About BetterCast
What is BetterCast
BetterCast is a free, open-source second display application that turns any iPad, tablet, phone, or laptop into a wireless or wired second monitor. It supports macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, delivering 60 frames per second at up to 4K resolution with low peer-to-peer latency — lowest over a wired USB connection. Licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0, BetterCast requires no account, no internet connection, and no subscription. The entire application is under 3MB, installs in seconds, and works entirely over a local network or direct USB-C connection. Unlike proprietary alternatives, BetterCast is fully transparent, community-driven, and free for everyone.
Why BetterCast Exists
Multi-monitor setups make people more productive, but the tools to create them have historically been expensive or locked to a single ecosystem. Paid apps like Duet Display charge $4–6 per month, Apple's Sidecar only works with Apple devices, and most alternatives require accounts, cloud services, or ongoing subscriptions. BetterCast was created to make second display functionality accessible to everyone—regardless of platform, budget, or technical skill—by providing a zero-cost, cross-platform solution that works out of the box.
Key Features
- Free forever — no subscriptions, no in-app purchases, no ads
- Cross-platform — macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Direct P2P streaming — low latency over USB or local Wi-Fi, no relay servers
- 60FPS at 4K — smooth, high-resolution display extension
- No account required — download, install, and connect in seconds
- No internet needed — works entirely over your local network or direct connection
- 3MB install — lightweight and fast to set up
- Open source (GPL 3.0) — fully auditable, community-driven development
Open Source
BetterCast is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0. The full source code is available on GitHub. Contributions are welcome—whether it's bug reports, feature requests, documentation improvements, or pull requests.
Support the Project
BetterCast is a passion project built and maintained by a small team. If you find it useful and want to help keep it going, consider making a donation. Every contribution helps cover development costs and keeps the project free for everyone.
Contact
For support, bug reports, or feature requests, please open an issue on the GitHub Issues page, or email us at hi@stephenlovino.com. You can also review the Privacy Policy for details on how BetterCast handles your data (it doesn't collect any).