Remote desktop for Mac, compared
Nearby is built in.
Anywhere is PocketRocket.
The features built into Apple devices shine when your devices are close. PocketRocket is for when they’re not.
PocketRocket Host needs a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 26.1 or later. The PocketRocket app is coming soon to the App Store.
Built in: within about 10 meters, according to Apple.
PocketRocket: anywhere with an internet connection.
Where’s your Mac?
Right here, within reach
Use what’s built in. The Sidecar feature turns an iPad nearby into a display for your Mac, Universal Control lets one keyboard and pointer move between a Mac and iPad, and Mac Virtual Display brings your Mac into Apple Vision Pro. Apple says they work with devices within about 10 meters (30 feet).1
Elsewhere on my home or office network
From another Mac, the built-in Screen Sharing app is made for this. From iPhone, iPad or Apple Vision Pro, PocketRocket covers it too.
Somewhere else entirely
That’s what PocketRocket is for: your Mac from iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro or another Mac, over the internet, with no VPN or router setup.
What’s the difference between PocketRocket and Sidecar, Universal Control or Mac Virtual Display? — Distance and direction.
Sidecar, Universal Control and Mac Virtual Display connect devices that are close together—Apple says within about 10 meters—and come built in at no extra cost. Screen Sharing connects Mac computers on your network. PocketRocket shows and controls your Mac from iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro or another Mac, over the internet.
Side by side.
·
| Criterion | PocketRocket | Sidecar1 | Universal Control2 | Mac Virtual Display3 | Screen Sharing (macOS)5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | See and control your Mac from another Apple device | Uses an iPad as a display that extends or mirrors your Mac | One Mac keyboard, mouse or trackpad controls up to two other nearby Mac or iPad devices; each shows its own screen | Shows the screen of your Mac on Apple Vision Pro and shares the pointer | View and control the screen of another Mac |
| Direction | Mac → iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro or Mac | Mac → iPad | Mac ↔ nearby Mac or iPad | Mac → Apple Vision Pro | Mac → Mac |
| Use it from | iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, Mac | iPad | Mac, iPad | Apple Vision Pro | Mac |
| Distance (per documentation) | Anywhere with an internet connection; tested on 5G and hotel Wi‑Fi abroad | Within about 10 m (30 ft) wirelessly, or USB | Within about 10 m (30 ft) | Within about 10 m (30 ft) | No distance stated; described for Mac computers on your network |
| Over the internet | Yes—local network, VPN, direct connection or relay | No—made for devices nearby or USB | No—made for devices nearby | No—made for devices nearby | Documented for your network; use over the internet without a VPN not documented |
| Network setup | None required; VPN optional | Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi and Handoff on | Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi and Handoff on | Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth on both | High Performance: UDP ports 5900–5902 reachable; wired network recommended |
| What you install | PocketRocket Host on the Mac, PocketRocket on your device | Built in | Built in | Built in | Built in |
| Screen shape and size | Virtual display with the exact proportions of your window; iPad Pro 13″: 2752 × 2064; Apple Vision Pro: 16:9 windows from 1600 × 900 to 9600 × 5400 pt | Not documented | — (doesn’t share a screen) | 16:9 up to 5K (5120 × 2880) with Apple silicon, 3K with Intel; Wide 21:9 up to 6720 × 2880 px; Ultrawide 32:9 up to 10240 × 2880 px | High Performance: virtual display up to 4K (3840 × 2160); dynamic resolution with one display |
| Frame rate | Up to 60 fps; Apple Vision Pro displays at 90 Hz | Not documented | Not applicable | Not documented | High Performance: 30 or 60 fps |
| Sound from the Mac | Yes, stereo (Opus, up to 256 kbps) | Not documented | Not applicable | Yes; system sounds such as notifications stay on the Mac | High Performance: stereo audio |
| Device camera and mic for the Mac | Yes—PocketRocket Camera and PocketRocket Mic from iPhone, iPad and Mac (no camera from Apple Vision Pro) | Not documented | Not applicable | Audio input goes through the microphone connected to the Mac | Not documented |
| Input | Touch and Touchpad modes, key bar, keyboard, mouse and trackpad on iPad, pinch to zoom | Touch (greatly expanded in iPadOS 27 and macOS 27), Apple Pencil, keyboard, mouse, trackpad, sidebar with ⌘ ⌥ ⌃ ⇧ | Shared keyboard, mouse or trackpad | Mac trackpad or mouse, shared pointer | Keyboard and pointer of the Mac you use |
| Physical displays of the Mac | Go dark during the session, restored afterward | Extends or mirrors the desktop | — (each device keeps its own screen) | Not documented | High Performance: blanked when you sign in as the logged-in user |
| Several Mac computers at once | On iPad, Apple Vision Pro and Mac, one window per Mac | Not documented | A Mac plus up to two devices | One Mac at a time; main display only | Not documented |
| Devices per Mac at once | One; a new device takes over the session | Not documented | Not applicable | Not documented | High Performance: one session per Mac |
