Looking for spacedesk on Mac?
spacedesk is popular on Windows, but its main computer has to run Windows: it can't extend a Mac's screen. SpareScreen is built for the Mac and works the same way: any tablet, phone or laptop becomes an extra screen over Wi-Fi.
Click to copy. Uses Homebrew, a free and widely trusted installer for Mac apps. 7 days free, then $7.99 once.
SpareScreen vs spacedesk on a Mac
| SpareScreen | spacedesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Extends a Mac's screen | Yes | No, the main computer must run Windows |
| App on the tablet | None, just a browser | spacedesk viewer app |
| Devices | Any iPad, Android tablet, phone or laptop | iPad, Android, Windows |
How to set it up
- Install SpareScreen on your Mac with the line above. It opens in the menu bar.
- Allow Screen Recording when macOS asks. That lets SpareScreen show the extra screen on your tablet.
- Open the link in its browser. Click SpareScreen in the menu bar to see the link and its QR code, then open it on the tablet. Both need to be on the same Wi-Fi.
- Click Allow on the Mac. An extra screen appears, shaped exactly like your tablet. Drag windows onto it like any monitor.
Good to know
- Coming from spacedesk on Windows? The idea is the same, but on a Mac there's no viewer app to install: the browser is the viewer.
- Touch control is optional. Turn it on in the SpareScreen menu (it asks for Accessibility permission) to tap, drag, right-click and scroll on the device. Typing still happens on the Mac.
- Everyday work feels instant. Video and fast scrolling are heavier and can stutter on slow Wi-Fi; 5 GHz Wi-Fi helps.
- Streaming services stay black. Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ block screen capture in every app like this.
- Use Wi-Fi you trust. The picture travels over your local network, never through the internet.
Questions
Does spacedesk work on Mac?
Not as the main computer: spacedesk's host software runs on Windows only. To extend a Mac's screen, use a Mac app like SpareScreen.
What's the Mac equivalent of spacedesk?
SpareScreen: it turns any tablet, phone or laptop with a browser into an extra screen for your Mac over Wi-Fi.
What does SpareScreen cost?
It's free for 7 days, then $7.99 once. It's a one-time purchase with no subscription, and one key works on up to 3 Macs.
Which Macs does it work on?
Any Mac running macOS 13 Ventura or later, with Apple Silicon or Intel.
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Last updated October 2026.