Comparison

Surface Remote for Companion vs Virtual Stream Deck

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

Head to head
About

Surface Remote for Companion

This app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a customizable button surface for Bitfocus Companion. It connects seamlessly to your network, displaying live button states and allowing for custom dashboards and operator sharing. Enjoy a distraction-free experience with no ads or analytics.

Highlights
  • Connects to Companion as Satellite surface
  • Live button text, color, and press state
  • Customizable Dashboard screen
  • Operator mode for crew sharing
  • PIN lock integration
  • Keeps screen awake
  • Light/Dark/System theme
Features
Read full description

NO ADS. Surface Remote for Companion turns an iPhone or iPad into a button surface for Bitfocus Companion. It connects over Companion's Satellite API, on your own network, and shows your Companion buttons live. Built for control rooms, live events, streams, churches, schools and AV booths — anywhere you run a show from Companion and want one more set of buttons in your hand. WHAT IT DOES • Connects to Companion as a Satellite surface (WebSocket, port 16623 by default) • Finds Companion on your network by itself — tap it to connect, no address to type • Live button text, colour and press state from Companion • Tap or hold to press; page up and down; current page shown • Dashboard: pick the keys you need from any Companion page and put them on one screen • Operator mode: share chosen Dashboard keys with a crew member's phone by QR code; they see only those keys, and you can revoke them at any time • PIN lock: when Companion's PIN lock is on, unlock with the app's own keypad • Keeps the screen awake while connected • Light, Dark or System theme • Free to download and use • Remembers your last Companion and your surface settings, and connects on launch • Multi-Instance (in-app purchase, $9.99): save several servers, switch between them right on the surface, and on iPad run two surfaces at once • Auto reconnect when Companion restarts • Choose the grid: rows, columns, text size • Optional button artwork, or text-only for the fastest updates • Optional advanced layout with encoder controls • Diagnostics: latency, uptime, reconnects, Companion version, and a connection log you can share • Landscape layout for iPhone and iPad, or turn the surface upright with one tap • Settings in their own tab; the Connect and Settings screens turn with your phone PRIVACY No account. No ads. No analytics. The app talks only to the Companion server you use. Saved servers stay on your device. The camera is used only to scan an Operator QR code, on the device. REQUIREMENTS Bitfocus Companion running on a computer on the same network, with the Satellite WebSocket listener on. Dashboard and Operator mode need Companion 5 with Satellite subscriptions on. Surface Remote for Companion is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Bitfocus.

About

Virtual Stream Deck

Features
Read full description

Your iPhone or iPad becomes a wireless stream deck for your Mac: a full-screen grid of big, glowing buttons that switch OBS scenes, launch apps, fire keyboard shortcuts, run Apple Shortcuts, and more. Tap the phone — the Mac does it instantly, over your own Wi-Fi. PAY ONCE, OWN IT No subscription. No account. No cloud. Try it free with six buttons, and unlock everything with a single one-time purchase. BUILT FOR STREAMING • Native OBS Studio integration (OBS 28 or later) — no plugins to install • Switch scenes from your real scene list, start/stop streaming and recording, mute your mic • Live state on every button: the record button glows while you're recording, your current scene stays highlighted, your mic button shows its true mute state • Runs entirely on your local network — taps land in milliseconds CONTROL YOUR WHOLE MAC • Send any keyboard shortcut to any app • Launch apps, open files and websites • Run any Apple Shortcut — if Shortcuts can do it, your deck can too • System controls: volume, mute, play/pause, next/previous track • Multi-actions: chain steps with delays into one button • Shell scripts for power users FEELS LIKE HARDWARE • Pure black, edge-to-edge button grid with crisp haptics on every press • Pages you swipe between, folders that open sub-decks • Custom icons, colors, and labels for every button • Profiles that switch automatically when you change apps on the Mac • The screen stays awake while you're connected PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Pair once with a 6-digit code shown on your Mac — like pairing AirPods • Every connection is end-to-end encrypted, and nothing ever leaves your network • No account, no analytics, no data collection. Ever. GETTING STARTED On your Mac, download the free companion app, Virtual Stream Deck Hub, from our website. Open this app on your iPhone or iPad — your Mac appears automatically. Type the 6-digit code. That's it: you're paired for good. Design your layouts in the Mac editor — drag in actions, pick icons and colors — and watch every change appear on your device instantly. REQUIRES • iOS/iPadOS 18 or later • A Mac running macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later with the free Virtual Stream Deck Hub app • Both devices on the same network • OBS features require OBS Studio 28+ with its WebSocket server enabled

Screenshots

Surface Remote for Companion4 screens
Virtual Stream Deck2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Surface Remote for Companion at every 3 days against Virtual Stream Deck's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, 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. Surface Remote for Companion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Virtual Stream Deck sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surface Remote for Companion ships an update every 3 days, Virtual Stream Deck every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Surface Remote for Companion versus Virtual Stream Deck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurface Remote for CompanionVirtual Stream Deck
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas BrownJoshua Vucelich

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Surface Remote for Companion

One-time1
  • Multi-Instance$4.99
1 purchases

Virtual Stream Deck

One-time1
  • Virtual Stream Deck Pro$19.99

Questions

Is Surface Remote for Companion free?
Surface Remote for Companion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Virtual Stream Deck free?
Virtual Stream Deck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Surface Remote for Companion or Virtual Stream Deck have ads?
Neither Surface Remote for Companion nor Virtual Stream Deck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Surface Remote for Companion or Virtual Stream Deck?
Surface Remote for Companion ships an update every 3 days, and Virtual Stream Deck every 2 weeks. Most recently, Surface Remote for Companion was updated on October 16, 2026 and Virtual Stream Deck on October 12, 2026.

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