Beam vs Duet Display
Updated October 2026 · 4 min read
More screen, or your screen somewhere else?
Duet Display gives your computer more room by turning an iPhone or iPad into an extra display you drag windows onto. Beam takes the screen your Mac already has, with its sound, and puts it on your iPhone or iPad wherever you are in the house. If you want to keep working at the desk, Duet. If you want to see your Mac from the couch, Beam.
Side by side
Beam vs Duet Display
| Beam | Duet Display | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Seeing your Mac from somewhere else | Extra desktop space |
| Drag windows onto the phone | No | Yes |
| Computers | Mac | Mac and Windows |
| Wired option | No, Wi-Fi only | Yes |
| Pen input | No | Yes, on the Pro plan |
| Away from home | With Unlimited, over your Tailscale network | Remote access on paid plans |
| Price | Free tier, $7.99 once | From $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year |
| Source code | Open source (AGPL-3.0) | Closed |
Duet details and prices come from its App Store listing (US) as of October 2026, and may change.
Why the difference matters
Duet is a second-monitor app. The idea is that your computer treats the phone or iPad as a real display, so windows can live there while you work across both screens. That works best when the device sits on the desk next to the computer.
It helps much less when you're not at the desk. A second desktop out of reach isn't much use, and a six-inch extra display is a tight place for a window. Most people who want their Mac on their iPhone have something else in mind: a long render or download they want to watch from the sofa, a film playing on the Mac they want to finish in bed, a livestream or a match, or a machine in another room they want to check on without walking over.
That's what Beam is for. The whole screen or one window fills your phone, with the Mac's sound, and keeps playing in Picture in Picture while you do something else. When something needs you, click mode lets you click, drag, scroll and type on the Mac right from the stream.
Cost over time
Duet is free to download, and its features come in subscription plans, starting at $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year. The cost keeps running for as long as you use it.
Beam is free to download too. You get a 3-day unlimited trial, then 30 minutes of streaming in every 24 hours on your home Wi-Fi, with every feature included. Beam Unlimited is a one-time $7.99 purchase that removes the limit and adds streaming from anywhere. Nothing renews.
Setting up Beam
- Install Beacon on the Mac. It lives in the menu bar.
- Install Beam on your iPhone or iPad from the App Store.
- Open Beam on the same Wi-Fi, tap your Mac and type the 6-digit code it shows.
After that it's one tap. There's no account to create. Full walkthrough in the setup guide.
When Duet is the better pick
If you want more desktop room while sitting at your computer, especially with an iPad, or you use Windows, Duet does something Beam doesn't try to do. Beam will never let you drag a window onto your phone. If you have an iPad and a Mac, also look at Apple's own Sidecar, compared in Beam vs Sidecar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Beam and Duet Display?
Duet adds desktop space you can drag windows onto. Beam brings the screen you already have to wherever you are, so you can watch it and step in.
Is Beam cheaper than Duet Display?
Over time, yes. Beam is free to start and $7.99 once. Duet's plans are subscriptions.
Which should I use to watch a film from my Mac in bed?
Beam. Picture and sound on the phone, nothing to set up each time.
Can I use Duet Display on Windows?
Yes. Beam is Mac only.
