Mac Casting Apps: LonelyScreen, JustStream & Alternatives
Need a LonelyScreen alternative, or trying to choose between JustStream and AirParrot? First check whether you want to send from your Mac or receive a screen on it.
Which Mac casting app should you choose?
- LonelyScreen: an AirPlay receiver for iPhone and iPad screens. Its download page currently offers only a Windows version.
- JustStream: sends your Mac screen or media files to compatible TVs, Apple TV and Chromecast.
- AirParrot 3: sends from your Mac, with screen mirroring, desktop extension and media streaming.
- Mirroring360: receives device screens on a Mac or Windows computer.
- CastBrowser: sends compatible web video from your Mac to DLNA, LG webOS or a browser receiver.
Watching a video from a website? Try CastBrowser for Mac — free, no account needed.
The key question is which way the picture travels: from your Mac to a TV (a sender), or from your iPhone onto your Mac (a receiver). Pick the wrong kind and the app will not do what you need.
Mac casting apps compared
Prices and versions come from each vendor's own website or App Store listing, checked October 24, 2026 (US prices). A dash means no release date is published.
| Product | Direction | Works with | Price | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LonelyScreen | Device → computer | iPhone / iPad via AirPlay. Download currently Windows only | Free trial; $19.95/year personal | 1.2.15 (Windows) · — |
| JustStream | Mac → TV | Smart TVs / DLNA, Apple TV, Chromecast | 20-minute free sessions; PRO $12.99/year | 2.14 · Oct 6, 2025 |
| AirParrot 3 | Mac → receiver | Apple TV, Chromecast, Reflector | 7-day trial; one-time licence | 3.1.10 · Oct 19, 2026 |
| Mirroring360 | Device → Mac / PC | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Chromebook | 7-day trial; Standard $11.99 once per computer | — |
| CastBrowser for Mac | Mac → video receiver | DLNA, LG webOS, Web Receiver | Free, no account needed | 1.5.4 · Oct 24, 2026 |
LonelyScreen: an AirPlay receiver (is there a Mac version?)
LonelyScreen is an AirPlay receiver: it turns a computer into a screen your iPhone or iPad can mirror to. It does not send anything from your Mac to a TV.
Is there a Mac version? The LonelyScreen homepage still says “AirPlay Receiver for PC/MAC”, but its download page currently offers only a Windows installer (version 1.2.15). On a Mac, you may not need it at all: recent Macs have a built-in AirPlay Receiver. Turn it on in System Settings → General → AirDrop & Continuity → AirPlay Receiver.
Is LonelyScreen free? There is a free trial. After that, a personal licence is $19.95 a year and a business licence $39.95 a year.
JustStream: send your Mac screen or media files to a TV
JustStream is a sender. Its Mac App Store listing describes Mac screen mirroring and media-file streaming to smart TVs, Apple TV and Chromecast. It also lists subtitle support and playlists, useful when the videos you want to watch are already stored on your Mac.
The free version allows 20 minutes of uninterrupted streaming and mirroring. The US listing's in-app purchase table shows PRO at $12.99 for one year, with unlimited use described as an auto-renewing subscription. Version 2.14 is dated October 6, 2025.
Choose it for sharing your desktop or playing files stored on your Mac. Use the free 20 minutes to test your own TV before paying.
AirParrot 3: mirroring, an extended desktop and media streaming
AirParrot 3 sends from your Mac to receivers including Apple TV, Chromecast and Reflector. The vendor feature page separates three uses: mirror your screen, extend your desktop, or stream media files. That makes it a relevant option for presentations as well as video.
The vendor offers a seven-day trial with watermarks and one-time, one-device licences, with Mac-only and Universal choices. Check the current purchase panel for the price and platform you need. The Mac release notes list version 3.1.10 on October 19, 2026, so it is actively maintained.
Mirroring360: bring device screens onto a computer
Mirroring360's desktop receiver brings device screens onto your Mac or Windows computer. The official downloads page lists sender options for iOS, Android and Chrome, including AirPlay from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. It fits a classroom or demonstration where the computer is the display destination.
The Standard receiver licence is a one-time $11.99 purchase per computer, with a seven-day free trial. The $29.99/year Pro tier adds sharing a Windows computer screen by web link to up to 40 viewers. That extra Windows feature is not a reason to buy Pro for a Mac-only setup.
If you want to send a video from your Mac to a TV
CastBrowser detects compatible web video and sends it to DLNA, LG webOS or a Web Receiver; it does not mirror your desktop. Follow our guide to casting from a Mac to a TV for step-by-step instructions.
Send a Web Video From Your Mac
CastBrowser is free, no account needed. Choose a supported TV or browser receiver.