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KDE Connect on a Mac: the free app and DroidPort
KDE Connect is a free, open-source project that links an Android phone to a computer over your local network. On a Mac there are two ways to use it, and both start with the same app on your phone.
Updated October 4, 2026
The phone side: KDE Connect for Android
Whichever Mac app you choose, your phone runs KDE Connect, made by the KDE community. It is free and open source, and KDE lists it on Google Play, F-Droid and Huawei AppGallery.
Option one: KDE Connect's own Mac app
KDE makes a desktop KDE Connect app from the same code it uses on Linux and Windows. On October 4, 2026, KDE's download page offers a stable Mac release through Homebrew, plus untested nightly builds. Homebrew lists version 26.08.1 for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 13 or later. It is free, and if it covers what you need, it is a fine choice.
Option two: DroidPort
DroidPort is a Mac app that speaks the KDE Connect protocol, so it pairs with the same KDE Connect app on your phone. It is built only for the Mac, around the things people reach for their phone to do.
- Read and reply to SMS and MMS in a Mac conversation view, including photos, video and attachments.
- Phone notifications with inline reply and action buttons, from the app or a menu bar panel.
- Browse your phone's photos and videos, open the full-resolution original, drag it into Finder, or import what is new.
- Send files in either direction, share from Finder, and bring copied text from your phone to your Mac.
- See ringing and missed calls, silence the ringer, and control what is playing on the phone.
- A clear connection state that reconnects by itself, with battery, signal and Wi-Fi at a glance.
Side by side
| KDE Connect for Mac | DroidPort | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source | $9.99 once |
| App on the phone | KDE Connect | KDE Connect |
| Where to get it | Homebrew, or nightly builds from KDE | The Mac App Store, droidport.app or Homebrew |
| Built for | Linux, Windows and Mac from one codebase | The Mac only |
| Requires | macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon (Homebrew) | macOS 14 or later, on Apple silicon or Intel |
Which one fits you
Choose KDE Connect's Mac app if you want free, open-source software on both ends, or you already use KDE Connect on a Linux or Windows computer.
Choose DroidPort if you want your texts, alerts and photos in a Mac app with a menu bar panel, and you like buying from the Mac App Store or straight from the developer.
Questions people ask
Do I need KDE Connect on my Mac to use DroidPort?
No. DroidPort is the Mac side. You only need the KDE Connect app on your Android phone.
Is the phone app free?
Yes. KDE Connect for Android is free and open source, from Google Play, F-Droid or Huawei AppGallery. DroidPort is the only part you pay for, $9.99 once.
Do my messages or files go through KDE or a server?
No. DroidPort talks to your phone directly over your local network. There is no DroidPort cloud and no account.