| Clipboard and files | Both ways: text, images, files (up to a limit set on the device, 16 MB by default)2 | Not documented | Copy content between devices | Not documented | Shared clipboard; drag files between Mac computers |
| Account and trust | Same Apple Account via iCloud; no pairing codes | Same Apple Account with two-factor authentication | Same Apple Account with two-factor authentication | Same Apple Account with two-factor authentication, iCloud Keychain on both | Sign in to the other Mac, or connect with an Apple Account |
| Requirements | Host: Mac with Apple silicon, macOS 26.1+; apps: iOS, iPadOS, visionOS or macOS 26+ | macOS 10.15+ (most Mac computers from 2016; MacBook Air from 2018), iPadOS 13+ | macOS 12.4+, iPadOS 15.4+ | macOS 14+; Wide and Ultrawide: Apple silicon, macOS 15.2+, visionOS 2.2+ | High Performance: Apple silicon and macOS 14+ on both Mac computers; 75 Mbps per 4K display |
| Availability | App: coming soon to the App Store; host: notarized download from this site | Built in, no extra cost | Built in, no extra cost | Built in, no extra cost | Built in, no extra cost |
| Best when | Your Mac is somewhere else | Your iPad is next to your Mac and you want more screen | Several devices share one desk | Your Mac is in the room and you want a big or ultrawide display | Another Mac on your network |
Sources
- Apple Support: Sidecar support.apple.com/en-us/102597page dated September 14, 2026 · retrieved September 29, 2026
- Apple Support: Universal Control support.apple.com/en-us/102459page dated July 15, 2026 · retrieved September 29, 2026
- Apple Support: Mac Virtual Display support.apple.com/en-us/118521page dated September 14, 2026 · retrieved September 29, 2026
- Apple Vision Pro User Guide: Mac Virtual Display support.apple.com/guide/apple-vision-pro/use-mac-virtual-display-tan357ede966/visionosretrieved September 29, 2026
- Mac User Guide: Screen Sharing support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-the-screen-of-another-mac-mh14066/macretrieved September 29, 2026
- Mac User Guide: types of screen sharing support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchl1883115d/macretrieved September 29, 2026
- Remote Desktop User Guide: High Performance screen sharing support.apple.com/guide/remote-desktop/use-high-performance-screen-sharing-apdf8e09f5a9/macretrieved September 29, 2026
When are the features built into Apple devices the better choice? — Credit where it’s due.
When your devices are close together. Mac Virtual Display offers up to 5K plus wide and ultrawide layouts and plays the sound of your Mac. Sidecar supports Apple Pencil, much broader touch control with iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, and USB. Universal Control moves one pointer across devices. All are built in and work with older hardware than PocketRocket needs.
Mac Virtual Display
- Up to 5K in 16:9 with Apple silicon
- Wide and Ultrawide up to 10240 × 2880 px
- The sound of your Mac in Apple Vision Pro
- Nothing to install
Sidecar
- Much broader touch with iPadOS 27 and macOS 27
- Apple Pencil
- Wireless, or USB
- Many Mac computers from 2016 onward
Universal Control
- One pointer across devices
- One keyboard for a Mac and up to two more devices
- Copy content between them
- Built in
Where PocketRocket fits.
When your Mac is somewhere else.
When you want to use iPhone as well as iPad, Apple Vision Pro and Mac.
When the displays of your Mac should go dark while you work.
When your iPhone or iPad should be the camera and microphone of your Mac.
PocketRocket needs newer systems than the built-in features: a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 26.1 or later, and the 26 releases on your devices.
Check requirementsHow we compare.
We use only each maker’s own documentation and date every check. When a source doesn’t say, we write “Not documented” instead of guessing. We don’t compare prices, speed or latency.
Before you start.
How is PocketRocket different from Sidecar, Universal Control and Mac Virtual Display?
Those features connect devices close together—within about 10 meters, according to Apple—while PocketRocket reaches your Mac from iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro or another Mac over the internet.
They’re built in at no extra cost and work with older hardware than PocketRocket needs, so when your devices are close together, they may be all you need.
Does the built-in Screen Sharing on Mac work over the internet?
Apple describes Screen Sharing for Mac computers on your network, and its High Performance mode needs UDP ports 5900–5902 and a fast, steady connection; PocketRocket reaches your Mac over the internet without router setup.
Does Sidecar work over the internet?
Not according to Apple: Sidecar needs your iPad within about 10 meters (30 feet) of your Mac, or a USB cable.
What’s the difference between Sidecar and Universal Control?
Sidecar makes your iPad a display for your Mac, while Universal Control lets one Mac keyboard and pointer control up to two other nearby Mac or iPad devices, each showing its own screen.
Leave your Mac at home. Take it everywhere.
Install PocketRocket Host
On the Mac you want to reach. It lives in the menu bar.
Get the PocketRocket app
On iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro or another Mac.
Tap your Mac
Use the same Apple Account, and your Mac shows up on its own.
PocketRocket Host needs a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 26.1 or later. The PocketRocket app is coming soon to the App Store.