# Desktop Mode OS vs OpenDisplay

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenDisplay at none against Desktop Mode OS's 2. OpenDisplay also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (92% vs 71%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Desktop Mode OS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. OpenDisplay asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Desktop Mode OS against 4.7 for OpenDisplay. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 23 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of Desktop Mode OS's written reviews are positive against 92% of OpenDisplay's.

Desktop Mode OS ships an update every 6 days, OpenDisplay every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Desktop Mode OS | OpenDisplay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-mode-os-prodocktive/id6762341245/reviews) | **[4.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opendisplay/id6780264891/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | **92.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 38 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gautam Sukhramani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893868918) | [Philip Poloczek](https://appshunter.io/developer/1333036183) |

## What reviewers say

### Desktop Mode OS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-mode-os-prodocktive/id6762341245)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful desktop workstation, extending its capabilities to external displays like AR glasses, monitors, or TVs. Experience a high-performance desktop environment using your phone's native silicon, with innovative input modes for seamless interaction.

**Highlights:** Turn iPhone into a desktop workstation, Extend to AR glasses, monitors, TVs, Spatial productivity with AR glasses, Multiple input modes: Air Mouse, Hand Tracking, Liquid Trackpad, Connect to any display (USB-C, HDMI, AirPlay), Sync Assistant for webview issues, Pin frequently used sessions to dock

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime subscription | $19.99 | one-time |


### OpenDisplay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opendisplay/id6780264891)

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

**Highlights:** Real extended display functionality, USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, Retina-sharp rendering, Touch and scroll support, Portrait and landscape orientation, Private by design, no tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Desktop Mode OS free?

Desktop Mode OS 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, Desktop Mode OS or OpenDisplay?

OpenDisplay is rated higher. Desktop Mode OS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while OpenDisplay averages 4.7 from 23 ratings.

### Do Desktop Mode OS or OpenDisplay have ads?

Desktop Mode OS shows ads; OpenDisplay does not.

### Which is updated more often, Desktop Mode OS or OpenDisplay?

Desktop Mode OS ships an update every 6 days, and OpenDisplay every 8 days. Most recently, Desktop Mode OS was updated on October 31, 2026 and OpenDisplay on November 10, 2026.

---

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