Compare

Mouse and keyboard sharing software (software KVM) compared (2026)

Q: Is there free mouse and keyboard sharing software?

Yes. Mouse Without Borders (Windows only, part of PowerToys), Deskflow (Windows, macOS, Linux; open source), and ShareMouse Free (two computers, personal use) cost nothing. The OneMouse Windows and Mac apps are free as well; the OneMouse Android app has a Free tier with ads and daily clipboard and file limits, and a one-time Pro unlock removes them.

Q: Controlling an Android phone from a PC: is that a mirror window or a real cursor?

They are different things. Mirroring tools such as scrcpy, Vysor, and Phone Link show the phone screen in a window on the PC and you click inside that window. Edge-crossing tools such as OneMouse and Samsung Multi Control send the PC cursor onto the phone's own display, so the phone behaves like an extra monitor. OneMouse works by edge crossing and also offers an optional remote-control window.

Q: Does OneMouse need an account or a server?

No. Pair locally with a 6-digit code or QR code; data travels directly between your devices, without sign-in or a relay server. See Technical & Security for connection details.

Compare sharing tools for your PC, phone, and tablet setup. This is a comparison by the makers of OneMouse, with other product facts checked against official pages and repositories in September 2026.

Tool types

Which kind of tool do you need?

Start with the devices you want to connect and how you want to control them.

PC to PC

Two computers on one desk

Computers share one mouse and keyboard over the local network. Software KVMs move the cursor from one screen edge to the next computer.

PC to phone or tablet

Control Android from the PC

Mirroring tools control the phone inside a PC window. Edge-crossing tools such as OneMouse move the cursor onto the phone's own screen.

Ecosystem / vendor

Only within one brand's devices

These sharing features require compatible vendor hardware or accounts. Check whether every device in your setup is supported.

Comparison table

Eleven tools side by side.

Verified as of September 2026 from official pages; check each product's site for changes. A dash (—) marks something we could not verify.

Product	Host / OS support	Android	Price model	Needs specific hardware	Connection	Notes
OneMouse (ours)	Host: Windows 10/11. Targets: Android, Windows, Apple Silicon Mac (macOS 13+)	Yes, the cursor crosses the screen edge	Windows and Mac apps free; Android Free tier (ads, limits) or one-time Pro	No	Wi-Fi/LAN or Bluetooth (Mac: LAN; Bluetooth in beta)	No Linux, no iPhone/iPad. Local pairing, no account
Synergy	Windows, macOS, Linux; any computer can be the server	No (vendor says planned, no date)	Paid; one-time for personal use, per seat for business	No	LAN	Synergy 1 v1.20.4 and Synergy 3 v3.6.3, June 2026; closed source
Deskflow	Windows 10 1809+, macOS 12+ (13+ on Apple Silicon), Linux, FreeBSD	Not official; a third-party client exists, last release July 2025	Free, open source (GPL-2.0)	No	LAN, TLS on by default	v1.26.0, Feb 2026; the open-source core Synergy builds on
Input Leap	Windows 10/11 64-bit, macOS 10.12+, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD	No	Free, open source (GPL-2.0)	No	LAN	Repository archived July 2026 (read-only); last release v3.0.3, June 2025
Barrier	Windows 7–11 64-bit, macOS 10.12+, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD	No	Free, open source (GPL-2.0)	No	LAN	Unmaintained; last release v2.4.0, Nov 2021
Mouse Without Borders	Windows 10 (2004+) and 11 only; up to 4 PCs	No (open feature request)	Free, open source (PowerToys, MIT)	No	LAN	Shared clipboard, single-file transfer up to 100 MB; PowerToys v0.101, Aug 2026
ShareMouse	Windows 10/11, macOS 13–15 and 26	No (vendor has no plans)	Free tier for personal use (2 computers); Standard and Pro one-time	No	LAN	v7.0.27, Aug 2026; no Linux plans
Logitech Flow	Windows 10/11 and macOS (minimum version —); 2–3 computers	No (not phones or tablets)	Software free	Yes: Flow-enabled Logitech mouse with Easy-Switch; Flow keyboard optional	LAN; internet for initial setup	Part of Logi Options+
Apple Universal Control	macOS 12.4+ and iPadOS 15.4+; one Mac plus up to two Macs or iPads	No	Free, built in	Yes: supported Mac and iPad models, same Apple Account with 2FA	Bluetooth + Wi-Fi + Handoff, within 10 m	No Windows, iPhone, or Android endpoint
Samsung Multi Control	Galaxy Book (2021+, Windows 10/11) or Windows 11 PC with Samsung's app; Galaxy tablet to phone	Galaxy phones and tablets on One UI 5.1+ only	Free	Yes: Galaxy devices and a Samsung account; PC needs Bluetooth and Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi + Bluetooth	Store app updated Aug 2026; non-Galaxy Android not listed
scrcpy	Host: Windows, macOS, Linux	Mirror window with input; not edge crossing	Free, open source (Apache-2.0)	No (USB cable or Wi-Fi)	USB (ADB) or Wi-Fi (ADB TCP/IP)	v4.1, July 2026; needs USB debugging except in OTG mode

