MacDisplay icon
MacDisplay icon

MacDisplay

Turn any Mac you already own — even an old iMac — into a true extended second display for your Mac. No dongle, no subscription, no account, no cloud.

One app, two roles: on first launch each Mac asks whether to "become a monitor" (show another Mac's screen) or "extend screen" (send its own). No account, no setup.

Cost / License

  • Freemium (Pay once)
  • Proprietary

Platforms

  • Mac  Requires macOS 12.3 or later on the main Mac; the second (display) Mac needs macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later.
The receiver Mac — your second display — checks its connections (Thunderbolt Bridge, Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and can stay awake while receiving, before the session starts.
The main Mac sets the second display's resolution, HiDPI/Retina sharpness and GUI density, then connects over Thunderbolt, Ethernet or Wi-Fi with automatic failover (Thunderbolt ? Ethernet ? Wi-Fi).
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A built-in guided Assistant walks you through your first connection step by step: which Mac is which, install on both, and how to link them by cable or Wi-Fi.
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Features

  1.  Second monitor support
  2.  Display Management
  3.  Screen Extension

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MacDisplay information

  • Developed by

    IT flagGaetano Andrea Biocca

  • Licensing

    Proprietary and Freemium product.

  • Pricing

    One time purchase (perpetual license) that costs $29 + free version with limited functionality.

  • Alternatives

    13 alternatives listed

  • Supported Languages

    • English
    • Italian

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MacDisplay was added to AlternativeTo by MacDisplay on and this page was last updated .
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What is MacDisplay?

MacDisplay turns a second Mac (macOS 11 or later) into a true extended display for your main Mac (macOS 12.3+) — independent workspace, native resolution, real cursor. It connects over Thunderbolt, Ethernet, or local Wi-Fi, with automatic failover.

It is a pure-software alternative to Apple's discontinued Target Display Mode: it works on iMacs from 2014 onwards, including the 2014–2019 models that AirPlay to Mac doesn't cover. No hardware dongle and no subscription required.

The QuickMonitor feature exports a tiny receiver to a USB stick: plug it into any compatible Mac — even someone else's, no shared Apple ID — double-click, and it becomes your second monitor. Nothing is installed, nothing remains.

Privacy by design: the video stream stays on your cable or LAN. No account, no cloud relay, no telemetry. 13 MB universal binary (Apple Silicon + Intel), notarized by Apple. Free version with 10-minute sessions (60 min/day); full license is a one-time €29.99 purchase.

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