The Synergy Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Synergy in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Synergy
The Insider’s Guide
Share one keyboard and mouse across Windows, Mac and Linux PCs
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Synergy’s own pages.
Made by Synergy App Ltd · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Synergy’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Synergy’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 1 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Synergy shares one keyboard, mouse and clipboard between several computers on the same local network: move the pointer off the edge of one screen and it appears on the next machine. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, needs no internet connection and carries no video, so each computer keeps its own display. Personal licenses for Synergy 3 are a one-time payment, and companies need a Business license. The maker, formerly Symless, took the name Synergy in July 2026.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Synergy, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for one keyboard and mouse across a PC, a Mac and a Linux box
Synergy lets one keyboard and mouse control several Windows, Mac and Linux computers on the same local network, with copy and paste between them.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $15 one-time payment (Synergy 3 Lite, personal use).
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial for Business plans only; personal licenses have a 30-day money-back guarantee instead
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 5
Shared keyboard and mouse
Move the pointer off the edge of one screen to control the next computer with the same keyboard, mouse or trackpad, without a hardware KVM switch or its switching delay.
- 6
Clipboard sharing
Copy text or an image on one computer, move the pointer to another and paste it there.
- 7
TLS/SSL encryption
Encrypts the keystrokes and clipboard data sent between computers over the local network. It is included from the Plus tier upward, not in Lite.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 1 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Synergy you would be making keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Synergy at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $15 one-time payment (Synergy 3 Lite, personal use)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial for Business plans only; personal licenses have a 30-day money-back guarantee instead
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Synergy App Ltd, since 2001
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for one keyboard and mouse across a PC, a Mac and a Linux box
Synergy lets one keyboard and mouse control several Windows, Mac and Linux computers on the same local network, with copy and paste between them. Personal licenses are $15, $19 or $29 once, but there's no trial for them, only a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the $15 Lite plan lacks encryption and hotkeys. It shares no video, has no phone apps, and company use needs Business at $90 a seat a year.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | One payment, no subscription: $15 for Lite on up to 3 computers, $19 for Plus on 5, $29 for Max on 15. All of them are under a year of the $2.99 a month utilities here charge in the middle. We'd look at Plus, since Lite has no TLS/SSL encryption or hotkeys. |
| Free plan and trial | F | Personal licences have nothing free: no free version and no trial, just a 30-day money-back guarantee, which isn't the same thing. The 14-day trial is for Business plans only. |
| Features | C | Sharing one keyboard, mouse and clipboard between computers is the whole of it: text and images paste across machines, the Windows and Command keys swap by themselves, and Synergy 3 finds your computers. It carries no video, so every machine still needs its own screen. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and there's setting up to do: the app goes on every computer, they all have to sit on the same local network, and you arrange them on a screen layout. Synergy 3's automatic configuration and discovery cut some of that. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, macOS and Linux under one licence, with no internet connection needed. That's desktops and nothing else, though: no phone or tablet apps, no integrations listed, and no video sharing. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Synergy is for
- Fits if you have a Windows PC, a Mac and a Linux machine on one desk
- Works for copying on one computer and pasting on the next
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want to try it first at home, as personal licenses only have a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Skip it if your computers aren't on the same local network, because it only works across one
- Pricey if your company is paying, since that needs a Business license from $90 a seat each year
- Watch out: the $15 Lite plan has no TLS/SSL encryption or hotkeys, so you'd need Plus at $19
- Watch out: every computer still needs its own screen, and Business editions send a daily usage report
Good to know
Good for
- Desks with a Windows PC, a Mac and a Linux machine side by side
- Developers and IT staff working across several computers at once
- Individuals who want a one-time payment and no subscription
Worth knowing
- Personal licenses have no free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee; the 14-day trial is for Business plans.
- Lite covers 3 computers and has no TLS/SSL encryption or hotkeys. Plus allows 5 computers and Max allows 15.
- All computers must be on the same local network and each needs its own screen, because Synergy does not share video.
- A Business license is required when a company pays for, reimburses or deploys Synergy, and Business editions send a daily usage report.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$15 one-time
To start
Synergy is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $15 one-time payment (Synergy 3 Lite, personal use).
We'd look at Plus, since Lite has no TLS/SSL encryption or hotkeys.
Synergy 3 Lite
$15
one-time payment
Personal license to control up to 3 computers on a local network, with copy and paste between them. No TLS/SSL encryption or hotkeys.
