Beam vs Duet Display
Updated August 2026 · 4 min read
They solve different problems
Duet Display gives your Mac more desktop space by turning your iPhone or iPad into an extra display you drag windows onto. Beam sends your existing Mac screen and its audio to your iPhone so you can watch it from across the room. If you want to keep working, Duet. If you want to watch, Beam.
Side by side
Beam vs Duet Display
| Beam | Duet Display | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Watching your Mac screen | Extra desktop space |
| Drag windows onto the phone | No | Yes |
| Streams Mac audio | Yes | Not the focus |
| Price model | Free tier, $4.79 one-time | Subscription |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Works away from home | With Unlimited, via Tailscale | Wireless tiers, on network |
| Cloud involved | None, device to device | Account-based |
| Best distance | Another room, another country | Arm's reach of the Mac |
Why the distinction matters
Duet Display is a second-monitor product. Its whole value is that macOS treats the connected device as a real display, so windows can live there and you can work across both screens. That makes sense when the phone or iPad is sitting on the desk beside the Mac.
It makes much less sense when you are not at the desk. A second desktop you cannot reach is not useful, and a 6-inch extended display is a cramped place to put a window anyway. The reason most people search for a way to get their Mac onto their iPhone is different: a long render or download they want to keep an eye on 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 is watching, not working, and it is what Beam is built for: full-screen picture with the Mac's audio, nothing to arrange, nothing to drag.
Cost over time
This is the sharpest practical difference. Duet is sold on subscription, with tiers starting around €3.99 per month, so the cost keeps running for as long as you keep the app.
Beam is free to download on both platforms, with a free tier that streams for 30 minutes at a time on your local WiFi. Beam Unlimited is a single $4.79 one-time purchase that removes the limit and adds remote streaming. There is no renewal and no account.
Setup
Beam, once:
- Install Beacon on the Mac, which lives in the menu bar
- Install Beam from the App Store on the iPhone
- Open both on the same WiFi, tap your Mac when it appears, pair once
After that it is one tap. There is no account to create and, on your local network, nothing leaves your WiFi. Detailed walkthrough in the setup guide.
When Duet is the right call
Genuinely: if you want more desktop area while sitting at your Mac, especially with an iPad, Duet does something Beam does not attempt. Beam will never let you drag a window onto your phone. Pick the tool that matches the job.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Beam and Duet Display?
Duet adds desktop space you can drag windows onto. Beam streams the screen you already have so you can watch it elsewhere.
Is Beam cheaper than Duet Display?
Beam is free to start and $4.79 once. Duet is a recurring subscription.
Can Duet Display stream Mac audio to the iPhone?
Audio isn't Duet's focus, since it's built as a display extension. Beam streams system audio with the video by design.
Which should I use to watch a film from my Mac in bed?
Beam. Picture and sound on the phone, nothing to configure.
Watch your Mac from anywhere in the house
Free to download. $4.79 once for unlimited, never a subscription.