| Mimac | Jump Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to try, then $49.99 once ($39.99 for the first 30 days) | iPad app $14.99 one-time. Jump Desktop Connect free for personal use. Teams plans $7.49 to $14.99 per user per month |
| Hosts | Macs with Apple silicon, macOS 15 or later | Macs, Windows PCs and other hosts over RDP, VNC and Jump's Fluid protocol |
| Clients | iPad with an M-series chip, iPadOS 26 or later | iPad and iPhone, iOS 12 or later, plus other platforms |
| Display resolution on a headless Mac | Your iPad's exact native resolution, 2752×2064 on the 13-inch iPad Pro | Jump Desktop Connect creates its own 1080p virtual display |
| Frame rate | 120 fps on your local network | 60 fps (Fluid) |
| Headless Mac, no monitor | Yes, with an optional start-before-login component | Yes, via Connect's virtual display |
| Trackpad gestures | Native macOS pinch, phase-correct scrolling with momentum, pointer lock | Basic clicks and scrolling; pinch is not a native macOS magnify |
| Audio from the Mac | Lossless 48 kHz PCM | 64 kbps compressed |
| iPad microphone on the Mac | Yes, as a Mimac Microphone input device, so any dictation app works | No |
| Screenshot to the Mac's clipboard | Yes, drag on the glass or double-tap | No |
| Remote access away from home | Your own Tailscale tailnet; no relay, no account | Jump's own relay; setup is tied to a Google account |
| Last iPad app update | New for 2026 | October 30, 2023 (version 9.8.0) |
Prices and facts as of September 1, 2026, from Jump Desktop's App Store listing and jumpdesktop.com pricing page. Mimac's 120 fps figure is on a local network; over the internet it depends on your connection. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Where Jump Desktop is a better choice
Pick Jump if you need to reach Windows PCs or anything else over RDP or VNC, if you want an iPhone client, if your Mac is an Intel model, or if you would rather not run Tailscale and prefer a vendor relay that just works after signing in. Jump is also one purchase at $14.99, and it has a long track record. For a mixed fleet of machines, it is the sensible generalist.
Where Mimac is a better choice
Pick Mimac if the setup is specifically an iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and an Apple silicon Mac, and you use it for hours rather than minutes. The differences you will feel every day: your Mac renders at the iPad's exact resolution instead of 1080p, so text is sharp; motion runs at 120 fps instead of 60; pinch and scroll behave like a MacBook trackpad; audio is lossless; your iPad's microphone reaches dictation apps on the Mac; and a dragged rectangle lands on the Mac's clipboard. There is no account and no relay in the path. Jump's iPad app has not been updated since 2023; Mimac is built for iPadOS 26.
Bottom line
Different tools. Jump is the multi-tool; Mimac is the dedicated one. If your Mac is the only machine you reach from your iPad, the dedicated tool wins on every axis that matters at the desk.
Try Mimac free.
Seven days, every feature, on your own network. Then $49.99 once if it earns its place. Mimac Connect for Mac is free.
Other comparisons: Workbench · Jump Desktop · Screens 5 · Splashtop · Luna Display