Stream Deck Mobile is Elgato's app that turns a phone or tablet into Stream Deck keys. It's a good product, and if you already use Elgato's software it's the obvious place to start. This page explains how it works and what it costs, then compares it with a different approach: SofaDeck, which serves its buttons to your phone's browser so there's no phone app at all. We make SofaDeck, so we've stuck to facts you can check. For a wider comparison including Touch Portal, Macro Deck and Deckboard, see Stream Deck alternatives compared.
How Stream Deck Mobile works
You install Elgato's Stream Deck desktop software (Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later) and the Stream Deck Mobile app on an iPhone, iPad or Android device. The phone then appears in the desktop software as another Stream Deck, and you drag actions onto its keys exactly as you would for the hardware. Because it uses the same software, it gets the same actions and the same large plugin library: OBS, Twitch, Spotify, smart lights and many more.
The free tier has six keys with no time limit. Stream Deck Mobile Pro raises the limit to 64 keys and adds custom layouts and backgrounds. When we checked in September 2026 it was $2.99 a month, $24.99 a year or $49.99 for a lifetime purchase, and Elgato notes that prices vary by region.
How SofaDeck differs
SofaDeck is a tray app for Windows and a menu-bar app for Mac. Instead of a phone app, it serves the deck as a web page from your own computer: scan a QR code, type a 6-digit PIN, and the buttons open in the phone's browser. Add it to the home screen and it opens full-screen. It adds a voice remote: tap the mic and say "volume 30", "open Spotify" or a button's name.
Download for WindowsSide by side
| Stream Deck Mobile | SofaDeck | |
|---|---|---|
| On the phone | Elgato app (iOS, iPadOS, Android) | Web page in the phone's browser, no app |
| On the computer | Stream Deck software, Windows or Mac | SofaDeck, Windows 10/11 or macOS 11+ |
| Free tier | 6 keys | 1 page of 12 buttons |
| Paid tier | Pro: 64 keys; subscription or lifetime (prices above) | Pro: unlimited pages, $9.99 once |
| Plugins | Yes, Elgato's plugin marketplace | No plugins; built-in actions and macros |
| Voice control | Not built in | Yes, built-in commands (custom phrases in Pro) |
Elgato details from elgato.com, checked September 2026. Check Elgato's site for current prices in your region.
Which should you pick?
- Pick Stream Deck Mobile if you already own a Stream Deck or use its software, or you need a specific plugin, such as a lighting, audio-mixer or streaming-platform integration that only exists there.
- Pick SofaDeck if you want no phone app and no account, more free buttons, voice control, a one-time price, or a couch remote for a living-room PC, HTPC or arcade cabinet.
- Use both if you like: they don't conflict. you could keep scene keys in Elgato's software and use a second device as a SofaDeck media and app remote.
Using an iPad or old phone as a permanent deck
Both work well on a tablet. With SofaDeck, pair the iPad once, add the page to the Home Screen, and keep it on a stand beside the monitor. Turn off auto-lock while you stream, and plug it in. For layout ideas, see using your phone as a Stream Deck for streaming.
Stream Deck and Stream Deck Mobile are trademarks of Corsair Memory, Inc. SofaDeck is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elgato or Corsair.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stream Deck Mobile free?
Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile has had a free tier since mid-2023 with six customizable keys. Stream Deck Mobile Pro raises that to 64 keys and was listed at $2.99 a month, $24.99 a year or $49.99 lifetime when we checked in September 2026; Elgato notes prices vary by region.
Do I need a Stream Deck to use Stream Deck Mobile?
No hardware is needed, but it does need Elgato's Stream Deck software running on your Windows or Mac computer, plus the mobile app on your phone or tablet.
Does Stream Deck Mobile work on iPad?
Yes, Elgato's app runs on iPhone, iPad and Android. SofaDeck also works on iPad, in Safari, with no app to install.
Is SofaDeck made by Elgato?
No. SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio LLC and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elgato or Corsair. Stream Deck is a trademark of Corsair Memory, Inc.