Open source alternative to Synergy and ShareMouse
Last verified
Connect Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android with one mouse, keyboard, clipboard, and file transfer. GPL-3.0, no account, no cloud.
TwinDesk eliminates the second mouse and keyboard and lets apps from one computer open in windows on the other. Files and clipboard sync without a cable or cloud service. The full feature set works between any OS combination, not just Mac-Windows.
You only need remote access over the internet, not physical adjacency. A dedicated remote desktop tool is simpler for that use case.
Calls ring on the screen, can be answered without touching the phone, and with Bluetooth active the computer handles audio too. Texts are readable and replyable from the keyboard. No account or Microsoft ecosystem required.
You use an iPhone. TwinDesk only supports Android on the phone side.
One TwinDesk install per machine replaces a hardware KVM: mouse, keyboard, clipboard, and files all move between machines. An old laptop or tablet can become an extended display.
Your machines are in different physical locations and you need remote access rather than local adjacency. TwinDesk's primary design is for devices within reach.
TwinDesk sends no data to any server. All device traffic is peer-to-peer and encrypted. No account creation is required, and there is no telemetry by default. The GPL-3.0 license allows full source inspection.
You need a managed cloud-based phone link service with automatic sync and backup to manufacturer servers. TwinDesk deliberately has no cloud component.
Working across multiple computers with one mouse and keyboard requires either buying duplicate peripherals or installing a software KVM tool. Most tools stop there. They share the mouse and keyboard between desktop machines but ignore the phone sitting next to them.
The phone creates its own friction. When it rings, you pick it up. When you photograph a document, you email it or use cloud storage to move it to the computer. Most phone-link software stops at notifications or requires both devices to be in the same manufacturer's ecosystem. For anyone running a Mac with an Android phone, or a Windows machine without Microsoft Phone Link support, there is no off-the-shelf tool that makes the phone a working part of the desk.
Push the pointer off the screen edge and keep typing on the other computer. Trackpad gestures carry over on macOS, keyboard shortcuts remap between Ctrl and Command, and a Scroll Lock key locks the pointer to one screen. Works between any combination: Mac to Windows, Linux to anything.
Answer, decline, mute, and end calls on any paired Mac, Windows, or Linux computer. Read and reply to SMS with a keyboard. Call history and contacts are accessible from the Calls page. With Bluetooth connected, the computer handles audio so you talk and listen from the desk.
Drag a file off the screen edge and drop it onto the other machine. Or copy with Ctrl+Alt+C and paste with Ctrl+Alt+V into any app, including chat windows. Files in transit show live progress on both sides. Shared folders appear as network drives on the other device.
TwinDesk installs a virtual camera driver on first use, making the phone's camera available as TwinDesk Camera in any video call app. On Linux it uses v4l2loopback; on macOS it hooks into OBS Virtual Camera. The same approach works with a paired computer's camera too.
Connect multiple computers and a phone simultaneously on a peer-to-peer map. Move the pointer from a PC to a Mac to a Linux laptop in one sweep. Clipboard and notifications are pooled across every device. Mesh is in beta on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Devices pair over the local network by default, but also connect over USB, Bluetooth, or a direct Wi-Fi link the app creates on demand. No router is needed, no cloud relay is involved, and no account is required.
Synergy is a paid software KVM tool for desktop computers that shares one mouse and keyboard across Mac, Windows, and Linux. It has been commercially available for over a decade and is a well-established option for multi-computer setups. TwinDesk covers the same core capability and adds Android phone integration that Synergy does not address.
| Feature | TwinDesk | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0, free | Proprietary, paid |
| Mouse and keyboard sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Android phone integration | Yes (calls, texts, camera, files) | No |
| File drag-and-drop | Yes | No |
| Clipboard sync | Text and images | Text only |
| Shared network required | No (USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct) | Depends on configuration |
TwinDesk is the better choice when you need mouse and keyboard sharing alongside an Android phone in your workflow, want file transfer without an additional tool, or prefer a free GPL-3.0 licensed app with no subscription. Synergy is worth considering for complex multi-machine setups where its advanced configuration options and longer track record matter more than phone integration.
ShareMouse is a paid tool focused on mouse and keyboard sharing between Mac and Windows computers, with a shared folder feature. TwinDesk covers both capabilities and extends them to Linux and Android.
| Feature | TwinDesk | ShareMouse |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0, free | Proprietary, paid |
| Platform support | Mac, Windows, Linux, Android | Mac, Windows only |
| Mouse and keyboard sharing | Yes | Yes |
| File sharing | Drag-and-drop and shared folders | Shared folder (network drive) |
| Phone integration | Yes (Android) | No |
TwinDesk is the stronger choice if you have a Linux machine in the mix, need Android phone integration, or want a free open source tool. ShareMouse is worth considering if you need its polished Mac-Windows experience and have no Linux or Android devices in your setup.
Install TwinDesk on macOS with Homebrew or download the native installer for Windows, Linux, or Android from GitHub Releases: https://github.com/InukaAsith/TwinDesk/releases/latest
```bash
brew install --cask inukaasith/twindesk/twindesk
```Yes. TwinDesk is free under the GPL-3.0 license with no paid tier, no subscription, and no account required. Every feature is available on install across macOS 13+, Windows 10/11, Linux (X11 and Wayland), and Android 10+.
Yes. TwinDesk uses the same app on every platform, so a Mac and a Windows PC pair the same way as two Macs. Mouse, keyboard, clipboard, file transfer, screen sharing, sound, and notifications all work across the Mac-Windows combination.
No. TwinDesk also connects over USB, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi Direct links that the app creates on demand between paired devices. No shared router or internet connection is required.
Synergy and ShareMouse share a mouse and keyboard between desktop computers and are paid commercial tools. TwinDesk covers the same desktop sharing and adds deep Android phone integration: answering calls, reading and sending texts, accessing photos, using the phone's camera as a webcam, and browsing phone storage. TwinDesk is also free and GPL-3.0 licensed.
No. TwinDesk currently supports Android phones and tablets running Android 10 or later. iOS and iPhone are not supported, and the README does not document a plan to add them.
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