What is the best app to control a Mac from an iPhone?
Most lists rank these apps as if they all do the same job. They do not. The first question is whether you need to see your Mac's screen on the phone, and the answer splits the field in two.
Short answer: It depends on whether you need to see the screen. For a trackpad and keyboard on the same Wi-Fi, Remote Mouse (free, with paid add-ons) and Mobile Mouse ($9.99) are the classic picks. To see and drive the whole screen from anywhere, use Jump Desktop ($14.99 one time) or the free Chrome Remote Desktop. MightyMouse puts the live screen, a trackpad, a keyboard and free local dictation on your iPhone in one QR scan, free on your own Wi-Fi.
The comparison at a glance
| MightyMouse | Remote Mouse | Mobile Mouse | Jump Desktop | Chrome Remote Desktop | Apple Switch Control | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| See the live Mac screen on the phone | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Trackpad and keyboard | Yes, real gestures and a Mac-layout keyboard | Yes | Yes, plus an air mouse | Yes | Yes, a virtual trackpad | Switch-driven input, built for accessibility |
| Works away from home | Yes, over cellular with a free monthly allowance | Not by default; their FAQ suggests Tailscale or a hotspot | Yes, with a paid Cloud Access subscription | Yes | Yes | No, same Wi-Fi and Apple Account only |
| What you install on the Mac | The MightyMouse app; pair by scanning a QR code | Remote Mouse Desktop Helper | Mobile Mouse Server | Jump Desktop Connect | Chrome Remote Desktop host | Nothing, it is built in |
| Dictation transcribed on the Mac | Yes, free local Whisper | No | No | No | No | No |
| Windows and Linux | Windows in beta, no Linux | Windows and Linux | Windows | Windows | Windows and Linux | Apple devices only |
| Price | Free on your own Wi-Fi | Free app with paid add-ons | $9.99 on the US App Store, Cloud Access extra | $14.99 one time | Free with a Google account | Free |
Prices and features were checked in October 2026 against each company's own site, App Store listing or help pages. They change, so check the current listing before you buy.
If you only need a mouse: Remote Mouse or Mobile Mouse
When the Mac is right in front of you and you just do not want to reach for it, you do not need the screen on your phone at all. A trackpad app is lighter, and these two have been doing it for years. Both need a small server app running on the Mac and both work over your home Wi-Fi.
Remote Mouse is the free one, with paid add-ons inside the app, and it runs on Mac, Windows and Linux. It has a gyroscope mode and good media remotes. Away from home is not built in: their own FAQ points you at Tailscale or your phone's hotspot. More detail on our Remote Mouse comparison.
Mobile Mouse is a paid app ($9.99 on the US App Store) with a deep feature list: an air mouse, an Apple Watch app, app-aware remotes for media and presentations, a file and app browser, and hotkeys. It can reach your computer over the internet, but only with a separate Cloud Access subscription. Neither app shows you the Mac's screen, so you are driving blind if you are not in the room.
If you need the whole screen from anywhere: Jump Desktop or Chrome Remote Desktop
Remote desktop apps stream your Mac's actual desktop to the phone, so you can open a file or finish a task from anywhere. Jump Desktop is a one-time $14.99 purchase, speaks RDP and VNC as well as its own Fluid protocol, and reaches Windows machines too. It is the strongest pick if you manage several computers. See our Jump Desktop comparison.
Chrome Remote Desktop is free with a Google account. You install a host on the Mac from remotedesktop.google.com, then connect from the iPhone app with a PIN and drive it with a virtual trackpad, as Google's help page describes. The catch with every remote desktop app is the same: a desktop-sized screen shrunk onto a 6-inch phone is fine for a quick check and tiring for real work.
Apple's built-in options
Apple has no App Store app for this. The closest built-in path is Switch Control, which lets an iPhone drive a Mac on the same Wi-Fi and Apple Account. It is free and real, but it was built for people who already use switch devices for accessibility, and it does not show the Mac's screen on the phone. Sidecar is often suggested too, but it is iPad only; our Sidecar for iPhone page explains why.
Where MightyMouse fits
MightyMouse puts your Mac's live screen, a trackpad, a keyboard and a microphone on your iPhone. Open Settings on the Mac, scan the QR code with your iPhone camera, and Safari opens the control page. There is no phone app to install first. It is free on your own Wi-Fi, and away from home it connects over cellular with a free monthly allowance, with no router setup.
The part none of the others do is voice: hold to talk and your words are transcribed on the Mac itself with Whisper and typed into whatever app is in front. If you run coding agents, it can also push their questions to your lock screen.
Where it is the wrong pick: it is built for one Mac, not a fleet, with Windows still in beta and no Linux. If you need to reach several machines or spend a full afternoon working remotely, Jump Desktop is the better tool. If all you want is a clicker for the couch, Remote Mouse costs nothing and does that job well.
Quick picks
- Free mouse and keyboard, same room: Remote Mouse.
- Most features for a paid mouse app, including Apple Watch: Mobile Mouse.
- Full remote desktop for several machines: Jump Desktop.
- Full remote desktop for free: Chrome Remote Desktop.
- Screen, trackpad, keyboard and voice for one Mac, paired in one scan: MightyMouse.
For the wider question of what each approach can and cannot do, see the full guide on how to control your Mac from your iPhone.
Your Mac's screen, trackpad, keyboard and mic on your iPhone.
Free on your own network. No card to try it.
Common questions
What is the best free app to control a Mac from an iPhone?
For a mouse and keyboard on the same Wi-Fi, Remote Mouse is free with paid add-ons. For the full screen from anywhere, Chrome Remote Desktop is free with a Google account. MightyMouse is free on your own Wi-Fi and adds the live screen and local dictation.
Which apps show my Mac's screen on my iPhone?
Remote desktop apps like Jump Desktop and Chrome Remote Desktop, and MightyMouse. Remote Mouse, Mobile Mouse and Apple's Switch Control send input only, with no screen view on the phone.
Can I control my Mac from my iPhone over cellular?
Yes, with Jump Desktop, Chrome Remote Desktop, MightyMouse, or Mobile Mouse with its Cloud Access subscription. Remote Mouse needs a VPN or hotspot workaround, and Switch Control is same Wi-Fi only. Your Mac has to be on and awake.
Is there a built-in Apple way to control a Mac from an iPhone?
Only Switch Control, an accessibility feature that works on the same Wi-Fi and Apple Account and does not show the Mac screen. Sidecar is iPad only.
Want the screen and the trackpad in one place? MightyMouse turns your iPhone into a screen, trackpad, keyboard and mic for your Mac, paired with one QR scan.