Compare
Kite vs Luna Display
Luna Display is a $89.99 adapter that plugs into your Mac. Kite is software only: nothing to plug in, nothing to lose, and it reaches your Mac from outside your home network.
| Feature | Kite | Luna Display |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 once Mac app free | $89.99 adapter |
| Use it away from home | Yes, with Tailscale | No. Same network |
| iPad on a different Apple Account | Yes | Yes |
| Sign-up needed | None for Kite Wi-Fi uses a free Tailscale account | ? |
| Ways to connect | USB-C · Wi-Fi · Tailscale | Wi-Fi · USB · Ethernet · Thunderbolt |
| Apple Pencil pressure | Yes, included | With Astropad Studio (subscription) |
| iPad camera as Mac webcam | Yes | No |
| Encrypted on your Wi-Fi | Yes, new key every session | ? |
From each product's own website, support pages and App Store listing, checked October 10, 2026. “?” means the product doesn't say. Prices change; check before you buy.
Sources: astropad.com
Where Kite is ahead
- No adapter. Nothing to buy, carry or lose, and no free USB-C or HDMI port needed.
- Reaches your Mac from outside the house over Tailscale.
- Apple Pencil pressure is included, without a separate drawing-app subscription.
- Your iPad's camera works as a Mac webcam.
Where Luna Display is ahead
- Because it's hardware, macOS treats it as a physical display, which helps on a Mac mini without a monitor.
- Can turn another Mac into a display, and works with Windows.
- Publishes 1–4 ms latency over a wired connection.
Which one should you pick?
If you want hardware-level behavior and don't mind the adapter, Luna is solid. If you'd rather not plug anything in, or want to use your Mac from somewhere else, choose Kite.