Buttons that follow the app
Assign a Grid to a Mac app and it appears when that app comes forward. Record shortcuts straight from the Mac's keyboard instead of typing them in. More in the Stream Deck alternative guide.
Honest comparison · Checked September 2026
Control My Mac vs Remote Mouse, Mobile Mouse and Unified Remote.
Four apps that turn a phone into a remote for your computer. They overlap, but they're built for different people. Every competitor fact below comes from that app's own website or App Store page, and where we couldn't confirm something, we left it out.
macOS 14+ · iOS/iPadOS 18+ · Free Mac app · No account
iPhone & iPad app:
Download on theApp Store
The short version
- Control My Mac if you use an iPhone or iPad with a Mac and want a precise trackpad, a keyboard, and shortcut buttons that switch with the Mac app you're in. Built to be used with one finger.
- Remote Mouse if you need Windows, Linux or Android support and don't mind ads in the free version.
- Mobile Mouse if you want a one-time purchase, an air mouse, presentation extras or an Apple Watch app, on Mac or Windows.
- Unified Remote if you want ready-made remotes for lots of specific apps, Wake-on-LAN, or support for Linux and Raspberry Pi.
Side by side
As of September 2026. Prices are from the US App Store and vary by region.
| Control My Mac | Remote Mouse | Mobile Mouse | Unified Remote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price model | Free Essentials plan. Full App $3.99/month or $17.99 once, 7-day free trial. No ads. Mac app free. | Free with ads. Pro membership $1.49/month or $13.99/year. Separate one-off unlocks, such as Remove Ads ($0.99), Media Remote Panel ($1.99) and Web Remote ($1.99). | $9.99 up front. Add-ons: Advanced Communications ($0.99) and Pro Presentation Mode ($1.99). | Free version with 18 remotes. Full Version $4.99 once. |
| Phone and tablet | iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS 18+) | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android | iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad (iOS/iPadOS 18+) and Android |
| Computers | Mac (macOS 14+) | Mac, Windows and Linux | Mac and Windows 10+ | Windows, Mac and Linux, plus Raspberry Pi and Arduino Yún |
| Connection | Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, direct and encrypted. Paired by QR code. No account. | Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Connect by IP address, QR code or connection history. | Wi-Fi. Bluetooth and USB on Mac via in-app purchase. | Local network with automatic server discovery. The getting-started guide also mentions Bluetooth pairing. |
| Notable features | Grid buttons that switch with the frontmost Mac app and learn shortcuts from the Mac. Draft keyboard. Launcher and window switching. Every control reachable with one finger. | Media and browser remotes, clipboard sync, gyroscope mouse, app switcher, power controls. | Air mouse, presentation remote, media remote, programmable hotkeys, graphic tablet mode, Apple Watch trackpad. | 100+ built-in app remotes, custom remotes, Wake-on-LAN, file browsing, Siri and Shortcuts. |
Sources: Control My Mac (App Store); Remote Mouse website and App Store page; Mobile Mouse website and App Store page; Unified Remote website, getting-started guide and App Store page. Checked September 2026.
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column. If you spot something out of date, email support@controlmymac.com and we'll fix it.
Where Control My Mac is different
It only does Mac, on purpose, and it spends that focus on a few things.
One finger, end to end
Pointer, click, typing, shortcuts and even pairing work with one hand. Two-key shortcuts become single taps. See the one-handed guide.
Write first, then send
The Draft keyboard lets you write and edit a whole message on the phone, then insert it on the Mac in one go. No racing a live cursor.
Private and ad-free
No account, no servers, no ads in any plan. Your devices talk directly to each other, encrypted. The privacy policy is short and specific.
When another app is better
Straight answers, even when the answer isn't us.
You use Windows or Linux
Control My Mac only controls Macs. Remote Mouse and Unified Remote cover Windows and Linux, and Mobile Mouse covers Windows.
Your phone is Android
Control My Mac is iPhone and iPad only. Remote Mouse and Unified Remote both have Android apps.
You want a remote made for each app
Unified Remote ships with 100+ remotes built for specific programs, and Remote Mouse and Mobile Mouse offer media remotes. Control My Mac gives you a general trackpad and keyboard plus shortcut buttons you set up yourself.
You want it on your wrist
Mobile Mouse and Remote Mouse have Apple Watch apps. Control My Mac doesn't.
You want to wake or shut down the computer
Unified Remote lists Wake-on-LAN and power controls, and Remote Mouse lists power options. We don't offer power controls.
You want to pay once and pay little
Mobile Mouse is $9.99 up front, and Unified Remote's full version is $4.99. Control My Mac's lifetime option is $17.99, or you can stay on the free Essentials plan.
More guides
iPhone as a mouse
Step-by-step setup, Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi, and using an iPad as a trackpad.
Stream Deck alternative
A Grid of Mac shortcut buttons that follows the app you're in.
Mac mini under the TV
What works from the couch, and what to know about range.
Presenting
Keynote, PowerPoint and Google Slides from your phone.
See if it fits your Mac
The Mac app is free, and so is Essentials on iPhone and iPad. Try Full App free for 7 days before deciding.
macOS 14+ · Apple silicon · Intel Macs up to version 1.2.3 · No account