Looking for secure KVM software that is reliable and cheap ?
Posted by Master781@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Running a Mac mini and a Windows desktop side by side and it's driving me nuts. Two keyboards, two mice, constantly grabbing the wrong one. Cable spaghetti under the desk doesn't help either.
- Tried Synergy a few years back and it felt janky, kept dropping connection mid-task.
- Heard Barrier is the open source fork but not sure if it's still maintained properly.
- Logitech Flow looks decent but I don't run their hardware so that's out.
- And last one seems promising built with rust, didn't try it its Cursorhop anyone actually used it? .
Ideally I want something that handles mouse and keyboard across Win and Mac, syncs clipboard, and shares fiels very fast even if they are big and doesn't randomly die when I'm in the middle of something.
Happy to pay one-time if it actually works, just not into another subscription.
What are people actually running in 2026? Curious what's holding up.
Master781@reddit (OP)
edit : i have gave CursorHop a shot and its actually amazing got it for 2$ they had a promo code for beta lunch. and so far stable very fast and shares big files using copy paste . thank u all for the suggestions
BWMerlin@reddit
Level1techs have a range of KVMs which will do some of what you want.
While they don't do shared clipboard they kind of do file transfer in that you can plug a mass storage into the KVM and when you change devices the mass storage gets mounted to the new device.
md81593@reddit
input director!
kieppie@reddit
There was some shenanigans with Synergy a while back - can't recall exactly what now - but there are a few decent forks, like Symless & Barrier.
If windows-to-windows, Mouse Without Borders via PowerToys is pretty legit.
All else, RustDesk is pretty solid
Master781@reddit (OP)
barrier outdated and mouse without borders is windows to windows aa u said. rust desk isnt a kvm software its a remote machine
have u tried cursorhop ? im on the fence on buying it it has bold claims and seems new
kieppie@reddit
https://alternativeto.net/software/synergy/?license=opensource&platform=linux
IINM, Input Leap & Deskflow are both active & stable forks of Synergy.
I have no opinion re cursorhop
gehzumteufel@reddit
Very simple
Probably also pretty simple
WTF?! Why?! This absolutely is a bad desire. Learn how to use file shares within each OS and figure out which method is best. Do not make a KVM be a filesharing software.
Both Windows and macOS support SMB natively. You should consider that.
Master781@reddit (OP)
its more of way for me to not think of each machine is separate and i just do ctrl c ctrl v to big files and transfer it without thinking
in my line of work i have too transfer many files from my macos to windows
gehzumteufel@reddit
That doesn't change the fact you're trying to get something to add a feature that it shouldn't be.
Master781@reddit (OP)
understandable, but since CursoHop has it, i was wondering if other softwares has it too or if someone tried the app
gehzumteufel@reddit
Yeah lots of apps sadly add features to add features instead of thinking about whether they should be.
Master781@reddit (OP)
tbh i do need that feature if im paying for smth why not have the options for that
gehzumteufel@reddit
Do you want a shit experience with filesharing? Get every app to implement features badly just to satisfy users.
If you want much better filesharing experiences, use the facilities that are built by enterprises (Apple and Microsoft) that use these features for much more strenuous workloads.
Create an SMB share on macOS that you map to your Windows machine.
Create an SMB share on Windows and connect that on the macOS machine.
You can then have those quickly accessible in Finder or Explorer.
This is guaranteed to be faster than some third party user-space application.
bkev@reddit
Might be a stupid answer, but what about RDP/Windows App?
Master781@reddit (OP)
thats not a kvm, thats the same as any remote desktop software
bkev@reddit
Not precisely, but the Venn diagram of functionality you're trying to achieve has a lot of overlap.
Master781@reddit (OP)
i have the comapnies IMAC connected to a protected os and it had the server data. and the windows monitor beside it so thats why i wanna utilize both monitors at the same time side by side
sluzi26@reddit
I’d suggest this is the wrong solution entirely, given the smb / data sharing requirement. You should be running a Windows VM / VD, not a physical one, and primary the Mac.
KVM solutions are not for data. They are for control.
brokerceej@reddit
Synergy has come a long way. I use it all day every day and it’s solid.
Master781@reddit (OP)
ngl thats what i heard until i bought it and keeps dropping connection or static every now and then the mosue stutters i nthe remote machine alot of ppl also complained abt this issue no fix i also want a reliable software for big files transfer tbh 50gb or smth
PossibilityOrganic@reddit
are you using it on wifi? you pretty mutch have to use ethernet in my experance
Master781@reddit (OP)
both devices on Ethernet, its a popular problem btw regarding synergy thats why i looked for alternatives that i have mentioned above
PossibilityOrganic@reddit
the other one is input-leap also fork of synergy
Master781@reddit (OP)
ill give that a shot if it felt clunky or didnt have the features i need i might spend 10$ to get CursorHop and give it a shot ig
BetrayedMilk@reddit
I’ve used synergy for like 7 years. It’s great software. I don’t seem to have the problems you do.