Castpane vs LonelyScreen: receivers for Windows compared

LonelyScreen is one of the oldest AirPlay receivers for Windows, and many guides still recommend it. Castpane does the same job with a different price model and more help when a device cannot find the PC. This page compares them using each product's own website.

	Castpane	LonelyScreen
Price	Free download, 15 minutes per connection. A one-time in-app purchase removes the limit.	Free trial download. $19.95 per year for personal use, $39.95 per year for business use.
Where to get it	Microsoft Store	Installer from its website
Windows versions	Windows 10 and 11	Its download page lists Windows 10 back to Windows 2000
Sound	Included, also an audio-only mode	Music and video are listed on its site
Recording	In the paid upgrade, as MP4 with sound	"Capture and save" is listed on its site
When a device cannot find the PC	Built-in connection wizard, free Mac helper	Its quick start lists firewall, Wi-Fi and restart steps
Latest Windows build	Store listing updated in October 2026	Installer file dated May 2026

A yearly licence against a one-time purchase

LonelyScreen sells a licence that renews every year: $19.95 for personal use, $39.95 for business use. Over three years the personal licence comes to $59.85. Castpane works without paying, with each connection lasting up to 15 minutes and an immediate reconnect, and one in-app purchase through the Microsoft Store removes the limit for good. There is no renewal.

LonelyScreen offers a free trial download, but its website does not say how long the trial lasts or what it limits.

Is LonelyScreen still updated?

Its download page has shown version 1.2.15 for years and still lists Windows 2000 among the requirements, which makes it look abandoned. The installer tells a different story: the file on lonelyscreen.com was last changed on 8 May 2026, and the Internet Archive holds several different builds from 2022 to 2025. The page is out of date, but the app has not stopped.

When the iPhone does not see the PC

Both apps rely on the same discovery traffic, so both are affected when a network blocks it. LonelyScreen's quick start suggests allowing it through the firewall, checking that both devices are on the same network and restarting the router, phone and PC. Castpane runs those checks for you: its Can't see this PC? wizard looks at the firewall, the network type and your adapters, then listens for your device to tell whether the problem is one-way. On office Wi-Fi that hides the PC from a Mac, the free Castpane Link helper brings it back. See the full checklist.

Which one to choose

Choose LonelyScreen if you need a receiver on Windows 7 or 8, which Castpane does not support.
Choose Castpane if you are on Windows 10 or 11, want to try it without a time-limited trial, and prefer one purchase to a yearly licence.

Neither can show Netflix, Disney+ or the Apple TV app: protected video is refused by every third-party receiver. Why.

Sources: LonelyScreen download page, LonelyScreen quick start.

Prices and plans of other apps were checked on their websites on October 16, 2026. They change often, so confirm them with the vendor before you buy.

Questions

Is LonelyScreen free?

It has a free trial download. For continued use its website sells a yearly licence: $19.95 for personal use or $39.95 for business use. The site does not state how long the trial lasts.

Can I switch from LonelyScreen to Castpane?

Yes. Nothing changes on the iPhone, iPad or Mac. Quit LonelyScreen, open Castpane, and pick the PC under its new name in Screen Mirroring.

Last updated October 16, 2026.