What is this website?
Beam is for people who use more than one Mac. It brings an app window from another machine onto the Mac in front of you—display, resize, and input that feel closer to a native window—rather than only watching a full-screen share. Windows can appear in the Dock and Command-Tab, which fits a studio machine, a kitchen Mac, or a headless Mac mini working with your main computer. If you already own two or more Macs and dislike switching screens, this is the scenario it targets.
Key features
- Open a single remote Mac window (or a whole display) as a local window and operate it live.
- Direct connection on the same network; Tailscale and similar setups are mentioned for other networks.
- Beam several windows at once, including windows listed from headless machines.
- Drag-and-drop files, clipboard content, and optional app audio can travel with the window.
- Create share links so guests can open a specific window in a browser (view-only by default).
- Free, subscription, and lifetime tiers: connected Macs are not billed per machine.
Common use cases
- A developer at a laptop pulls build logs or an Xcode window from a closet Mac mini and keeps typing.
- A creator edits on the main display while a media-management window from another Mac sits beside it.
- Household Macs live in different rooms; the keyboard and pointer in front of you handle mail or a terminal on the other machine.
- Temporarily show a colleague one app window via a share link in the browser, without installing a full remote-desktop suite.
Who is it for?
- People with two or more Macs on macOS Sonoma (or newer) who need window-level cross-machine work.
- Developers who treat a Mac mini or Studio as a headless build or agent box and want to open its windows from the main computer.
- Individuals who want a daily free-minute trial before choosing subscription or lifetime.
- A poor fit for single-Mac users, primarily Windows/Linux setups, or teams that need full enterprise remote-desktop control across platforms.
How does it compare to similar tools?
Compare on need, not rankings:
- Versus screen sharing: screen sharing is usually a whole-desktop picture; Beam emphasizes a single window in the Dock and Command-Tab, closer to a local app.
- Versus Universal Control: that product shares keyboard and mouse across Macs on the same desk; Beam pulls windows from another room—or even another city—onto the Mac you sit at.
- Versus classic remote desktop: remote desktop often takes over a whole session; Beam is more window-scoped, Mac-to-Mac direct, with optional browser guest links.
- If you need cross-platform IT remote ops for Windows/Linux, choose a remote-desktop suite. If the job is multi-Mac window collaboration, evaluate Beam on that fit.
What Our Customers Say
- Multi-Mac developers: park a build-machine window beside the main desktop and switch focus less often.
- Home multi-Mac users: on the same Wi-Fi, pull a window from another room for mail or a terminal; it feels closer to a local window.
- Caveat: Free has a daily time limit; all-day use needs a paid plan. Network quality and both machines’ performance still affect smoothness, and the primary product targets macOS.
FAQ
Q: Is Beam free?
A: There is a Free tier: Macs you connect to can host for free, with about 20 minutes per day of full features. All-day use needs a subscription or lifetime purchase; check the official pricing page for current details.
Q: What systems are required?
A: The site asks for two Macs on macOS Sonoma or newer with Beam installed on both. Guests on a share link can open a window in a browser.
Q: Do window contents go through Beam’s servers?
A: The site says windows, keys, clipboard, and sound travel encrypted directly between your Macs and are not inspected on their servers; the account mainly tracks devices and plan. Confirm details in Privacy and Terms.
