Duet alternatives: 8 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Duet: subscription-based, with features split across plans, and no Linux version. We ranked 8 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Duet, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Jump Desktop currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Jump Desktop	Free plan + paid	No	macOS, iOS, Windows +2	3 of 3	68.8
2	Splashtop	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS, Linux +2	4 of 4	64.8
3	Parsec	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS, Linux +2	5 of 5	61.8
4	Chrome Remote Desktop	Free	No	Web, Windows, macOS +3	3 of 3	59.4
5	Deskreen	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	52.2
6	Weylus Community Edition	Open source	Yes	Linux, Windows, macOS	4 of 4	50.3
7	BetterDisplay	Free plan + paid	No	macOS	7 of 7	50.0

1. Jump DesktopTop pick
Best for: Mac and iPad users who want a premium remote desktop client without a subscription
Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Web
68.8
score / 100
Why switch from Duet
Paid remote desktop for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android with a one-time-purchase option and fast streaming.
Pros
One-time purchase on Mac and iOS
Fluid protocol handles video and gaming smoothly
Also works as an RDP and VNC client
Free on Windows, Android and web
Cons
Team management needs a separate subscription
Paid apps are bought separately per platform
Less suited to ad-hoc support of strangers
Visit Jump Desktop Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Jump Desktop a good Duet alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Free clients
Windows, Android, web
Checked Oct 29, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
Mac and iOS pricing
One-time purchase, 14-day Mac trial
Checked Oct 29, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
Max frame rate
480 fps
Checked Oct 29, 2026jumpdesktop.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Splashtop
Best for: Individuals and IT teams who want unattended access at a lower annual price than TeamViewer
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from Duet
Business-grade remote access with broad device support, if remote work matters more than a second screen.
Pros
Low entry price for individuals
Separate products for access, support and education
Good performance for video and creative work
Cons
Free edition only works on your local network
Billed annually on most plans
Product line-up is confusing to compare
Visit Splashtop Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Splashtop a good Duet alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Solo plan
$6/month, billed annually at $72
Checked Oct 29, 2026splashtop.com(opens source in a new tab)
Pro plan
$8.25 per user/month, billed annually
Checked Oct 29, 2026splashtop.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free edition
Splashtop Personal, home network only
Checked Oct 29, 2026splashtop.com(opens source in a new tab)
Client platforms
Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Checked Oct 29, 2026splashtop.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. Parsec
Best for: Gamers and creative teams who need smooth, high-frame-rate remote sessions
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from Duet
Low-latency streaming with a free personal tier, popular for gaming and creative work.
Pros
Very low latency and high frame rates
Free personal tier works well for remote gaming
Drawing-tablet and multi-monitor support on paid plans
Cons
Hosting requires Windows or macOS, not Linux
Needs a decent GPU and connection on the host
Team plans cost more than general remote access tools
Visit Parsec Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Parsec a good Duet alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
Personal use
Checked Oct 29, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
Warp (individual) price
$8.33 per user/month, paid annually
Checked Oct 29, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
Teams price
$30 per user/month, paid annually
Checked Oct 29, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
Host OS
Windows 10+ or macOS 10.15+
Checked Oct 29, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
Frame rate
Up to 240 FPS (60 FPS at 4K)
Checked Oct 29, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
4. Chrome Remote Desktop
Best for: Home users who want free, simple access to their own computers
FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
59.4
score / 100
Why switch from Duet
Free browser-based remote access for occasional use, without second-display features.
Pros
Free with no commercial-use restrictions
Works from any modern browser
One-time codes make quick help sessions easy
Cons
Few admin, logging or team features
Basic file transfer and multi-monitor support
Requires a Google account on both ends
Visit Chrome Remote Desktop Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Chrome Remote Desktop a good Duet alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Host platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Checked Oct 29, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
Support codes
Single-use access codes
Checked Oct 29, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
Unattended access
PIN-protected
Checked Oct 29, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. Deskreen
Best for: Anyone who wants to reuse an old tablet or phone as an extra screen for free
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
52.2
score / 100
Why switch from Duet
Free and open source, with nothing to install on the tablet beyond a browser.
Pros
Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux
Second device only needs a web browser
Share the whole screen or a single window to many devices
Cons
True extended display needs a virtual display adapter
Streams over the network, so quality depends on your Wi-Fi
No pen pressure or drawing-tablet features
Visit Deskreen Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.352
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Deskreen a good Duet alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
AGPL-3.0
Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Encryption
End-to-end
Checked Nov 1, 2026deskreen.com(opens source in a new tab)
Multiple devices
Yes
Checked Nov 1, 2026deskreen.com(opens source in a new tab)
6. Weylus Community Edition
Best for: Linux artists who want to use a tablet as a pressure-sensitive pen display
Open sourceLinux, Windows, macOS
50.3
score / 100
Why switch from Duet
Free and open source, with pen pressure and multi-touch on Linux.
Pros
Nothing to install on the tablet; it runs in the browser
Pen pressure, tilt and multi-touch on Linux
Can capture and draw into a single window
Free and open source
Cons
Best features are Linux-only
No encryption on the connection, so use only on trusted networks
Second-screen mode needs extra setup such as a dummy plug
Visit Weylus Community Edition Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Weylus Community Edition a good Duet alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Tablet app needed
No, uses a web browser
Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Stylus pressure
Pressure and tilt on Linux
Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Hardware encoding
Yes
Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Flatpak
On Flathub
Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
7. BetterDisplay
Best for: Mac users with external or unusual monitors who want scaling, DDC brightness and virtual screens in one app
Free plan + paidmacOS
50.0
score / 100
Why switch from Duet
Mac display utility that creates virtual screens, for people tuning a Mac-only multi-display setup.
Pros
Covers HiDPI scaling, DDC, XDR brightness and virtual screens in one app
DDC works on Apple Silicon built-in HDMI ports
Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription
CLI, URL scheme and Shortcuts support for automation
Cons
macOS only
Very dense settings; overkill if you only need brightness keys
Business users must buy a license even for free features
Visit BetterDisplay Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.338
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is BetterDisplay a good Duet alternative?
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified
Pro license
$21.99 one-time
Checked Oct 29, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
14 days, all features
Checked Nov 1, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Licensing
Perpetual, not a subscription
Checked Oct 29, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Business use
License required
Checked Oct 29, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Features
HiDPI scaling, XDR brightness, virtual screens, DDC
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$21.99 one-time (Pro licence)
Checked Nov 1, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan
Yes, free features for personal use
Checked Nov 1, 2026betterdisplay.pro(opens source in a new tab)

