PhoneDeckProductivity
PhoneDeck
Turn your old iPhone into a free wireless Mac controller
What it is
PhoneDeck is a free macOS companion app that turns any spare iPhone into a wireless Stream Deck style controller. It pairs with your Mac over local WiFi using Apple's Multipeer Connectivity framework, the same tech that powers AirDrop, so there's no account, no cloud sync, and no monthly fee. If you've got an old iPhone sitting in a drawer, this gives it a second life as a dedicated control panel.
- Price
- Free
- free tier available
- Free tier
- Yes
- no card required
- Platforms
- 2
- iOS · macOS
What you get free vs paid
Verdict
Pros
- Free forever with no Pro tier, ads, or subscription
- 16 built-in Mac controls, including volume, brightness, mission control, and screenshots
- Drag any URL onto a tile to open a site or web app with one tap
- Pairs automatically over local WiFi, no account or PIN needed
Cons
- Only useful if you have a spare iPhone lying around, not your only device
- Mac and iOS only, so Windows and Android users are out of luck
- No cloud backup for your tile layout if you switch Macs
If you have an old iPhone doing nothing, PhoneDeck turns it into a genuinely useful Mac remote for free, which is more than you can say for most Stream Deck alternatives that gate half their features behind a subscription.
Capabilities
Core features
- 16 built-in Mac system controls
- Custom drag-and-drop URL tiles
- Multipeer Connectivity pairing, the same tech AirDrop uses
- No account or cloud setup required
- Volume, brightness, and keyboard backlight controls
- Media playback shortcuts
- Screenshot, screen recording, and Mission Control triggers
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Common questions
Is PhoneDeck free?
PhoneDeck offers a free tier you can use without paying. Browse QuestLoops for verified ways to get more out of it for free.
What are the best alternatives to PhoneDeck?
You can compare PhoneDeck side-by-side with similar Productivity on QuestLoops to weigh free-tier limits, pricing, and tradeoffs before deciding.
Community workarounds
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