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDesk RemoteAirBoard
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniil NuzhdinShenzhen Wenlicai Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Desk Remote

Subscriptions2
  • Desk Remote Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Desk Remote Pro Yearly$14.991 Year
1 purchases

AirBoard

One-time1
  • AirBoard Pro Lifetime$14.99

Questions

Is Desk Remote free?
Desk Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AirBoard free?
AirBoard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Desk Remote or AirBoard have ads?
Desk Remote shows ads; AirBoard does not.
Which is updated more often, Desk Remote or AirBoard?
Desk Remote ships an update every 2 months, and AirBoard weekly. Most recently, Desk Remote was updated on October 14, 2026 and AirBoard on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons