Luna Display

Hardware that turns the iPad into a wireless second display

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Hardware that turns the iPad into a wireless second display

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Productivity

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Remote workforce tools

Luna Display is a hardware solution that turns any iPad into a true, wireless second display for your Mac. Luna was designed and developed ex-Apple engineers and the makers of Astropad, award-winning drawing software that turns the iPad into a professional graphics tablet for Mac.

The Best Luna Display Alternatives

The best Luna Display alternatives are Duet Display, PhoneCast, Airdroid 3, Ten One Design, and Tuple.

Duet Display

5.0 ·

Choose Duet Display if...

✓you need Mac and Windows second-display support
✓you want pro controls beyond Apple Sidecar
✓you prefer software only, no hardware dongle

See details ↓

PhoneCast

Choose PhoneCast if...

✓you only need iPhone or iPad mirroring to Mac
✓you want a simple wireless setup for meetings
✓you prefer one purchase across iOS and Mac

See details ↓

Airdroid 3

5.0 ·

Choose Airdroid 3 if...

✓you need AirPlay receiving on Windows or Mac
✓you want remote phone control plus screen casting
✓you also need file transfer and notifications

See details ↓

Ten One Design

Choose Ten One Design if...

✓you want a physical mount for iPad on laptop
✓you prefer simple hardware over network tuning
✓you need a lightweight travel-friendly dual-screen setup

See details ↓

Tuple

5.0 ·

Choose Tuple if...

✓you need pair programming with shared keyboard control
✓you want crisp low-latency screen sharing
✓you care about developer-focused collaboration features

See details ↓

What to Consider

Luna Display is well known for turning an iPad (or even another Mac) into a responsive, cable-free second screen using a tiny hardware adapter—great for portable dual-monitor setups when your network cooperates. The alternatives landscape spans a few distinct approaches: software-only second-display tools that focus on cross-platform flexibility and deep customization, lightweight wireless mirroring apps optimized for demos and meetings, and broader collaboration tools that prioritize interactive screen sharing over “true” desktop extension.

In evaluating options, we weighed how closely each product matches Luna Display’s core use case (second display vs. simple mirroring vs. interactive collaboration), along with real-world responsiveness, setup friction (dongle vs. app-only), platform coverage (Mac/Windows/iOS/Android), and pricing model clarity (one-time purchase vs. ongoing plans). We also considered workflow fit—whether an alternative is better for daily pro work, occasional travel setups, presenting in calls, or team-based sessions where shared control matters more than a second monitor.

Duet Display

Ex-Apple engineers transform your iPad into a cinema display

5.0 · 1 review

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Duet Display takes a software-first approach to the “extra screen” problem, which is appealing if you don’t want to carry or potentially misplace a hardware dongle like Luna Display. It’s also built for mixed-device reality, supporting workflows that span more than just a Mac and an iPad.

If you’ve looked at Apple’s Sidecar and felt it was fine for occasional use but not something you can rely on daily, Duet explicitly positions itself as a more professional-grade option with stronger performance tuning and deeper customization than Sidecar offers for “casual users” (many features they don’t). That makes it a strong alternative when you want to dial in how your second display behaves rather than accepting a default experience.

It’s also the more flexible choice when you need responsive troubleshooting and ongoing refinement, since the team is publicly responsive to issues and commits to fixing reported bugs (will definitely fix it). Overall, Duet is a better fit than Luna Display for people optimizing across platforms and preferences, while Luna remains compelling for those who specifically want hardware-enabled Mac-to-iPad display extension.

Best for

Ideal for power users who want a dongle-free second display across Mac and Windows.

Standout features

✓Software-only setup with no adapter
✓Cross-platform Mac and PC support
✓Pro customization beyond Sidecar
✓Performance-focused second display modes

PhoneCast

Mirror iPhone or iPad screen to Mac without wires

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PhoneCast is a clean alternative when you don’t actually need a true second desktop—what you need is dependable iPhone/iPad mirroring to your Mac for demos, teaching, or recording. Instead of extending macOS onto an iPad (Luna Display’s core strength), it focuses on getting your iOS screen onto the Mac quickly so you can share it in a call or capture it in desktop tools.

