Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Air Display VS Input Director

Compare Air Display VS Input Director and see what are their differences

Air Display logo Air Display

Air Display allows extra screens to extend the display size of a Mac desktop. The company behind the product is Avatron Software, which was founded in 2008. Read more about Air Display.

Input Director logo Input Director

Control multiple windows systems with one keyboard/mouse. Share a keyboard and mouse across multiple windows system.
  • Air Display Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-29
  • Input Director Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-22

Air Display features and specs

  • Multi-platform Support
    Air Display supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. This makes it versatile for users with multiple devices.
  • Touchscreen Functionality
    When using a tablet as a secondary display, Air Display allows users to utilize touchscreen capabilities, adding an extra layer of interaction and control.
  • Wireless Convenience
    The application enables wireless connection between devices, eliminating the need for cables and allowing more flexibility in setup arrangements.
  • Extended Desktop Mode
    Air Display allows users to extend their desktop space, providing more screen real estate for multitasking and productivity.
  • Ease of Setup
    The application offers a straightforward setup process, making it user-friendly even for those who may not be very tech-savvy.

Possible disadvantages of Air Display

  • Performance Issues
    Some users may experience latency or lag, particularly over less stable wireless connections, which can disrupt the user experience.
  • Battery Drain
    Using a mobile device as an extended display can significantly drain its battery, limiting the duration for which it can be used effectively without recharging.
  • Cost
    Air Display is a paid application, which may be a deterrent for users looking for a free alternative.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Occasionally, users may face compatibility issues between different hardware configurations or operating system versions, affecting performance and usability.
  • Limited Features
    While it provides basic extended desktop functionalities, advanced features available in some competitor applications might be missing.

Input Director features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Input Director offers a user-friendly interface and is relatively easy to set up and configure, making it accessible even for users who are not very tech-savvy.
  • Multiple Operating Systems
    The system allows seamless control of multiple computers running on different versions of the Windows operating system, supporting versatile use cases.
  • Clipboard Sharing
    It allows users to share the clipboard between the connected computers, making it easy to copy and paste text, files, and other data across different systems.
  • Customizable Hotkeys
    Users can set up custom hotkeys to switch control between different computers, enhancing workflow efficiency and convenience.
  • Secure Connections
    Input Director uses encrypted network traffic, ensuring secure communication between connected computers and protecting sensitive data.

Possible disadvantages of Input Director

  • Windows Only
    Input Director is only available for Windows operating systems, limiting its usability for those who need cross-platform support, like integration with macOS or Linux.
  • Network Dependency
    The software requires a stable network connection between the computers. Without a reliable network, the performance can be compromised.
  • Limited Features
    Compared to some other commercial solutions, Input Director may lack advanced features like support for touchscreen gestures or more intricate keyboard mappings.
  • No Mobile Support
    Input Director does not offer support for controlling mobile devices, which can be a limitation for users who require integrated control over their smartphones or tablets.
  • Performance Issues
    Under certain circumstances, some users may experience latency or lag, particularly when dealing with graphics-intensive applications or large file transfers.

Air Display videos

Air Display App Review

More videos:

  • Review - Air Display Review
  • Review - Air Display for iPhone and iPad Review

Input Director videos

How to use one Mouse & Keyboard with two Computers - Input Director Tutorial

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Control Multiple Computers at Once! | Input Director Showcase and Tutorial
  • Review - Control Multiple Machines with Input Director

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Air Display and Input Director)
Remote Desktop
47 47%
53% 53
Remote PC Access
47 47%
53% 53
Multi Monitor
55 55%
45% 45
Mouse Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Air Display and Input Director

