Comparison

PhoneDeck vs PDF Editor

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

Head to head
About

PhoneDeck

Transform your iPhone into a wireless controller for your Mac. Launch any application, control system functions, or open websites with a single tap. It offers a streamlined, privacy-focused experience without requiring an account or cloud services.

Highlights
  • Launch any Mac app with one tap
  • Control system functions (volume, brightness, media)
  • Open websites instantly
  • Organize tiles into pages
  • Works over local WiFi
  • No account or cloud required
Features
Read full description

PhoneDeck needs two free apps to work : this iPhone app + the Mac companion app at phonedeck.io . Both are 100% free, forever. No account needed. Stuck or something not working? DM me directly on Instagram @PhoneDeckApp - I reply personally, usually within a few hours. Turn your iPhone into a wireless Mac controller. Launch any Mac app, trigger system controls, open any website all with one tap. Think Stream Deck, but you already own the hardware. -------------------------- HOW IT WORKS -------------------------- • Install this app on your iPhone • Download the Mac app from phonedeck.io (free DMG) • Open both apps on the same WiFi - they pair automatically • Drag any Mac app, control, or website onto a tile • Tap your iPhone to launch No account. No cloud. No subscription. No data leaves your devices. -------------------------- WHAT YOU CAN DO -------------------------- APPS : Launch any Mac app with one tap. VS Code, Figma, Cursor, Premiere, Photoshop, Slack — anything installed on your Mac. CONTROLS : 16 built-in Mac controls: volume, brightness, keyboard backlight, media play/pause/next/previous, screenshot, screen recording, dictation, lock screen, show desktop, mission control, empty trash. WEBSITES : Drag any URL onto a tile. YouTube, ChatGPT, Linear, Figma files, your dashboards — one tap and it opens on your Mac. PAGES : Organize tiles into pages. One for Design, one for Dev, one for Music. Swipe between them on your iPhone. -------------------------- WHY IT'S DIFFERENT -------------------------- • Free forever. No subscription, no Pro tier, no ads, no tracking. • Works over local WiFi. No account, no cloud, no data collection. • Auto-updates on Mac : bug fixes ship the same day. • Built by one indie developer. Every feature is something a user asked for. -------------------------- WHAT YOU NEED -------------------------- • An iPhone running iOS 17 or later • A Mac running macOS 14+ or later • Both devices on the same WiFi network • The PhoneDeck Mac app from phonedeck.io (free download) -------------------------- Made by one developer in Mumbai. Constantly updated. Feature requests welcome at phonedeck.io/request-feature or DM @PhoneDeckApp on Instagram.

About

PDF Editor

Features
Read full description

Document Assistant - PDF Editor, Tools & AI Assistant. Edit, organize, scan, and manage your documents in one powerful app. Document Assistant makes it easy to work with PDFs whether you’re studying, working, or handling paperwork on the go. Merge files, split pages, compress PDFs, sign documents, scan papers, convert images to PDF, and much more,all from your iPhone or iPad. AI-Powered Document Assistant Save time with intelligent on-device AI powered by Apple Foundation Models. * Summarize long PDF documents instantly * Generate key points and highlights * Extract important takeaways from reports, notes, and articles * Understand lengthy documents faster * Private, on-device processing for supported Apple devices PDF Editing Modify your PDF files with ease. * Add and edit text * Highlight and underline important content * Draw and annotate PDFs * Fill out PDF forms * Insert images into documents Merge & Split PDFs Organize your documents effortlessly. * Merge multiple PDFs into one * Split PDFs into separate files * Rearrange, rotate, and delete pages * Duplicate pages * Extract selected pages Scan Documents Turn your device into a portable scanner. * Scan receipts, contracts, notes, IDs, and invoices * Automatic edge detection * Smart crop and perspective correction * High-quality PDF scanning * Save and share instantly Sign Documents Sign paperwork in seconds. * Draw your signature * Create typed signatures * Place signatures anywhere in a PDF * Resize and reposition signatures Convert & Compress Work with files the way you need. * Convert images to PDF * Convert PDFs to images * Compress PDF files while maintaining quality * Share documents quickly More Features * Password protect PDFs * Rename and organize files * Quick search * Share documents with ease * Clean and intuitive interface * Fast performance * Works offline for most features Privacy policy: https://digitalhole.github.io/DHPrivacy.html Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PhoneDeck4 screens
PDF Editor3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PhoneDeck at none against PDF Editor's shown. PDF Editor's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhoneDeck ships an update every 2 weeks, PDF Editor every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PhoneDeck versus PDF Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoneDeckPDF Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVansh PariharArima Jain

In-app purchases

None

PhoneDeck

No in-app purchases

None

PDF Editor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PhoneDeck free?
PhoneDeck is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PDF Editor free?
PDF Editor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PhoneDeck or PDF Editor have ads?
PDF Editor shows ads; PhoneDeck does not.
Which is updated more often, PhoneDeck or PDF Editor?
PhoneDeck ships an update every 2 weeks, and PDF Editor every 3 weeks. Most recently, PhoneDeck was updated on October 12, 2026 and PDF Editor on October 12, 2026.

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