DeskPad
Free Mac app that adds a virtual display shown in a window, for sharing part of your desktop in calls.
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- Alternatives ranked
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About DeskPad
DeskPad solves a common screen-sharing problem on large or ultrawide Mac monitors: sharing your whole screen makes text tiny for viewers, while sharing a single window breaks when you switch apps. It creates a virtual display that macOS treats like a real monitor, and shows that display's contents inside an ordinary window. You drag the apps you want to present onto the virtual display, then share the DeskPad window in Zoom, Meet, Teams or any other call app. You can set the virtual display's resolution so it suits viewers, and move windows in and out of the shared area as you go. It is a small, single-purpose utility: free, open source under the MIT licence, and macOS only. People who also want to scale, mirror or tune real monitors usually look at a broader display tool instead.
Best for: Mac users on big monitors who want to share a fixed, readable area in video calls.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and open source under MIT
- Shares a set area that survives app switching
- Works with any video-call app that can share a window
Why people leave
- macOS only
- Does one job; no brightness, scaling or mirroring tools
- Small project with infrequent updates
Top DeskPad alternatives
See all 4- 1
BetterDisplay68.8Also creates virtual screens, plus scaling, brightness and HiDPI controls for real monitors.
- 2
Duet52.2Turns an iPad or another device into a real second screen rather than a window on the same one.
- 3
OBS Studio51.2Can capture a chosen screen region and send it to calls as a virtual camera.
- 4
Deskreen50.3Free and open source; shows a virtual or real screen in any device's browser over Wi-Fi.
Why people left DeskPad
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DeskPad: common questions
Is DeskPad free?
Yes. DeskPad is free, open-source software.
Is DeskPad open source?
No, DeskPad is not open source. Open-source alternatives include OBS Studio and Deskreen.
What platforms does DeskPad run on?
DeskPad is available for macOS.
What are the best alternatives to DeskPad?
The highest-ranked DeskPad alternatives right now are BetterDisplay, Duet and OBS Studio. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.