Synergy 3 Plus
$19
one-time payment
Up to 5 computers, adding TLS/SSL network encryption and keyboard shortcuts to switch computers or send keystrokes to another one.
Synergy 3 Max
$29
one-time payment
Everything in Plus for up to 15 computers.
Synergy Business Essential
$90
per year, priced per seat
Unlimited computers, priority support with a 4-hour SLA, offline air-gapped activation and invoicing. Includes Synergy 1 and Synergy 3.
Synergy Business Advanced
$190
per seat / year
Adds policy-based controls, centralized configuration and deployment support, and custom LTS and legacy operating system support.
Synergy Enterprise
Custom
Keyless offline deployment, zero telemetry, bespoke builds, site and volume licensing and a custom SLA. Priced through sales.
Trying it first
14-day free trial for Business plans only; personal licenses have a 30-day money-back guarantee instead
Read from symless.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
25% off for newsletter subscribers
The Synergy homepage offers 25% off Synergy to people who subscribe to its newsletter, with the discount sent by email.
Stated on symless.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Share one keyboard and mouse across Windows, Mac and Linux PCs. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, keyboard and mouse remapping.
It carries no video, so every machine still needs its own screen.
- Shared keyboard and mouse
- Move the pointer off the edge of one screen to control the next computer with the same keyboard, mouse or trackpad, without a hardware KVM switch or its switching delay.
- Clipboard sharing
- Copy text or an image on one computer, move the pointer to another and paste it there.
- TLS/SSL encryption
- Encrypts the keystrokes and clipboard data sent between computers over the local network. It is included from the Plus tier upward, not in Lite.
- Hotkeys and key swapping
- Shortcuts switch between computers or send keystrokes to another machine, and the Windows and Command keys can swap automatically when moving between Windows and Mac.
- Auto-config and discovery
- Synergy 3 has an interface rebuilt from the ground up with automatic configuration and discovery of computers, and a screen layout for arranging them.
- Business controls
- Business licenses add policy-based settings, centralized configuration, challenge-based offline activation for air-gapped networks and priority support.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Synergy is made by Synergy App Ltd, and has been around since 2001.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
1/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Synergy's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 24 of 94) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Synergy’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 94
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 65 of 94
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Synergy you would be making keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 88 of the 94 other desktop utilities grade higher. It costs $15, paid once.
What you could not
- Keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Synergy’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Microsoft PowerToys, Ditto, LocalSend and DisplayFusion
The 4 tools Synergy is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Microsoft PowerToys
Free
Free Microsoft utilities for customizing Windows 10 and 11.
- Microsoft PowerToys has a free plan. Synergy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Synergy lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Synergy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Ditto
Free
Free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows.
- Ditto has a free plan. Synergy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Synergy lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Synergy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.2GPA
LocalSend
Free
Open-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud.
- LocalSend has a free plan. Synergy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LocalSend lists a web app.
- Only LocalSend lists Android and iOS apps.
- 2.4GPA
DisplayFusion
Free plan · from $34 one-time
Multi-monitor taskbars, wallpaper and window control for Windows.
- DisplayFusion has a free plan. Synergy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Synergy lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Synergy also covers keyboard and mouse remapping.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Synergy free?
No, Synergy is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial for Business plans only; personal licenses have a 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
How much does Synergy cost?
Synergy lists 6 plans. Synergy 3 Lite: $15 one-time payment.
What platforms does Synergy work on?
Synergy is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Synergy offer any discounts?
Synergy publicly lists the following: 25% off for newsletter subscribers.
Does Synergy have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Synergy is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Synergy have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Synergy is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Synergy open source?
Synergy is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Synergy work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes Synergy?
Synergy is made by Synergy App Ltd. It dates from 2001.
What are the alternatives to Synergy?
The closest alternatives to Synergy in our directory are Microsoft PowerToys, Ditto, LocalSend and DisplayFusion.
How does Synergy compare with other desktop utilities?
Synergy's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 5.
Could I make my own version of Synergy?
To replace Synergy you would be making keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Synergy’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Synergy's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-01.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Synergy App Ltd. Prices change, so check symless.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Synergy, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/synergy
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Synergy: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/synergy
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/synergy/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Synergy, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Synergy’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Synergy is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Synergy App Ltd. Prices and plans change: check symless.com before you buy.