Encore vs DeskJoin Screen.
For an old iMac as a monitor.
DeskJoin Screen is free with no account, but both Macs must run macOS 12.3 or later, which rules out most iMacs from before Late 2015. If your iMac is new enough and free comes first, try it. Pick Encore for an older iMac, or for the extras: the iMac's keyboard and mouse over a cable, and a smart display after work.
Who should pick which
- Pick DeskJoin Screen if your iMac runs macOS 12.3 or later and you want a free second screen with no account.
- Pick Encore if your iMac can't run macOS 12.3, roughly anything before Late 2015, or if you want more from it than a plain screen.
Side by side
| Encore | DeskJoin Screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta | Free, no paid plan or login |
| Your Mac | macOS 14 or later | macOS 12.3 or later |
| Oldest iMac | Late 2009 (macOS 10.13); 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy | Any iMac that can run macOS 12.3 or later, so about Late 2015 |
| Connection | Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet or Thunderbolt | Wi-Fi, Ethernet or Thunderbolt Bridge |
| Picture and speed | Sharp, lossless picture over a cable; latency not published yet | No claims published |
| iMac keyboard and mouse (camera and microphone coming soon) | Yes, over a cable | Not listed |
| Smart display when idle | StandBy clocks, weather, calendar, AirPlay music, Hey Mac | No |
The macOS line
DeskJoin Screen says plainly that it "does not unlock unsupported legacy iMac hardware". The iMac must be able to run macOS 12.3. That is a clear rule, and if you meet it, the free price is hard to argue with. Encore's rule is lower: macOS 10.13 on the iMac, so it covers every Intel iMac from Late 2009 to 2020. See compatibility for your model.
Where Encore is weaker
It isn't free after the public beta, it needs macOS 14 on your Mac, and it has no published latency figure. On a newer iMac, DeskJoin costs nothing to try first. Use the cable guide for the right cable either way, and the help center if something won't connect.
Facts on this page were checked on 9 November 2026 on the linked pages. Speeds are each maker's own figures, not independent measurements. Something out of date? Tell us and we fix it.
Questions
Is DeskJoin Screen really free?
Its page says it is free to use and doesn't require a paid plan, subscription or login.
Which iMacs does DeskJoin Screen support?
Only iMacs that can run macOS 12.3 or later. That excludes most iMacs from before Late 2015.
Why choose Encore over a free app?
Because it works on older iMacs, and adds a cable mode, the iMac's keyboard and mouse over a cable, and a smart display. If your iMac runs macOS 12.3 and you just want a plain extra screen, try the free option first.