Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is mentioned below. Facts about other products were checked on their makers' own sites on 10 October 2026 and can change — confirm before you buy.
Touch Portal is one of the most capable phone-deck tools around: a desktop app for Windows and macOS (Linux in beta), phone and tablet apps, and a deep system of states, events and plugins. People look for alternatives for a few recurring reasons — the free version is small, the Pro license is bought per app store, it takes time to learn, or they want something that doesn't need an app on the phone.
Touch Portal in facts
- Free version: a 4×2 (or 2×4) grid and two pages, according to Touch Portal's FAQ.
- Pro upgrade: one-time, lifetime license that adds unlimited pages, grids up to 110 buttons, GIF buttons, OBS control, values and events, and third-party plugins. Bought in the phone's app store, and prices vary by country and store.
- Requirements: Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit), macOS 10.13.6 and up, Linux in open beta; Android 5.0+ and iOS 12.0+ on the phone.
Touch Portal vs Stream Deck
The real difference is hardware. Elgato's Stream Deck is a physical keypad first, and its software adds a phone app (Stream Deck Mobile) and an on-screen panel (Virtual Stream Deck). Touch Portal is all software and uses the screen you already own. Both have big plugin communities; Elgato's marketplace is the larger and more polished, while Touch Portal is famous for flexible logic. If you want tactile keys, Stream Deck. If you want to build elaborate panels on a tablet, Touch Portal.
The alternatives
| Tool | Phone side | Strength | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stream Deck Mobile | App | Elgato's plugin library | 6 keys free; Pro is paid |
| Macro Deck | Browser or companion app | Free and open source | Free |
| Deckboard | App | Simple setup | Free 4×3 board with ads; separate PRO app |
| SofaDeck (ours)Get it free on the Microsoft Store → | Browser — no app | Fast setup, voice remote, couch-size buttons | Free 12 buttons; Pro $9.99 once |
When SofaDeck is the better fit — and when it isn't
SofaDeck suits people who want a deck working in a minute: scan a QR code, type the PIN, and the phone's browser shows your buttons. Its free page is 12 buttons (versus Touch Portal's 8), and it adds a voice remote — say volume 30
or a button's name. Pro is $9.99 once and isn't tied to a phone's app store, so the same license works whether you pair an iPhone, an Android phone or a tablet.
It isn't the better fit if you depend on plugins, states and events, or live OBS feedback on the buttons: SofaDeck has no plugin system and drives OBS through hotkeys. Touch Portal (or Stream Deck) remains the right choice there.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getSee also all Stream Deck alternatives, Macro Deck and Deckboard alternatives and using an iPad as a Stream Deck.
SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio LLC and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elgato, Corsair or any other company named here. Stream Deck is a trademark of Corsair Memory, Inc.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Touch Portal and Stream Deck?
Elgato's Stream Deck is primarily hardware (with a phone app and an on-screen panel as extras) and runs on Elgato's software. Touch Portal is software only: a desktop app plus a phone or tablet app. Both support pages, multi-step actions and plugins.
What does Touch Portal's free version include?
Touch Portal's FAQ says the free version uses a 4×2 (or 2×4) grid and two pages. The one-time Pro upgrade adds unlimited pages, grids of up to 110 buttons, OBS control, values and events, and plugins. Prices vary by country and store.
Is there a Touch Portal alternative that doesn't need a phone app?
Yes. SofaDeck and Macro Deck's web client both open in the phone's browser, so nothing is installed on the phone.