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.
Waslane vs. KDE Connect on the Mac
| Waslane | KDE Connect (macOS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation on the Mac | App Store, signed and sandboxed | Nightly build from the project site |
| Mirror & control the phone screen | Yes, live with mouse, keyboard and touch | No screen mirroring |
| File transfer in both directions | Yes | Yes |
| Read and answer SMS | Yes, with full history | Limited, built primarily for Linux |
| Notifications with inline reply | Yes, from every app | Partial |
| iPad app | Yes, fully featured | Reduced iOS app only |
| Updates & support | Maintained product with email support | Community, no stable macOS release |
| Price | 7 days free, then €14.99/year or €34.99 once | Free (open source) |
Honestly: if you run a Linux desktop, stick with KDE Connect, it is excellent there. 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. Waslane is not affiliated with KDE e.V.
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
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