You’re giving a presentation on your Mac and you want to control it from your iPhone. What are your options?
Here’s a no-fluff comparison of the best apps for this in 2026.
1. Clicker — Best for Privacy and Reliability
Price: €5.99 / $4.99 one-time (iOS + macOS) Works with: Keynote, PowerPoint Connection: Direct Bluetooth (no Wi-Fi needed)
Clicker is a focused, no-nonsense presentation remote. Install on your iPhone and Mac, scan a QR code, and you’re controlling your slides. That’s the whole product.
What makes it stand out:
- Direct Bluetooth connection. No Wi-Fi, no cloud, no accounts. Your devices talk to each other directly — works anywhere, including venues with no internet.
- Privacy first. Your presentation content never leaves your devices.
- One-time price. No subscription. Pay once, use indefinitely.
- Enterprise-ready. Volume licensing and MDM deployment available for organisations.
Best for: Professionals who present regularly, anyone handling sensitive data, enterprise teams.
2. Keynote Remote (Built-in) — Best Free Option
Price: Free (built into Keynote) Works with: Keynote only Connection: Wi-Fi / Bluetooth (requires same network)
If you only use Keynote and present occasionally, the built-in remote is a solid free choice. It shows your speaker notes on the iPhone screen while you present — genuinely useful.
The downsides: Keynote only (no PowerPoint), occasional pairing issues between sessions, and the entire Keynote app has to be open on your iPhone during the presentation.
Best for: Occasional Keynote-only presenters.
3. Presnly — Most Features
Price: Free (with paid tier) Works with: Keynote, PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, 20+ apps Connection: Wi-Fi
Presnly is the feature-packed option. It includes a voice-driven teleprompter, rehearsal analytics, Apple Watch support, and compatibility with a wide range of presentation apps.
If you need a teleprompter or Apple Watch control, it’s a strong choice. The free tier is generous.
Best for: Presenters who want a teleprompter, Apple Watch users, Google Slides users.
4. PPTControl — Best for Windows + Mac
Price: Free + premium Works with: PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides Connection: Wi-Fi
PPTControl works on both Mac and Windows, which makes it useful if you switch between platforms. The Mac experience isn’t quite as polished as the Mac-native options, but cross-platform support is a genuine differentiator.
Best for: Presenters who work across both Mac and Windows.
How to Choose
| Clicker | Keynote Remote | Presnly | PPTControl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | €5.99 one-time | Free | Free / paid | Free / paid |
| Keynote | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| PowerPoint | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Slides | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Direct Bluetooth (no Wi-Fi) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| No cloud / private | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Subscription | ❌ | ❌ | Optional | Optional |
| Enterprise / MDM | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Quick verdict:
- Keynote only, present occasionally → Keynote Remote (free)
- Privacy + direct Bluetooth + simplicity → Clicker
- Maximum features (teleprompter, analytics, Watch) → Presnly
- Mac and Windows → PPTControl
The Bottom Line
For most professionals who present on a Mac, Clicker hits the sweet spot: quick setup, reliable Bluetooth connection, no cloud, and a one-time price that pays for itself after your first forgotten hardware remote.