scrcpy alternatives for Mac: what else can mirror an Android phone

If you want an app you click instead of a command you type, three products say they mirror and control an Android phone from a Mac: AirDroid Personal, Vysor and ApowerMirror. AirDroid is the one whose pricing page lists mirroring on a free plan. AirDroid and Vysor both list a way to reach a phone that is not beside you. None of them is open source like scrcpy, and all three put an account or a purchase in front of you. scrcpy remains the free, no-account option, and The Relay does not mirror the screen at all.

Publisher note: The Relay publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Details about other products come from each maker's own pages, checked on 2 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

What does scrcpy do, so I know what I am replacing?

scrcpy's README says it "mirrors Android devices (video and audio) connected via USB or TCP/IP and allows control using the computer's keyboard and mouse", does not require root or an app on the device, and works on Linux, Windows and macOS. It lists audio forwarding (Android 11 and later), recording, copy and paste, camera mirroring (Android 12 and later) and an OTG mode, and says the benefits are "no account, no ads, no internet required". The phone needs Android 5.0 or later with USB debugging switched on. Its macOS page gives a Homebrew route and downloadable builds for Apple silicon and Intel.

What people usually mean by "alternative" is "the same thing without Terminal". The honest answer is that scrcpy's setup is the trade for its price. If it simply is not connecting, try scrcpy not working on Mac first.

Which alternatives list a Mac client and Android mirroring?

I only list products whose own pages say both.

What does AirDroid Personal offer?

AirDroid's product page lists remote control of an Android phone or tablet with "No root needed", and says you can mirror the phone to a computer, with screen recording. It lists a macOS desktop client for macOS 10.11 and higher and a web version. Its pricing page shows ticks for remote control, screen mirroring, recording the screen and screenshots during mirroring on both the free and paid plans. The free plan limits some remote-network features, such as remote camera, which is local network only.

Setup, per its user guide: sign in to the same AirDroid account on the phone and the computer, switch on the features you need under Security & Remote Features, and for remote control install the "AirDroid Control Add-on" and grant an accessibility permission. The guide says the add-on needs Android 7.0 or above. It also describes a non-root USB setup from the desktop client.

The trade-offs are the account, and that in its Remote Connection Mode its pricing page says private information such as SMS and contacts is "securely transmitted via HTTPS" and not stored, with named exceptions. We cover that in Is AirDroid safe?. More on the Mac client is in AirDroid for Mac.

What do Vysor and ApowerMirror say about themselves?

Vysor. Its home page says it "puts your iOS or Android on your desktop", with keyboard and mouse control, and lists Browser, Windows, Apple and Linux. It does not say "macOS" in the lines we read, so check the download page for your version. The pricing section lists Vysor Pro features such as high quality mirroring, fullscreen mode, going wireless, Vysor Share and drag and drop files, at "$2.50/mo, $10/yr, or $40/lifetime. Purchase available in app." The page is undated and says nothing on what the free version limits, so confirm in the app.

ApowerMirror. Its page says it mirrors iOS and Android to a computer by USB or Wi-Fi and lets you control Android from the computer with a mouse and keyboard. It lists Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and TV downloads. Its comparison table lists, under "Free User", one device at a time and "10 mins at a time" of screen mirroring. A note says some models may not be controllable over Wi-Fi and may need USB. Prices were not on that page.

We have not tested either product, and we cannot say how they handle your data, because we did not read their privacy policies for this article. Read them before signing in.

Which one fits which job?

Where does The Relay fit?

It does not, for this job. The Relay has no screen mirroring and no remote control of the phone. It does the neighbouring things: clipboard sync both ways, file transfer and browsing over your own Wi-Fi, incoming texts with login codes copied to the Mac's clipboard, notifications, incoming calls, link handoff, and the phone as a webcam. It is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial, for Android 8.0 or later and macOS 13 Ventura or later. Its data travels directly between your phone and your Mac over your local network and is not uploaded to The Relay's servers. There is no account or sign-up with The Relay; the subscription is bought through Google Play. See the privacy policy.

If you want to see the phone's screen on the Mac, use scrcpy or one of the apps above. Many people use scrcpy for the screen and The Relay for the everyday pieces. See The Relay vs scrcpy.

Questions people ask

What is the best scrcpy alternative for Mac?

For a free option with a window and no command line, AirDroid Personal, whose pricing page ticks mirroring on the free plan. For free with no account, there is no alternative on this list: scrcpy is that.

Do I need USB debugging with these alternatives?

scrcpy needs it. AirDroid's guide describes an accessibility add-on for remote control and a non-root USB setup in the desktop client. We did not read the others' setup steps.

Can I mirror an Android phone to a Mac without installing anything?

We found no official statement of such a feature. Google's casting help page describes casting to a Google streaming device on the same Wi-Fi network and does not mention a Mac.

Is scrcpy safe?

Its README says it needs no account, ads or internet, and its code is public. USB debugging is a powerful setting; see mirroring Android to a Mac for what it allows.