Air Display Reviews

Top 10 Duet Display Alternatives (Free and Paid) Reviewed | 2022
Air Display vs Duet Display: Similar to Duet Display, AirDisplay is another ideal method of making your iOS device behave as a second monitor. Using AirDisplay, you will be able to quickly view documents,, web pages, photos, videos, certain PC games, and other content without having a hyper CPU-intensive application ran in the background.
Source: mediapeanut.com
Top 6 Best Spacedesk Alternatives for Duet Display
As many as four devices can be connected at once over Air Display software and it works for both PC and laptop. You can remotely access your PC or laptop over the internet from anywhere in the world!
Source: itechhacks.com
8 Best SpaceDesk Alternatives for Duet Display (2022)
If you want to turn your Tablet into an extra screen for multitasking, Air Display must be your option. Several useful features in the software make it a suitable option to choose. For instance, you can set up customizable hotkeys to control the subsidiary screen.
Source: techdator.net
7 Of The Best Spacedesk Alternatives For Multi-Monitor Work
Looking for a spare screen for your Mac then Air Display does that for you. They provide an extra filter in the primary Mac device. The software is easy to use without any hassle, not like the others that are quite complicated.
Top spacedesk Alternatives & Similar Software (2020)
You can use multiple devices, iOS devices, Windows PCs, Macs and Android tablets as an added screen for your Mac computer. While earlier Windows PCs were used as Air Display hosts, now only Mac computers are supported as hosts. With the latest version, Air Display 3, you can use four devices to act as interactive screens for your Mac computer. It allows use with USB cables...

Input Director Reviews

Top spacedesk Alternatives & Similar Software (2020)
Input Director, like Spacedesk helps you gain control over multiple computers while having to use just a single mouse or keyboard. You’ll just have to install the software on all the computers you wish to work on simultaneously. The computer that has the keyboard and the mouse attached to it is the master computer that controls the others. Once you’ve made the necessary...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Input Director should be more popular than Air Display. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Air Display mentions (3)

  • Duplicate monitor to wireless display or iPad
    Https://avatron.com/applications/air-display/ Not sure, if it does screen mirroring. Source: about 3 years ago
  • MacBook Pro 2018 to iMac 2017 connection for external display?
    If you're talking about Target Display Mode, I'm afraid your iMac does not support it. You can still use something like Air Display, although I'm not sure if it will help you achieve what you want. Source: over 3 years ago
  • MacBook As Display
    The other option is via software like AirDisplay, but that does cost money as well! Source: about 4 years ago

Input Director mentions (6)

  • Dual Computer Battlestations? Good idea? Bad idea?
    For the win8 tablet, I wanted to use it as an extra monitor but none of the normal options for doing it was working, so what I use now is Input Director. If you want to use multiple computers with dedicated screens per computer, this is the way! It allows you to control any of the running machines with the same mouse and keyboard by simply moving your mouse over to the corresponding screen. There are quite a few... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Any ideas on good ways to be able to switching between my pc and laptop on these 2 monitors + M&K USBs?
    If you are looking for a software solution, https://inputdirector.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Easily switch between work and personal PC?
    There are various software solutions (eg.: Input Directorbut using a proper hardware switch is most likely the better option. And there are always the remote desktop options…. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • WFH Gamers that use KVM/USB Switch, what do you use?
    I have a 3 PC home setup, so, like you, I didn't need to worry about monitors for my switching solution. First off, I HIGHLY recommend Input Director (Windows only) or other software KVM for the keyboard and mouse. No hitting a button and waiting a couple of seconds, and you can even copy/paste text between the machines. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Not exactly a cyberDeck, but this is what I have. VAIO VGN-P21ZR.
    A friend recently gave me a box of their old hardware. It included an old Toshiba Encore 2 tablet running Windows 8.1. It's the first time I've used Windows on a ARM device, and it's been pretty amazingly usable. Not enough RAM or storage, but it has a single microSD card slot, at least. It works well for low-demand things. It's now mounted on a wall, running Media Monkey, Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Pocket... Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Air Display and Input Director, you can also consider the following products

Duet Display - With Duet Display, you can transform your iPhone or iPad into a second display to expand the screen space of your PC or Mac system.

Synergy - Cross-platform software for sharing your mouse and keyboard between multiple computers

spacedesk - spacedesk expands the Windows desktop computer screen to other computers over the local area...

DisplayFusion - DisplayFusion will make your multi-monitor life much easier.

iDisplay - iDisplay is an app that turns a mobile device into a secondary desktop monitor. The app currently supports iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS, and it lets users connect a desktop computer to a mobile device over WiFi. Read more about iDisplay.

Barrier - Barrier is a cross-platform software for sharing your mouse and keyboard between multiple computers...