Product notes

What each tool does well, and where it stops.

PC to PC and PC to Android · our product

OneMouse

A Windows 10/11 PC shares its mouse and keyboard with Android phones and tablets, other Windows PCs, and Apple Silicon Macs (macOS 13+) by crossing the screen edge, with file transfer and clipboard sync. Everything stays local: pairing uses a 6-digit code or QR code, and there is no account or server. Limits: Windows must be the host, no Linux, no iPhone or iPad, Macs need Apple Silicon and connect over LAN by default (Bluetooth for Mac is a beta option, off by default), and the Android Free tier has ads plus daily clipboard and file limits that a one-time Pro unlock removes.

PC to PC · paid

Synergy

Commercial software KVM from Symless for Windows, macOS, and Linux; any computer can be the server. Personal licenses are a one-time purchase and business licenses are per seat. Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 were both updated in June 2026. Main limitation: no Android, iOS, or ChromeOS client, although Symless says it plans to support them in the future.

PC to PC · free, open source

Deskflow

The open-source core that Synergy builds on: GPL-2.0, TLS on by default, and builds for Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD. It is the actively maintained project in the Barrier and Input Leap lineage, with v1.26.0 released in February 2026. Main limitation: no official Android client. A third-party Android 14+ client exists but has had no release since July 2025.

PC to PC · free, open source · archived

Input Leap

A fork of Barrier covering Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD, including a Wayland build. The GitHub repository was archived in July 2026 and is read-only; its last release was v3.0.3 in June 2025, and former contributors point to Deskflow instead. It still runs where installed, but it will not receive security fixes.

PC to PC · free, open source · unmaintained

Barrier

The fork of Synergy 1.9 that many 2026 roundups still recommend. Its last release, v2.4.0, dates from November 2021, and that release page states that Barrier is no longer maintained and receives no security fixes. Its successor, Input Leap, was itself archived in 2026, so Deskflow is the live option in this family.

PC to PC · free, open source

Mouse Without Borders

Microsoft's Windows-only tool, now part of PowerToys (MIT). It links up to four Windows 10/11 PCs on the same network with a shared clipboard and single-file transfer up to 100 MB, and it received encryption updates in August 2026. Main limitation: Windows only. Android support is an open feature request, not a feature.

PC to PC · free tier and paid

ShareMouse

Windows and macOS software KVM from Bartels Media, updated to 7.0.27 in August 2026. ShareMouse Free covers two computers and two displays for personal, non-commercial use; Standard and Professional are one-time purchases with 12 months of updates. Main limitation: no Linux and no Android or iPhone/iPad, and the vendor says it has no plans for them.

Ecosystem · free software, needs hardware

Logitech Flow

Lets a Flow-enabled Logitech mouse move between two or three Windows and macOS computers on the same network through Logi Options+, with a compatible Logitech keyboard following it. Main limitation: it requires Logitech hardware with Easy-Switch, needs internet access for the initial setup, and does not support tablets or phones.

Ecosystem · free, built in

Apple Universal Control

Built into macOS 12.4+ and iPadOS 15.4+: one Mac controls up to two more Macs or iPads with one keyboard and mouse. Main limitation: only Macs and iPads from Apple's supported model lists, all signed in to the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication and within 10 metres. There is no Windows, iPhone, or Android endpoint.

Ecosystem · free, Galaxy only

Samsung Multi Control

Samsung's way of controlling a phone from a PC: a Galaxy Book (2021 or later), or a Windows 11 PC running Samsung's Multi Control app from the Microsoft Store, moves the cursor onto Galaxy phones and tablets with a shared clipboard and file drag-and-drop. Main limitation: Samsung lists only Galaxy devices on One UI 5.1 or later, and every device needs the same Samsung account plus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

PC to phone · free, open source

scrcpy

Genymobile's mirroring tool shows the Android screen, with audio, in a window on a Windows, macOS, or Linux host and forwards keyboard and mouse input; nothing is installed on the phone. v4.1 was released in July 2026. Main limitation: it is a mirror window, not edge crossing, and it needs USB debugging over a cable or ADB over Wi-Fi (OTG mode is USB only).

