You do not need to buy a second monitor. If you own a tablet, or even an old phone, you already have one sitting in your drawer.
Every Android tablet, iPad, and even most older Android phones can become a second screen for your Windows PC. It works over Wi-Fi, and in some cases a USB cable, and it takes about five minutes to set up.
Here is how to do it, and which app you should pick depending on your tablet and your budget.
The 30 second version
Install a display app on your Windows PC. Install its companion app on your tablet. Connect both to the same Wi-Fi network, and the tablet becomes a second monitor.
You can then drag windows across, use the tablet as a touchscreen, and even use its pen with a stylus if it has one. It is that simple.
For most people, the whole thing costs nothing.
Option 1: spacedesk, the free choice
spacedesk is the best free option, and it is genuinely free, not a trial. It turns any Android or iOS device into an extra display for Windows over Wi-Fi, USB, or LAN.
It also works as a touch input device, a stylus pad, and a software KVM switch, so you can control your PC from the tablet with touch or pen. There is a Windows viewer too, so a second laptop or desktop can join the party.
The catch: performance depends on your router and the tablet’s Wi-Fi chip. On a weak network you will notice lag, and it is not great for video or gaming. For documents, email, Slack, and spreadsheets it is more than fine.
Setup: download the spacedesk driver on Windows, install the spacedesk viewer app from the Play Store or App Store, and connect. No account, no payment, no subscription.
Option 2: SuperDisplay, the quality pick
SuperDisplay is the one paid app that is worth the money. It costs a one time $14.99 (roughly PHP 850), no subscription, and it is the closest thing to a native second monitor for Windows plus Android.
It supports USB tethering, which gives you the lowest possible latency because the video goes over the cable instead of Wi-Fi. Touch, stylus, and 120Hz refresh rates are supported on capable tablets.
The Reddit consensus among Galaxy Tab users is that SuperDisplay is the clear number one for Windows plus Android, with the caveat that it does not work with iOS. iPad users should look at Duet or Luna instead.
If you plan to use a tablet as a second monitor daily, the $15 is the best upgrade you can buy. One time, forever.
Option 3: Duet Display, the cross platform veteran
Duet Display works with any combination: Windows or Mac on the PC side, and Android, iPhone, or iPad on the device side. That makes it the only real choice if you have an iPad and a Windows laptop.
It was the original app in this space and is still the most trusted. Duet Air does the same thing wirelessly, and it also supports drawing tablet mode and remote access.
The downside is price. Duet moved to a subscription model, which is a deal breaker for some. If you want the exact same job done once without paying monthly, spacedesk or SuperDisplay covers you for less.
Option 4: Luna Display, the hardware route
Luna Display takes a different approach: a small USB dongle that plugs into your Mac, paired with an iPad app. The hardware does the heavy lifting, which gives it the lowest latency of any wireless option.
It costs $89.99 as a one time purchase, no subscription, and it is the favorite of designers and artists who need pixel accurate color and near zero lag.
The catch is platform: Luna is Mac and iPad only. Windows users cannot use it, and Android users cannot use it. If you are on Mac plus iPad and willing to pay, it is the premium option.
Option 5: Samsung Second Screen, the hidden freebie
If you own a Samsung Galaxy Tab and a Windows PC, you may not need any app at all. Samsung builds “Second Screen” into recent Galaxy Tabs, and Windows 11 can connect to it natively.
Open the Quick Settings panel on the Tab, tap Second Screen, then press Win + K on your PC and pick the Tab. It just works, no installation.
It is not as low latency as SuperDisplay over USB, and some users report it is “really less well” than the paid option, but for free built-in software it is a great starting point.
Option 6: Windows built in wireless display
Windows 10 and 11 both have a built in “Wireless Display” feature, but only for receiving, not sending. What most people actually want is the other direction: PC as the source, tablet as the screen.
For Android tablets, you can install the “Wireless Display” app on the PC side from the Microsoft Store, then use Miracast to beam your desktop to the tablet. Quality varies a lot, and it tends to lag more than the dedicated apps.
Treat this as the emergency option, not the daily driver. It exists, it is free, and it works, but spacedesk does the same job better.
Which one should you pick?
| App | Price | Windows + Android | Windows + iPad | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| spacedesk | Free | Yes | Yes | Budget users, casual use |
| SuperDisplay | $14.99 one time | Yes | No | Daily drivers, pen users, low latency |
| Duet Display | Subscription | Yes | Yes | iPad + Windows, cross platform |
| Luna Display | $89.99 one time | No | Mac only | Designers on Mac + iPad |
| Samsung Second Screen | Free, built in | Galaxy Tab only | No | Samsung owners, zero setup |
The simple math: if you want free, use spacedesk. If you want the best Windows plus Android experience and will use it daily, pay the $15 for SuperDisplay. If you have an iPad and a Windows laptop, Duet is your only real option.
And if you have a Galaxy Tab, try Second Screen first before spending anything. Your future self will thank you when you are juggling five windows instead of three.
