Comparison

Nearscreen vs Desktop Mirroring

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

Head to head
About

Nearscreen

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Nearscreen mirrors your iPhone screen to a computer on the same Wi-Fi network. One tap — and your screen appears on your desktop. Nothing ever leaves your local network. HOW IT WORKS 1. Run the free Nearscreen receiver on your computer (download at https://nearscreen.app/receiver). 2. Open Nearscreen on your iPhone — it finds receivers on your network automatically. 3. Tap the broadcast button and choose "Start Broadcast". To stop, tap the red status indicator or simply lock your phone. ON A NETWORK THAT HIDES DEVICES Offices, dorms and guest Wi-Fi often block the discovery traffic that lets the phone find your computer. The receiver shows a QR code for exactly this: point the Camera app at it and Nearscreen opens pointed straight at that computer. You can also type the address by hand. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Your video is streamed only to a receiver on your own network • No cloud, no servers, no accounts • No analytics, no tracking — we collect no data at all FAST AND EFFICIENT • Hardware H.264 encoding — smooth motion, low battery drain • Low-latency streaming over your local network • Keeps broadcasting while you use other apps or lock into a game GOOD FOR • Showing your phone on a bigger screen in meetings and classrooms • Demoing and testing apps • Streaming mobile gameplay to your desktop setup • Any moment when screen mirroring should stay strictly on your own network Nearscreen requires the Nearscreen receiver application on your computer (Windows and macOS, free): https://nearscreen.app/receiver

About

Desktop Mirroring

Access and control your Mac's screen from your iPhone or iPad. Ideal for when your computer is out of reach, this app provides a live, readable view and allows you to interact with your Mac over Wi-Fi or iCloud.

Highlights
  • Live Mac screen mirroring
  • Remote control via Wi-Fi
  • iCloud remote viewing
  • Selectable display mirroring
  • Private data transfer
  • Works with all Macs
Features
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Desktop Mirroring - your Mac's screen, right in your pocket Your Mac is across the room and you just need to use it. Is the build done? Did the download finish? What was that notification? Your Mac mini is plugged into the TV and there is no monitor on the desk. Desktop Mirroring puts a live, readable view of your Mac's screen on your iPhone or iPad - connected in one tap over your own Wi-Fi - and lets you work it from there. MADE TO BE REACHED Not everyone can sit down at a computer. If you are bedridden, recovering, or cannot sit upright for long, the Mac on your desk is out of reach and the phone in your hand is the only computer you can actually use. Desktop Mirroring closes that gap: the Mac's screen comes to your device, and your taps, swipes and typing go back to the Mac. No extra hardware, no second computer, nothing to stretch for. HOW IT WORKS Connect in one tap - Your Mac runs a small menu-bar tool. On the same Wi-Fi, your iPhone finds it automatically. No accounts, no pairing codes, no cables. Tap your Mac's name and you are looking at it. Use it from where you are - Move the pointer, tap, scroll, drag and type. The controls stay simple: a trackpad-style surface, a keyboard, and a few keys for Mission Control and Esc. Read it from across the room - High-resolution mirroring over your local network, so windows, menus and tabs stay readable. The stream adapts its bitrate to your connection instead of stalling. Look in from anywhere - Not on the same Wi-Fi? Turn on Remote in the Mac app and view your Mac's screen over iCloud, with your own Apple ID. Remote is view only: over the internet the app only looks. MORE TO LOVE Pick the display you share - Multi-display Mac? Choose which display gets mirrored from the Mac menu bar. Private by design - On your Wi-Fi the video and your input go straight between your devices. Remote view runs through your own private iCloud. No sign-ups, no third-party servers. Works with any Mac - MacBook, iMac, Mac mini: if it runs macOS, it is ready. Free to try - Full use, free, for 3 days after your first connection. After that, Premium keeps it going. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Nearscreen3 screens
Desktop Mirroring3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nearscreen at none against Desktop Mirroring's 2. Desktop Mirroring's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads 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. Desktop Mirroring sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Nearscreen asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nearscreen ships an update every 2 weeks, Desktop Mirroring every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Nearscreen versus Desktop Mirroring: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNearscreenDesktop Mirroring
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGabriel Thibault晶 王

In-app purchases

None

Nearscreen

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Desktop Mirroring

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Premium Member7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Annual Premium Member$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Nearscreen free?
Nearscreen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Desktop Mirroring free?
Desktop Mirroring is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nearscreen or Desktop Mirroring have ads?
Neither Nearscreen nor Desktop Mirroring shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nearscreen or Desktop Mirroring?
Nearscreen ships an update every 2 weeks, and Desktop Mirroring every 5 days. Most recently, Nearscreen was updated on November 6, 2026 and Desktop Mirroring on November 10, 2026.

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