The best Duet alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Duet alternative for most people

Jump Desktop

Paid remote desktop for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android with a one-time-purchase option and fast streaming.

Best Duet alternative for a free option

Chrome Remote Desktop

Free browser-based remote access for occasional use, without second-display features.

Best Duet alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Splashtop

Business-grade remote access with broad device support, if remote work matters more than a second screen.

Best Duet alternative for open source

Deskreen

Free and open source, with nothing to install on the tablet beyond a browser.

Best Duet alternative for Mac

Parsec

Low-latency streaming with a free personal tier, popular for gaming and creative work.

Best Duet alternative for Windows

spacedesk

Free for personal use on Windows, with viewers for Android, iOS and other PCs.

Best Duet alternative for Linux

Weylus Community Edition

Free and open source, with pen pressure and multi-touch on Linux.

Best Duet alternative for iPhone and Android

Jump Desktop

Paid remote desktop for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android with a one-time-purchase option and fast streaming.

Best Duet alternative for working in the browser

Jump Desktop

Paid remote desktop for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android with a one-time-purchase option and fast streaming.

Duet alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Duet?

Jump Desktop ranks first right now. Paid remote desktop for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android with a one-time-purchase option and fast streaming. Splashtop and Parsec follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Duet?

Yes. Jump Desktop (free plan + paid), Splashtop (free plan + paid), Parsec (free plan + paid) and Chrome Remote Desktop (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Duet?

Yes: Deskreen and Weylus Community Edition.

Which Duet alternatives work on Linux?

Splashtop, Parsec, Chrome Remote Desktop, Deskreen and Weylus Community Edition run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Duet?

The complaints we hear most: subscription-based, with features split across plans; no Linux version; pricing isn't listed on a plain page of its website.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Duet, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.

Quick comparison

1. Jump DesktopTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Splashtop

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Parsec

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Chrome Remote Desktop

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. Deskreen

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

6. Weylus Community Edition

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

7. BetterDisplay

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

The best Duet alternative for…

Best Duet alternative for most people

Best Duet alternative for a free option

Best Duet alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Best Duet alternative for open source

Best Duet alternative for Mac

Best Duet alternative for Windows

Best Duet alternative for Linux

Best Duet alternative for iPhone and Android

Best Duet alternative for working in the browser

Duet alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Duet?

Is there a free alternative to Duet?

Is there an open-source alternative to Duet?

Which Duet alternatives work on Linux?

Why do people switch from Duet?

How is this list ranked?