VirtualTablet vs. VirtualTablet: Bluetooth - Which App Should You Choose?

If you are deciding between VirtualTablet and VirtualTablet: Bluetooth, there is good news: you no longer have to trade features for a connection method. Both apps now support the same drawing features, so the question is simply how you want to connect and which devices you already own.

Both apps turn a phone or tablet into a graphics tablet for your computer. They are separate apps built around different connection models.

The feature gap is gone

Earlier versions of the two apps had noticeably different feature sets. That is no longer the case. Today both apps share the same input engine and the same premium feature list:

• Pressure sensitivity and tilt support
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts
• Canvas zoom
• Monitor area selection
• Tablet color themes
• Gaming mode (Raw Input)
• Mouse mode gesture support
• Pen button customization, including Apple Pencil double-tap and squeeze
• Pen trail display

So “which app has more features” is no longer a useful way to decide. Start with platforms instead.

Step 1: Check your platforms

Two cases are decided for you right away:

• You use a Linux desktop → only VirtualTablet: Bluetooth supports Linux.
• You want to draw on a Windows tablet (such as a Surface) → only VirtualTablet supports Windows as the drawing device.

Everyone else - Android or iOS device with a Windows or Mac computer - can use either app, so move on to the connection method.

Step 2: Pick the connection method

VirtualTablet: WiFi or USB

USB is the fastest and most stable option of all. Latency is minimal because there is no wireless link in the path, and the cable also charges your device while you draw. Both iPhone/iPad and Android devices can connect over a cable, though iPhone and iPad need Apple Devices or iTunes installed on a Windows PC.

WiFi removes the cable, but your experience depends on network quality. On a good 5GHz network it feels great; on a congested or unstable network you may notice cursor delay.

Either way, you install VirtualTablet Server on your computer once, then pair with a QR code or a short pairing code.

VirtualTablet: Bluetooth

Bluetooth needs no network at all. Your device connects to the computer like a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, over a dedicated channel, so performance stays consistent no matter how busy your WiFi is.

Setup is also the simplest of any option. On Windows and Linux there is nothing to install at all - you just pair over Bluetooth. Only macOS needs a small agent app.

A few things to keep in mind:

• For iOS to macOS connections, both devices must be signed in to the same Apple Account.
• Performance can drop if your device already has several other active Bluetooth connections.
• Older built-in Bluetooth 4.x chipsets can be weak. A Bluetooth 5.0+ adapter is recommended for the best results.

Step 3: The one remaining feature difference

If you draw across multiple monitors on Windows, VirtualTablet has an advantage. Its Pen Input API Mode can treat all of your displays as a single combined drawing area. VirtualTablet: Bluetooth can send input to any monitor you pick, but cannot span input across several monitors at once.

Both apps support selecting a specific monitor, and both support choosing a smaller area of that monitor to match your tablet’s aspect ratio.

A simple way to decide

Pick VirtualTablet when:

• You want the lowest possible latency over a USB cable
• You want your device charging while you draw
• You draw across multiple monitors on Windows
• You want to use a Windows tablet as the drawing device

Pick VirtualTablet: Bluetooth when:

• You want the simplest setup, with no server software on Windows or Linux
• Your WiFi is unreliable, or you work somewhere without a usable network
• You use a Linux desktop
• You want cable-free drawing with consistent performance

Still not sure? If you have a Windows or Mac computer and an Android or iOS device, both apps are free to try with basic pen input, so installing whichever one matches your preferred connection method is the fastest way to find out.

Read the full comparison

For the full side-by-side breakdown, including performance details and setup requirements, see the detailed comparison page:

• VirtualTablet vs. VirtualTablet: Bluetooth Comparison
• Download VirtualTablet
• Download VirtualTablet: Bluetooth