LonelyScreen alternatives for Windows: 5 receivers compared

LonelyScreen lets an iPhone or iPad show its screen on a Windows PC, and many guides still recommend it. If its yearly licence or its dated download page puts you off, these five apps do the same job. Prices and limits come from each vendor's own website.

App	Free use	Paid	Good for
Castpane	Free download, 15 minutes per connection, no watermark	$6.99 once	iPhone, iPad and Mac; Android phones and browser tabs with free apps
AirServer	30-day trial	$19.99 licence	Google Cast and Miracast too, several screens at once
Reflector 4	7-day trial with a watermark	$12.99 per computer	Classrooms: several screens, recording with a voiceover
5KPlayer	Free	None	A free media player with a receiver built in
ApowerMirror	10 minutes at a time, watermark	From $19.95 a month, $39.95 a year or $69.95 once (sale prices)	Controlling an Android phone from the PC

Why people look for a LonelyScreen alternative

LonelyScreen sells a licence that renews every year: $19.95 for personal use and $39.95 for business use. Its site offers a free trial but does not say how long it lasts. Its download page still shows version 1.2.15 and lists Windows 2000, although the installer itself was updated in May 2026, so the app is maintained even if the page looks abandoned.

1. Castpane

Our own app, from the Microsoft Store. The free version has no end date and no watermark: each connection lasts up to 15 minutes and you reconnect at once. One in-app purchase removes the limit and adds recording. A connection wizard explains what is wrong when your device cannot find the PC. Windows 10 and 11 only. Castpane vs LonelyScreen

2. AirServer

The best known paid receiver. Besides Apple devices it receives Google Cast and Miracast and can show several devices at once. The 30-day trial needs internet access; a classic edition still runs on Windows 7 and 8. Castpane vs AirServer

3. Reflector 4

A classroom favourite from Squirrels. It also receives Google Cast and Miracast, records with a voiceover and runs on Windows 10 or newer. The 7-day trial stamps a watermark until you buy. Castpane vs Reflector 4

4. 5KPlayer

A free video and music player that can also receive an iPhone or iPad. No limits and no price, but the receiver is one feature inside a larger player, and its site lists Windows versions back to XP. Castpane vs 5KPlayer

5. ApowerMirror

Mirrors iPhones and Android phones and can control Android phones with the mouse. The free tier runs 10 minutes at a time with a watermark and 720p for iOS; paid plans renew monthly or yearly. Castpane vs ApowerMirror

Which one to choose

Free and no trial clock: 5KPlayer, or Castpane if you want a dedicated receiver that also covers Macs.
Windows 7 or 8: 5KPlayer or the classic edition of AirServer. Castpane and Reflector need Windows 10 or newer.
A classroom or several screens at once: AirServer or Reflector 4.
Control an Android phone from the PC: ApowerMirror.

None of them can show Netflix, Disney+ or the Apple TV app: every third-party receiver is refused protected video. Why.

Castpane is made by the team behind this website. Facts about the other apps were taken from their own websites; each comparison page links to its sources.

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 there a free alternative to LonelyScreen?

Yes. 5KPlayer is free with no limits. Castpane is free with no end date, with connections of up to 15 minutes that you can restart at once. AirServer and Reflector only offer trials of 30 and 7 days.

Which LonelyScreen alternative works on Windows 7?

5KPlayer lists Windows versions back to XP, and AirServer still has a classic edition for Windows 7 and 8. Castpane and Reflector 4 need Windows 10 or newer.

Last updated November 5, 2026.