Screenbay

For iPad · Works with Screen Sharing on your Mac

A full desktop on your iPad, in true Retina.

Your Mac draws a desktop at your iPad's exact pixel count and streams it at up to 60 frames a second, with sound. Nothing to install on the Mac.

Availability

Coming to the App Store.

Free to download and use with unlimited Macs. One in-app purchase removes the occasional reminder for good.

How it works
A macOS desktop with a web browser and a code editor side by side, at the full width Screenbay streams to an iPad.
A desktop drawn for Screenbay at 2732 pixels wide, captured on the Mac and shown here unscaled. The full display is 2732 × 2048, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's own resolution.

Retina

Pixel for pixel, exactly as it is drawn.

2360 × 1640
The Mac makes a display at the iPad's own resolution. 2732 × 2048 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
2× scale
macOS renders text and UI at Retina scale, as on its own built-in screen.
4:4:4 colour
Full-colour HEVC, so the edges of small text stay sharp instead of fringing.
60 fps
Median frames shown on an iPad Air over Wi‑Fi, measured on our test rig.
A magnified crop of the screenshot: a button and keyboard shortcut keys rendered sharply.
A crop of the screenshot above, enlarged. Every glyph is the Mac's own 2× rendering.

Pricing

Free to use. One purchase to say thanks.

  1. Download and connectScreenbay is free, with unlimited Macs at full quality.
  2. A gentle reminderEvery 30 minutes of session time a reminder appears. Continue closes it; your session keeps running.
  3. Buy onceOne in-app purchase removes the reminder for good, tied to your Apple Account, so Restore Purchases brings it back.

Details

Everything else, briefly.

  • Sound included. The Mac's audio plays on the iPad.
  • Your keyboard drives the desktop. ⌥Tab switches Mac apps; ⌃Space opens Spotlight.
  • Pointer, trackpad and Pencil. Click, drag and scroll, by touch or as a trackpad.
  • Private. A direct iPad-to-Mac connection. No account, relay or cloud. Privacy policy.
  • View only. Switch input off to watch a build or a meeting safely.
  • Computer: a Mac with Apple silicon, macOS Sonoma 14 or later, Screen Sharing on with High Performance.
  • iPad: iPadOS 17 or later.
  • Network: the same fast network as the Mac, or a private network such as Tailscale (away from home).
  • Setup: turn on Screen Sharing, add the Mac in Screenbay, connect (getting started).
  • Help: support, answered by the developer.