For Mac × iPad
The KDE Connect alternative for Mac that stays stable.
KDE Connect is a strong open-source project. On the Mac, though, it officially ships only as a nightly build, and after macOS updates users regularly report it breaking. Waslane is built to fix exactly that: a native Mac and iPad app from the App Store that simply stays connected.
Free for 7 days. All local, no cloud, no account.
Where KDE Connect struggles on the Mac
On Linux, KDE Connect is among the best tools there are for linking your phone and your computer. The Mac is not its home turf, and you notice that in three places:
- Nightly builds only: for macOS, the project offers no stable release, only daily development builds.
- Documented issues on Apple Silicon: the KDE bug tracker describes, among other things, the background service stopping on Apple Silicon Macs.
- Breakage after macOS updates: after major macOS updates, users repeatedly report the connection no longer working and switch to replacements.
None of this is a knock on the project. It just shows: if you want to rely on the link between your phone and your Mac every day, you need a tool that is built and maintained for macOS.
Fixing KDE Connect on the Mac: the three most common problems
Before you switch, it is worth checking the usual suspects. Most failures on the Mac come down to one of these three:
- Local Network permission is missing: since macOS 15 the system asks every app whether it may see devices on your Wi-Fi. After major updates that consent is often gone. Check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network, enable KDE Connect there, then relaunch the app.
- No icon in the menu bar: the background service is not running. Relaunch the app from the Applications folder; the first launch of a new nightly build gets blocked by Gatekeeper, the override is in System Settings → Privacy & Security → "Open Anyway". If that does not help, download the current nightly build, an old one often no longer matches your macOS version.
- Pairing times out: phone and Mac must be on the same Wi-Fi, no guest network and no active VPN. The macOS firewall (System Settings → Network → Firewall) must allow incoming connections for KDE Connect; the project uses ports 1714 to 1764 (TCP and UDP).
If KDE Connect works after that: great, keep it. If the whole thing starts over after the next update, that is exactly where Waslane comes in.
Waslane vs. KDE Connect vs. LocalSend on the Mac
| Waslane | KDE Connect (macOS) | LocalSend | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation on the Mac | App Store, signed and sandboxed | Nightly build from the project site | App Store |
| Mirror & control the phone screen | Yes, live with mouse, keyboard and touch | No screen mirroring | No |
| File transfer in both directions | Yes | Yes | Yes, files only |
| Read and answer SMS | Yes, with full history | Limited, built primarily for Linux | No |
| Notifications with inline reply | Yes, from every app | Partial | No |
| iPad app | Yes, fully featured | Reduced iOS app only | Yes |
| Updates & support | Maintained product with email support | Community, no stable macOS release | Community (open source) |
| Price | 7 days free, then €14.99/year or €34.99 once | Free (open source) | Free (open source) |
Honestly: if you run a Linux desktop, stick with KDE Connect, it is excellent there. If all you need is the occasional file, LocalSend does the job, free and stable on the Mac. Waslane is built for the other side: people with an Android phone and a Mac or iPad who want a connection that feels like an Apple app and still works after the next macOS update.
What Waslane is built for.
Reliability is not a feature here. It is the product.
- Stable on macOS 26 A native Mac app, maintained and tested for current macOS versions.
- Paired in under a minute Scan a QR code, done. No config files, no terminal.
- All local, no account Direct connection over your Wi-Fi, end-to-end encrypted with TLS 1.3.
- Native on Mac & iPad One purchase covers both devices. Feels like an Apple app.
KDE Connect is a trademark of KDE e.V., LocalSend is a project by Tien Do Nam. Waslane is not affiliated with either.
Frequently asked questions
Is Waslane free?
You can try Waslane free for 7 days with no limitations. After that it costs €14.99 per year or a one-time €34.99 (lifetime, all updates included). The Android app is free. See pricing
Can I switch from KDE Connect easily?
Yes, there is nothing to migrate: get the Mac app from the App Store, install the Android app, put both devices on the same Wi-Fi and scan the QR code. Pairing takes under a minute.
Is Waslane available for Windows or Linux?
No. Waslane deliberately focuses on Mac and iPad, where it is native and actively maintained. On Linux, KDE Connect is a great choice; on Windows, Microsoft Phone Link.
Does Waslane need a cloud or an account?
No. The connection runs directly over your Wi-Fi, end-to-end encrypted with TLS 1.3. There is no server in between, no account and no tracking. More on privacy
Why won't KDE Connect connect on my Mac?
Usually one of three things: the Local Network permission was reset after a macOS update, the background service is not running (no menu bar icon), or a firewall, VPN or guest Wi-Fi blocks ports 1714 to 1764. The fixes in detail.
Does Waslane work on macOS 26?
Yes. Waslane is a native Mac app, maintained and tested for current macOS versions, including after system updates.
Sources on KDE Connect for macOS (as of July 2026): project download page (nightly) · KDE bug tracker #477408 · TechPP report
Try the difference.
Both devices on the same Wi-Fi, scan the QR code, connected. Free for 7 days, no account.
Get it for Mac & iPad Android appAlso great with files: Android file transfer for Mac