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spacedesk alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave spacedesk: the host must run Windows, and free licence expires and needs driver updates. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces spacedesk, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Deskreen currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Deskreen logoDeskreenOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
2Weylus Community Edition logoWeylus Community EditionOpen sourceYesLinux, Windows, macOS4 of 459.6
3Duet logoDuetPaidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +15 of 554.5
  1. Deskreen logo

    1. DeskreenTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who wants to reuse an old tablet or phone as an extra screen for free

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from spacedesk

    Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, using only a browser on the device.

    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 ×0.387
    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 spacedesk 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)
  2. Weylus Community Edition logo

    2. Weylus Community Edition

    Best for: Linux artists who want to use a tablet as a pressure-sensitive pen display

    Open sourceLinux, Windows, macOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from spacedesk

    Free and open source with better pen and touch support 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 ×0.377
    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 spacedesk 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)
  3. Duet logo

    3. Duet

    Best for: People who want a tablet or spare laptop as a second screen across Mac, Windows, iOS and Android

    PaidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    54.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from spacedesk

    Paid but works with Mac hosts too, plus drawing-tablet and remote features.

    Pros

    • Works across Mac, Windows, iOS and Android in any combination
    • Second display, drawing tablet and remote access in one app
    • Keyboard and mouse sharing between two computers
    • End-to-end encrypted remote connections

    Cons

    • Subscription-based, with features split across plans
    • No Linux version
    • Pricing isn't listed on a plain page of its website
    Visit Duet Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    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 Duet a good spacedesk alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Platforms
    Mac, Windows, iOS, Android
    Checked Nov 1, 2026duetdisplay.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    256-bit
    Checked Nov 1, 2026duetdisplay.com(opens source in a new tab)
    System requirements
    macOS 11 or later, Windows 10 or later
    Checked Nov 1, 2026duetdisplay.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hardware needed
    None, software only
    Checked Nov 1, 2026duetdisplay.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Privacy mode
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026duetdisplay.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best spacedesk alternative for…

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

Deskreen logo

Best spacedesk alternative for most people

Deskreen

Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, using only a browser on the device.

Weylus Community Edition logo

Best spacedesk alternative for a free option

Weylus Community Edition

Free and open source with better pen and touch support on Linux.

Deskreen logo

Best spacedesk alternative for open source

Deskreen

Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, using only a browser on the device.

Duet logo

Best spacedesk alternative for Mac

Duet

Paid but works with Mac hosts too, plus drawing-tablet and remote features.

Deskreen logo

Best spacedesk alternative for Windows

Deskreen

Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, using only a browser on the device.

Deskreen logo

Best spacedesk alternative for Linux

Deskreen

Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, using only a browser on the device.

Duet logo

Best spacedesk alternative for iPhone and Android

Duet

Paid but works with Mac hosts too, plus drawing-tablet and remote features.

spacedesk alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to spacedesk?

Deskreen ranks first right now. Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, using only a browser on the device. Weylus Community Edition and Duet follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to spacedesk?

Yes. Deskreen (open source) and Weylus Community Edition (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to spacedesk?

Yes: Deskreen and Weylus Community Edition.

Which spacedesk alternatives work on Linux?

Deskreen and Weylus Community Edition run on Linux.

Why do people switch from spacedesk?

The complaints we hear most: the host must run Windows; free licence expires and needs driver updates; business use requires a paid licence.

How is this list ranked?

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