That narrower focus can be a big advantage: fewer moving parts, less “second monitor” complexity, and a workflow that’s easy to explain to colleagues or students. It’s especially handy for showing an app flow, walking through a prototype, or presenting a mobile UI without grabbing cables.

PhoneCast also fits buyers who prefer straightforward ownership, since it’s positioned as a universal purchase you can use across Apple devices. Choose it over Luna Display when mirroring and presenting matter more than turning the iPad into a full-fledged extended workspace.

Best for

Best for educators and presenters who need wireless iOS-to-Mac mirroring for meetings and recordings.

Standout features

✓Wireless iPhone/iPad to Mac mirroring
✓AirPlay-style casting workflow
✓Optimized for demos and screen sharing
✓Universal purchase across Apple devices

Airdroid 3

Fully access your phone from a PC or Mac

5.0 · 1 review

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AirDroid 3 is the more versatile pick when your “second screen” needs are really about cross-device control and casting, not extending a Mac desktop onto an iPad. Where Luna Display is purpose-built for Mac-to-iPad (and Mac-to-Mac) display extension, AirDroid leans into managing phones from a computer and bridging Apple and non-Apple ecosystems.

A key advantage is its broader platform flexibility: it can turn a Windows PC or a Mac into an AirPlay receiver and pair that with device control features. That makes it useful in mixed environments—IT support, classrooms, or households—where the goal is to view and interact with a mobile device from a desktop.

If you’re regularly moving files, handling notifications, or troubleshooting devices as part of your workflow, AirDroid can replace multiple utilities that Luna Display isn’t trying to cover. Pick AirDroid 3 over Luna Display when you need “device access and casting” more than “portable Mac dual monitors.”

Best for

Ideal for cross-platform users and support teams who need device control plus screen casting.

Standout features

✓AirPlay receiver on Windows and macOS
✓Remote control for iOS and Android
✓File transfer and notification syncing
✓Multi-device management workflows

Ten One Design

Ten One Design creates one or two clever products each year.

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Ten One Design goes at the problem from the hardware side, but in a different way than Luna Display: instead of enabling display extension, it helps you physically build a more ergonomic, travel-friendly dual-screen setup. If you already rely on Sidecar, Duet, or another software method, a solid mounting solution can be the missing piece that makes the setup feel like a real workstation.

This is the alternative path for people who are less concerned about the wireless link itself and more concerned about stability, posture, and desk footprint. A well-designed mount can keep an iPad aligned with your laptop screen, reduce clutter, and make “second screen on the go” feel intentional rather than improvised.

Choose Ten One Design over Luna Display when your main pain point isn’t latency or configuration—it’s having a practical, minimal setup that’s easy to deploy anywhere. It pairs naturally with software-based display tools, but even on its own it can improve how you use an iPad alongside a laptop.

Best for

Best for travelers who want a sturdy, minimalist way to mount an iPad as a second screen.

Standout features

✓Laptop-to-tablet mounting accessories
✓Portable, no-power hardware approach
✓Cleaner dual-screen travel setup
✓Ergonomic alignment for small workspaces

Tuple

The best pair programming tool for macOS and Windows

5.0 · 6 reviews

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Tuple is a compelling alternative when the real job to be done isn’t “add more pixels,” but “work together on the same screen.” Luna Display shines for personal productivity—extending your desktop to an iPad or spare Mac—while Tuple is designed for interactive collaboration where screen quality and shared control are the priority.

For pair programming, mentoring, and code reviews, a second display doesn’t solve the core friction of remote work: taking turns, pointing at code, and staying in sync. Tuple is built around multi-participant keyboard and mouse control so both people can drive without awkward handoffs.

If your Luna setup was partly about collaborating from anywhere, Tuple can be a better fit because it optimizes for low-latency, high-fidelity screensharing plus the collaboration mechanics developers care about. Choose it over Luna Display when the “second screen” is less valuable than a purpose-built remote pairing experience.