Best Free iPhone Stream Deck Apps for Mac (2026): Free Limits Compared
Free key limits for six iPhone Stream Deck apps on Mac, checked Oct 2026: Stream Deck Mobile, Touch Portal, Virtual Stream Deck, PhoneDeck, CmdPalm, and DeckPilot.
Six apps turn an iPhone into a free Stream Deck for your Mac. Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile gives 6 free keys. Touch Portal's free tier gives you 2 pages. Virtual Stream Deck gives 6. PhoneDeck and CmdPalm are free with no stated button cap. DeckPilot's free tier is 8 buttons per deck with unlimited decks. All checked on October 31, 2026.
Below are the free limits side by side, including two apps that give away more than we do. We make DeckPilot, so read our picks with that in mind.
The short answer
- Most free, no strings: PhoneDeck (native app, unlimited pages) or CmdPalm (open source, runs in the phone's browser).
- Best if you own Elgato hardware: Stream Deck Mobile. 6 keys, same plugins as your hardware.
- Best if you also use Windows or Android: Touch Portal.
- Best for app-aware Mac decks: DeckPilot. Free to start, Pro if you want the deck to follow the front app.
Free-tier table (checked October 31, 2026)
Every row comes from the vendor's own page or App Store listing. Free tiers change, so re-check before you rely on one.
| App | Free buttons | Pages / decks free | Paid upgrade (US) | Mac / iPhone minimum | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeckPilot | 8 per deck | Unlimited decks | $7.99/mo, $39/yr, or $79 lifetime | macOS 14 / iOS 17 | deckpilot.co/pricing |
| Elgato Stream Deck Mobile | 6 keys | Unlimited actions | $2.99/mo, $24.99/yr, or $49.99 lifetime, up to 64 keys | Stream Deck app on Mac / iOS 17 | App Store |
| Touch Portal | 8 per page | 2 pages, no plugins | Pro upgrade (in-app purchase) | Mac app / iPhone app | touch-portal.com |
| Virtual Stream Deck | 6 buttons | Not stated | $19.99 one-time | macOS 15 / iOS 18 | vwsdigital.com |
| PhoneDeck | No stated cap | Unlimited pages | None (core stays free) | macOS 14 / iOS 17 | phonedeck.io |
| CmdPalm | No stated cap | Free | None (open source, AGPLv3) | macOS 15, Apple silicon / iOS 17 (browser) | cmdpalm.app |
Left out: Tacto (we couldn't confirm an iPhone client on its site), Glasspad (its site says a new version is being built), and DevDeck, AnyDisplay, and BetterTouchTool's remote app (not checked).
How we judged them
- Free buttons and pages. How much you get before a paywall.
- OS minimum. A free app that needs macOS 15 is no use on a Ventura machine.
- Native app or browser. Native apps pair faster and can use haptics. Browser decks install nothing on the phone, but live in a Safari tab.
- Upgrade cost. What you pay once you outgrow the free tier.
Per-app notes
DeckPilot
Good: Built only for Mac. 8 buttons per deck with unlimited decks, a virtual Touch Bar strip, an iPad layout, and template packs for apps like Final Cut, Logic, Zoom, and VS Code. Catch: 8 buttons per deck is a real cap. Automatic switching with the front app (App-Aware decks) is Pro. iPhone and iPad only, no Android.
Elgato Stream Deck Mobile
Good: Same Elgato plugins as the hardware, including OBS and lighting. Free forever at 6 keys. Catch: 6 keys fills up fast. It runs through Elgato's Stream Deck app, which is built for Mac and Windows rather than Mac first. DeckPilot vs Stream Deck Mobile.
Touch Portal
Good: Works across Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. Big community of plugins and page designs. Catch: The free tier stops at 2 pages and has no plugins; you need the Pro upgrade for both. DeckPilot vs Touch Portal.
Virtual Stream Deck
Good: Simple, includes OBS controls on Pro, and the upgrade is a one-time $19.99. Catch: Needs macOS 15 and iOS 18, so older setups are out. 6 free buttons.
PhoneDeck
Good: Free, no subscription, unlimited pages, native apps on macOS 14 and iOS 17. Catch: Newer and smaller than the others; the site says Pro features are coming later. Check that the actions you need are there.
CmdPalm
Good: Free and open source. Nothing to install on the phone; it opens in the browser. Catch: Needs an Apple silicon Mac on macOS 15. A browser tab is easier to close by accident than a native app.
When an uncapped free app beats DeckPilot
If you want lots of buttons and never want to pay, PhoneDeck or CmdPalm give you more for $0 than DeckPilot's free tier. If you only need a static grid of app launchers and shortcuts on one page, a free uncapped app is the sensible pick.
When DeckPilot's free tier is the better start
- You switch between apps all day. Unlimited decks means one 8-button deck per app: Zoom, Final Cut, Xcode, Slack. Switching is a tap on free, automatic on Pro.
- You want a Touch Bar back. The free Touch Bar strip has volume and brightness sliders.
- You don't want to build from scratch. Install a template pack and you have a working deck in a minute.
- You might pay later. Pro is $7.99/month, $39/year, or $79 lifetime (US list prices; local price may vary with purchasing-power pricing.) Start with the iPhone setup guide or see the pricing page.
When to buy hardware instead
If you stream and live in OBS, or you want keys you can press without looking, no free app replaces an Elgato Stream Deck. Our Stream Deck or iPhone app guide has a 30-second test and a 3-year cost table, and the Stream Deck alternatives roundup covers paid options.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Stream Deck app for iPhone on Mac? Yes, several. Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile gives 6 free keys, Touch Portal's free tier gives 2 pages, and PhoneDeck and CmdPalm are free with no stated button cap (checked October 31, 2026). DeckPilot's free tier gives 8 buttons per deck with unlimited decks.
How much is DeckPilot Pro? $7.99/month, $39/year, or $79 lifetime (US list prices; local price may vary with purchasing-power pricing.) It runs on macOS 14+ with iOS or iPadOS 17+, and the free tier keeps 8 buttons per deck and unlimited decks.
How many keys is Stream Deck Mobile free? Six, forever. Pro raises it to 64 keys; the US App Store lists $2.99 a month, $24.99 a year, or $49.99 lifetime as of October 31, 2026.
Which free iPhone deck app has no button limit? PhoneDeck and CmdPalm don't state a button cap. PhoneDeck is a native app with unlimited pages. CmdPalm is open source and runs in your phone's browser, but needs an Apple silicon Mac on macOS 15.
Do I need Stream Deck hardware to use these apps? No. None of them need Elgato hardware. Stream Deck Mobile does need Elgato's Stream Deck app running on your Mac.