Compare
Kite vs Sidecar
Sidecar is free and already on your Mac. Kite is for when Sidecar can't follow: an iPad on another Apple Account, or a Mac that's at home while you're not.
| Feature | Kite | Sidecar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 once Mac app free | Free, built into macOS |
| Use it away from home | Yes, with Tailscale | No. Within 10 m |
| iPad on a different Apple Account | Yes | No. Same account required |
| Sign-up needed | None for Kite Wi-Fi uses a free Tailscale account | Same Apple Account, two-factor |
| Ways to connect | USB-C · Wi-Fi · Tailscale | Wi-Fi · USB |
| Apple Pencil pressure | Yes, included | Yes |
| 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: Apple Support · apple.com
Where Kite is ahead
- Works with an iPad signed in to a different Apple Account: a family iPad, a work iPad, a second-hand one.
- Works away from home. Sidecar needs the iPad within 10 meters; Kite reaches your Mac over Tailscale from anywhere.
- Your iPad's camera becomes a webcam for Zoom, Meet and FaceTime on the Mac.
- Shows the live delay in milliseconds, so you can see when the network is the problem.
Where Sidecar is ahead
- It's free and already installed. Nothing to download.
- No Screen Recording permission and no purple indicator in the menu bar.
- Supports older Macs and iPads (macOS 10.15 and iPadOS 13 or later).
- Universal Control lets you use the iPad as an iPad with your Mac's keyboard and trackpad.
Which one should you pick?
If your iPad and Mac share one Apple Account and you only use them side by side, stay with Sidecar. It's free and good. Choose Kite if the iPad belongs to another account, if you want to reach your Mac from outside, or if you want the iPad camera on your Mac.