Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is included as a third option. Facts about the other products were checked on their makers' own sites on 10 October 2026 and can change — confirm before you buy.
Touch Portal and Macro Deck are the two names that come up first when someone wants to turn a phone or tablet into a Stream Deck without buying one. They solve the same problem from opposite ends: Touch Portal is a polished commercial product with a free tier, Macro Deck is a free, open-source project in the middle of a big version change. Here is how they compare, and when a third option makes more sense.
At a glance
| Touch Portal | Macro Deck | SofaDeck (ours) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier; Pro one-time, bought in the phone's app store | Free, open source | Free tier; Pro $9.99 once (license key $6.99) |
| Free limits | 4×2 grid, 2 pages | None | 1 page of 12 buttons, voice, trackpad |
| Phone side | Android / iOS app | Companion app or browser | Browser only — no app |
| Computer | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS 11+, Linux (v3 beta) | Windows 10/11, macOS 11+ |
| Plugins | Large community (Pro) | Yes, extensions | No |
| Voice control | No | No | Yes (“open Spotify”, “volume 30”) |
| Status | Stable, long-running | v3 beta; v2 deprecated | Stable, signed auto-updates |
Touch Portal: the deep one
Touch Portal pairs a desktop app with phone and tablet apps. Its strength is logic: buttons can react to states and events, show values, and chain actions, and the plugin scene covers OBS, Discord, Spotify, Home Assistant and much more. The free version is deliberately small — a 4×2 grid and two pages — so most serious users end up on Pro, a one-time lifetime license bought through Google Play or the App Store (prices vary by country, and the license is tied to that store account). If you want to build an elaborate tablet panel for streaming, Touch Portal is the one to beat.
Macro Deck: the free one
Macro Deck costs nothing and is open source. The catch is timing: Macro Deck 3 is the current version and is still marked beta (Windows, macOS 11+ on Apple silicon, Linux), while the project calls Macro Deck 2 deprecated and no longer offers its old client apps to new users. Tutorials and videos written for version 2 often don't match what you download today. If you enjoy tinkering and value open source, it's a great deal; if you want something that just works this evening, expect some setup.
Where SofaDeck fits
SofaDeck is simpler than both on purpose. There is no plugin system and no sliders. What it does instead: the phone needs no app (scan a QR code, type the PIN, the deck opens in the browser), every button can be triggered by voice, and the free version is a full page of 12 big buttons plus a phone trackpad and keyboard on Windows. It's built for the couch and the desk — launching apps and games, media, volume, shortcuts and typing — rather than for elaborate broadcast panels.
- Choose Touch Portal if you want plugins, states and events, and don't mind paying for Pro in the phone's store.
- Choose Macro Deck if free and open source matter most and you're happy on a beta.
- Choose SofaDeck if you want it working in two minutes on any phone in the house, with voice, and no app to install.
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/getMore detail: Touch Portal alternatives, Macro Deck and Deckboard alternatives and every Stream Deck alternative compared.
SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio LLC and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Touch Portal, Macro Deck, Unified Remote, Remote Mouse or any other product named here. All trademarks belong to their owners.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is Touch Portal or Macro Deck better?
Touch Portal is the more mature product, with phone apps, a large plugin community and flexible logic (states, events, values); its free version is limited to a small grid and two pages, and Pro is a one-time purchase in the phone's app store. Macro Deck is free and open source with no paid tier, but version 3 is still in beta and version 2 is deprecated. Pick Touch Portal for depth today, Macro Deck for free and open source.
Is Macro Deck free?
Yes. Macro Deck is free and open source. Version 3 (beta) runs on Windows, macOS 11+ (Apple silicon) and Linux; the phone connects through the Macro Deck Companion app or a browser on the same network.
What does the Touch Portal free version include?
According to Touch Portal's FAQ, the free version gives you a 4×2 (or 2×4) button grid and two pages. Pro is a one-time, lifetime license that adds unlimited pages, larger grids, plugins, OBS control, values and events.
Is there an option with no phone app at all?
Macro Deck 3 can be opened in a phone browser. SofaDeck is built around it: scan a QR code, type a PIN, and the deck opens in the browser with voice commands; nothing to install on the phone.