CursorHop vs Barrier
Barrier is a free 2018 fork of Synergy 1.9 whose main repo hasn't had active development since 2021. Same manual-IP setup, same C++ code, same cert juggling. CursorHop is what a maintained, Rust-built, zero-config KVM actually looks like.
The honest read
Barrier forked Synergy 1.9 in 2018 when Symless went closed-source. The main repo has had essentially no active development since 2021. Input Leap picked up the torch, but it inherits the same manual-IP setup, the same OpenSSL certs you have to generate yourself, and the same pre-Synergy-3 C++ architecture. It's free, and it shows where free ends.
CursorHop is commercially maintained, Rust-native, and ships what Barrier still doesn't: image clipboard, 70 Mbps drag-drop file transfer, screen dimming, raw-input Game Mode, and Noise encryption you don't have to configure. ~7 ms median latency. Setup finishes in seconds — no config file needed.
Barrier's real edges are Linux support and zero cost. If neither matters on your desk, there's nothing else to argue about.
What each one ships today
Apples to apples. No footnotes-on-footnotes.
| Barrier | CursorHop | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine language | C++ (Synergy 1.9 fork) | Rust (native, no GC) |
| Active maintenance | Stalled since ~2021 | Active, commercially backed |
| Windows | Yes | Windows 10+ |
| macOS | Yes | macOS 12+ |
| Linux | Yes | Coming soon |
| Auto-discovery | Manual IP + hostnames | mDNS, zero config |
| Encryption | Optional TLS (user generates certs) | Noise, on by default |
| Clipboard — images | No | Text + images |
| File transfer | Not supported | Native drag-drop |
| Screen dimming | No | Auto-dim inactive screens |
| Game Mode (raw input) | No | Ctrl+G raw input mode |
| Pricing | Free, open-source (GPL-2) | From $10 one-time |
| Support | GitHub issues, community Discord | Direct support (priority on Pro Plus+) |
Latency and throughput figures describe typical behavior on gigabit LAN with both machines on the same switch. Real-world numbers vary with Wi-Fi congestion and driver configuration. Claims about Barrier sourced from its public product pages, documentation, and user reports as of April 2026.
Pick Barrier if…
- You need Linux and zero cost.
- You're philosophically committed to GPL software.
Pick CursorHop if…
- You want the app to work five minutes after you download it.
- You want an engine written after the C++20 era.
- You want encryption without juggling your own OpenSSL certs.
- You want drag-drop file transfer and image clipboard built in.
- You want someone to reply when you email support.
Quick answers
Is Barrier still maintained?
Active development on the original debauchee/barrier repo has effectively stopped since 2021. The community fork Input Leap now carries development forward but inherits the same Synergy-1.9 architecture.
Is CursorHop open-source?
No. CursorHop is source-available for licensees but not GPL. The one-time license funds full-time maintenance that open-source KVMs struggle to sustain.
How hard is Barrier to set up?
You configure one machine as server, edit a screens layout, and manually enter hostnames or IPs on every client. Firewall rules and SSL certs are manual. CursorHop replaces all of that with mDNS auto-discovery in under a minute.
Does Barrier support file transfer?
No. Barrier forwards keyboard, mouse, and clipboard text only. CursorHop adds native drag-and-drop file transfer over LAN at up to 70 Mbps on Pro Plus and Max tiers.
Is Barrier encrypted?
Barrier supports optional TLS via OpenSSL but you have to generate and distribute certificates yourself — a step most users skip. CursorHop uses Noise protocol with no certificate management required.
Modern engine, modern pricing.
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Barrier is an open-source project released under the GNU General Public License v2. CursorHop is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the aforementioned. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Comparison based on publicly available information as of April 2026.