Pick by situation

Start from the devices on your desk.

Two Windows PCs: Candidates include Mouse Without Borders (PowerToys, up to four PCs), OneMouse (Bluetooth and folder transfer), and ShareMouse Free (two PCs, personal use).
Windows PC + Android: For a cursor on the phone itself, compare OneMouse (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, no brand requirement) and Samsung Multi Control (Galaxy, a supported PC, and Samsung account). For a mirror window, compare scrcpy (USB debugging) and Phone Link (supported brands).
Windows PC + Mac: OneMouse connects a Windows host to an Apple Silicon Mac on macOS 13+ over LAN. For a Mac host or Intel Mac, compare Synergy, Deskflow, ShareMouse, or Flow with a compatible Logitech mouse.
Mac + iPad: Apple Universal Control is built in. OneMouse does not support iPad or a Mac host.
Linux involved: OneMouse does not support it; candidates include Deskflow (free), Synergy (paid), and Lan Mouse (Wayland). See the table for Barrier and Input Leap's maintenance status.

FAQ

Questions people ask before choosing.

Is there free mouse and keyboard sharing software?

Yes. Mouse Without Borders (Windows only, part of PowerToys), Deskflow (Windows, macOS, Linux; open source), and ShareMouse Free (two computers, personal use) cost nothing. The OneMouse Windows and Mac apps are free as well; the OneMouse Android app has a Free tier with ads and daily clipboard and file limits, and a one-time Pro unlock removes them.

Does mouse and keyboard sharing work without an internet connection?

Software KVMs such as OneMouse, Synergy, Deskflow, and Mouse Without Borders run over the local network and do not need internet access. OneMouse can also connect over Bluetooth with no router at all. Some vendor tools depend on an online account: Apple Universal Control requires an Apple Account, Samsung Multi Control a Samsung account, and Logitech Flow needs internet access for its initial setup.

Controlling an Android phone from a PC: is that a mirror window or a real cursor?

They are different things. Mirroring tools such as scrcpy, Vysor, and Phone Link show the phone screen in a window on the PC and you click inside that window. Edge-crossing tools such as OneMouse and Samsung Multi Control send the PC cursor onto the phone's own display, so the phone behaves like an extra monitor. OneMouse works by edge crossing and also offers an optional remote-control window.

Does OneMouse need an account or a server?

No. Pair locally with a 6-digit code or QR code; data travels directly between your devices, without sign-in or a relay server. See Technical & Security for connection details.

Can I share a mouse and keyboard over Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi?

With OneMouse, Android devices and other Windows PCs can connect over Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi; the Mac app connects over the local network by default (Bluetooth for Mac is a beta option, off by default). Bluetooth is slower than Wi-Fi, so large files are better sent over Wi-Fi. PC-to-PC software KVMs such as Synergy, Deskflow, Mouse Without Borders, and ShareMouse work over the network only. Apple Universal Control uses Bluetooth together with Wi-Fi and Handoff.

Mouse Without Borders or OneMouse?

Mouse Without Borders is free, ships inside Microsoft PowerToys, and links up to four Windows PCs with a shared clipboard and single-file transfers up to 100 MB. OneMouse also links Windows PCs and adds Android phones and tablets, Apple Silicon Macs, Bluetooth connections, and folder transfer between PCs. If every machine is Windows and PowerToys is already installed, Mouse Without Borders is enough; OneMouse fits when a phone, tablet, or Mac joins the desk.

Synergy or OneMouse?

Synergy is a paid software KVM for Windows, macOS, and Linux in which any computer can be the server. OneMouse requires a Windows host, does not support Linux, and its Windows and Mac apps are free. The main difference is Android: Synergy has no mobile client, while OneMouse controls Android phones and tablets over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Does OneMouse support Linux, iPhone, or iPad?

No. OneMouse targets are Android, other Windows PCs, and Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 13 or later, always with a Windows 10/11 PC as the host. For Linux, use Deskflow or Synergy. For a Mac and an iPad, use Apple Universal Control.

Next step

Windows, Android, and Mac on one desk, kept local.

Install the Windows app first, then add the phones, PCs, or Macs you want to reach. The guide walks through pairing and placement.

Download Read the setup guide